Clothes on film

For a big budget movie about a lone astronaut who gets stranded on Mars, the spacesuits in The Martian are surprisingly sober in terms of design. There is an attempt here to make everything seem as plausible as possible, costume design especially. Director Ridley Scott’s regular costumer Janty Yates has created possibly the sexiest spacesuits ever seen on screen, and what’s more they are functional. To paraphrase a line in the film, she had to “science the shit out of them”. Yates collaborated with NASA looking specifically at their Z1 and Z2 prototypes to create an EVA (‘Extravehicular Activity’ – any time the crew must go outside) suit and surface……

As Get on Up, director Tate Taylor’s look at the life of singing legend James Brown, hits UK screens we have some fantastic sketches to share of the film’s costuming. Costume designer for Get on Up is the one and only Sharen Davis, who previously worked with Taylor on The Help, although you may know her better for Devil in a Blue Dress, Dreamgirls, Ray and Django Unchained. Davis is absurdly talented and every single project she undertakes should be greeted with cheers by any costume fan. Get on Up with its collective of lowly, stage and civvie ensembles worn by Chadwick Boseman as adult James Joseph Brown (60+changes) is……

World War Z neatly demonstrates the art of breaking down and distressing costume. Ambitious but not overreaching, Avatar is a stunning piece of blue heaven.

Kathleen Kennedy chats exclusively to Clothes on Film about her experiences and understanding of costume design. Lord Christopher Laverty 2 Comments 8 Feb ’13 29 Sep ’10 20 Jun ’09

Could Django Unchained be the first Quentin Tarantino movie to win a Costume Design Oscar? In a week of exciting trailers, the first for director Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of The Great Gatsby must surely be the most thrilling of all. Sonia Grande’s costume design for Midnight in Paris offers everything we expect of 1920s Paris and the contemporary nouveau riche. Director Peter Jackson wanted Ann to be an old fashioned, sexually defined heroine. There is something spiritual about a maxi dress; the way it flows and veils the body. It gels with the divine aspect of Solitaire.

Adèle Blanc-Sec’s world is akin to a fantasy Belle Époque; 1910s attire dotted among reanimated corpses and a dinosaur. Sandy looks lovely, arguably lovelier than The Pink Ladies, but she looks like the sweet young lady a mother-in-law would adore.

Bonnie and Clyde is a great example of how the simple addition of a hat can say a lot about a character. Contributor 5 Comments 6 Oct ’09 1 Apr ’14 21 Nov ’11

Ruth E. Carter’s work on Do the Right Thing is a masterclass in how costume can influence the look and feel of a film. Contributor 6 Comments 16 Jul ’09 14 Oct ’19 30 Aug ’12

Building character with the costume design of Pacific Rim. Contributor 1 Comment 11 Nov ’11 15 Apr ’13 13 Feb ’14

Two weeks of links. It’s exciting. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Mindbogglingly thorough look at the costumes and modern fashion influence of GPB. Sleepy Hollow Kristin M. Burke’s headless costumes go on a little jaunt to ignite Emmy fever. …and here’s an interview with Ms. Burke where she talks about her career so far. And quilting. Maps to the Stars Not seen this yet but Superqueen makes a captivating case for this film being the new Drive in terms of heavy gloves symbolism. Maleficent A very brief insight into Angelina Jolie’s extravagant look. Look out for Clothes on Film’s coverage (hopefully) soon. …a bit more about Anna B. Sheppard’s process. …and Nathalie……