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Oh, Universe, Dear Universe, can I make a wish?
Yeah, well, I'm going to anyway.
The Costume in Film exhibit was amazing. Nicole Kidman must have a 24-inch waist. Elizabeth Taylor, too, in her youth-- but she was one gorgeously curvy woman. Cate Blanchett should probably not stand outside in high winds. Madonna is taller than you'd think. And Alan Rickman is...yummy-shaped.
For those who didn't get to see it, much of it can be experienced here: http://www.winterthur.org/calendar/fashion_in_film.asp . The audio tour can still be downloaded, though if you're interested, go soon, as the exhibit closed Sunday, and I'm not sure how long this part of the site'll be up. There are lovely pictures all through the section-- check out the pages on unpacking and setting up the exhibit, the Winterthur Magazine article, and the press release, which has a photo of one of the Nicole Kidman gowns from "Portrait of A Lady" that I cannot get out of my head. The unbelievable workmanship and care that went into these costumes is utterly unbelieveable. My nose was eight inches from Drew Barrymore's famous "Ever After" gown-- complete with wings!-- and I know the things I saw will NEVER show up on any extended edition DVD. There was a gown from "Gosford Park" that was absolutely encrusted with the most exquisite embroidery and beading, and it was only ever seen from a distance, at a party, in the dark, from the back. There was a gown from "Shining Through" with hand-painted flowers on silk that had been cut and hand-sewn onto chiffon. There was a gown from "The Golden Bowl" made with period lace that had been brought out of Russia before the Revolution-- the silk of the original gown had disintegrated, but the lace itself was strong enough to use again. There was an overcoat from "Onegin" with a hand-quilted lining that no camera ever saw. There was an orange silk Empire gown from the BBC's "Pride and Prejudice" with exquisite detail work in the back for a character who was almost exclusively shot from the front. And Kate Winslet's wedding dress from "Sense & Sensibility" with the utterly lovely details on the train when we only ever saw her running into the carriage with said train thrown over her arm. It's nuts. But this is the insane heart that is high-level costuming.
So my wish, Dear Universe?
I want a customer who wants something like that. Something truly special. Something show-stopping. Something that needs incredible detail and attention. Someone who wants a piece with antique lace, metallic thread, overlays, boning-- anything. I want a customer to whom money is no object, who absolutely understands that this level of work is thousands of dollars, and more than a little blood and guts. Someone who will let me design it, and who will wear it where lots and lots of people will see it. Oh, and they have to be patient, understanding, enthusiastic, and not crazy.
Can I have that, Universe? Pretty please?
Thanks,
Me
And in other news, I picked up two excellent costuming books at the museum-- one on the history and politics of the study of costume history, and one of an exhibit at the Met of 18th century costumes in vignettes in 18th century rooms. It's an approach I've never seen before, and I wish to G-d other museums would follow suit. I'd give my eyeteeth to see it done with a full set of Elizabethan costumes. I also got my last Christmas presents: the new edition of The Costume Technician's Handbook-- probably the best hands-on guide to almost anything costume-related, bar none-- and, swooningly, Norah Waugh's "The Cut of Women's Clothes." It starts in 1600 and goes on, so it's a little later than I usually need, but the information in it is exquisite. It occurs to me, now, that I'm building up a truly impressive costume library. It seems to have happened without my conscious thought: I've been looking at the books as individuals, and not as a collection. I'm truly pleased.
And one last, lovely note: remember this?
http://littlewingsdesign.com/web/blue3.jpg
Well, look what I found!
http://littlewingsdesign.com/web/blu3.jpg
Squee! I applied to Fairie Fest a few days ago, so I'll have to get those onto http://www.MayFaireMoon.com soon for them to see.
I like my job.
Yeah, well, I'm going to anyway.
The Costume in Film exhibit was amazing. Nicole Kidman must have a 24-inch waist. Elizabeth Taylor, too, in her youth-- but she was one gorgeously curvy woman. Cate Blanchett should probably not stand outside in high winds. Madonna is taller than you'd think. And Alan Rickman is...yummy-shaped.
For those who didn't get to see it, much of it can be experienced here: http://www.winterthur.org/calendar/fashion_in_film.asp . The audio tour can still be downloaded, though if you're interested, go soon, as the exhibit closed Sunday, and I'm not sure how long this part of the site'll be up. There are lovely pictures all through the section-- check out the pages on unpacking and setting up the exhibit, the Winterthur Magazine article, and the press release, which has a photo of one of the Nicole Kidman gowns from "Portrait of A Lady" that I cannot get out of my head. The unbelievable workmanship and care that went into these costumes is utterly unbelieveable. My nose was eight inches from Drew Barrymore's famous "Ever After" gown-- complete with wings!-- and I know the things I saw will NEVER show up on any extended edition DVD. There was a gown from "Gosford Park" that was absolutely encrusted with the most exquisite embroidery and beading, and it was only ever seen from a distance, at a party, in the dark, from the back. There was a gown from "Shining Through" with hand-painted flowers on silk that had been cut and hand-sewn onto chiffon. There was a gown from "The Golden Bowl" made with period lace that had been brought out of Russia before the Revolution-- the silk of the original gown had disintegrated, but the lace itself was strong enough to use again. There was an overcoat from "Onegin" with a hand-quilted lining that no camera ever saw. There was an orange silk Empire gown from the BBC's "Pride and Prejudice" with exquisite detail work in the back for a character who was almost exclusively shot from the front. And Kate Winslet's wedding dress from "Sense & Sensibility" with the utterly lovely details on the train when we only ever saw her running into the carriage with said train thrown over her arm. It's nuts. But this is the insane heart that is high-level costuming.
So my wish, Dear Universe?
I want a customer who wants something like that. Something truly special. Something show-stopping. Something that needs incredible detail and attention. Someone who wants a piece with antique lace, metallic thread, overlays, boning-- anything. I want a customer to whom money is no object, who absolutely understands that this level of work is thousands of dollars, and more than a little blood and guts. Someone who will let me design it, and who will wear it where lots and lots of people will see it. Oh, and they have to be patient, understanding, enthusiastic, and not crazy.
Can I have that, Universe? Pretty please?
Thanks,
Me
And in other news, I picked up two excellent costuming books at the museum-- one on the history and politics of the study of costume history, and one of an exhibit at the Met of 18th century costumes in vignettes in 18th century rooms. It's an approach I've never seen before, and I wish to G-d other museums would follow suit. I'd give my eyeteeth to see it done with a full set of Elizabethan costumes. I also got my last Christmas presents: the new edition of The Costume Technician's Handbook-- probably the best hands-on guide to almost anything costume-related, bar none-- and, swooningly, Norah Waugh's "The Cut of Women's Clothes." It starts in 1600 and goes on, so it's a little later than I usually need, but the information in it is exquisite. It occurs to me, now, that I'm building up a truly impressive costume library. It seems to have happened without my conscious thought: I've been looking at the books as individuals, and not as a collection. I'm truly pleased.
And one last, lovely note: remember this?
http://littlewingsdesign.com/web/blue3.jpg
Well, look what I found!
http://littlewingsdesign.com/web/blu3.jpg
Squee! I applied to Fairie Fest a few days ago, so I'll have to get those onto http://www.MayFaireMoon.com soon for them to see.
I like my job.