Clothes on Film

The study of costume design in cinema and television. Featuring exclusive articles, news, interviews, videos, podcasts, essays and competitions.

  • About, Editor and Contributors
  • Archive
  • Press
  • Ads
  • Contact
  • About, Editor and Contributors
  • Archive
  • Press
  • Ads
  • Contact

Socials

  • twitter
  • facebook
  • youtube
  • instagram
  • Clothes from 1837-1919,  Girls on TV,  Guys on TV,  Interviews,  Premium

    Homecoming: Betsy Heimann on Costuming Godless

    15 Dec ’17 /

    MINOR SPOILERS At a pivotal juncture during the Fathers & Sons episode of Godless (2017), the camera tracks into a pink ribbon tied on the back of young woman’s hair; a woman who is suffering from the onset symptoms of smallpox and unlikely to find recovery. Later in the episode we pan across dozens of freshly dug but unnamed graves each with it’s own crucifix. We don’t see the woman again, but on one of the crucifixes is tied a pink ribbon. Such is the power of even the slightest costume and accessory details in Godless, the narrative is informed by their very presence. Costume designer for Godless was Betsy…

    read more
    Lord Christopher Laverty 2 Comments

    You May Also Like

    First Trailer for Sherlock Holmes Online – No Deerstalker! No Mac Farlane!

    19 May ’09

    The Young Victoria: Chris and Maggie Chat About the Film

    26 Jul ’10

    Lucinda Wright on Costume in The Suspicions of Mr Whicher

    2 Jul ’13
  • Clothes from 1970s,  Girls in Films,  Guys in Films,  Premium

    From Bum to Italian Stallion: Sylvester Stallone as Rocky

    22 Apr ’14 /

    In the very opening scene of Rocky (1976, costume designer Robert Cambel), we see the title character in the ring, bare chested, hands encased in boxing gloves, the picture of sporting violence and masculinity. But this is no more than a surface assumption. Not two minutes later, we see Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) shrug on his faded brown towelling dressing gown, with “The Italian Stallion” embroidered on the back, and things start to shift. This is not a macho film concerned with the fight alone, but an exploration of masculinity in all its guises – the assumptions, the pretence and the reality. Clothes play an important part in this, both…

    read more
    Lord Christopher Laverty Comments Off on From Bum to Italian Stallion: Sylvester Stallone as Rocky

    You May Also Like

    Mr Nice starring Rhys Ifans: Lots of Nice Photos

    14 Aug ’10

    Michael Caine in Pulp

    22 Jun ’10

    Jane Fonda and the Costumes of Klute (1971)

    19 Aug ’19
  • Clothes from 1837-1919,  Clothes from 1920s,  Clothes from 1930s,  Girls in Films,  Guys in Films

    Status and Signifiers: Costume in There Will Be Blood

    1 Apr ’14 /

    Costume designer Mark Bridges described There Will Be Blood (2007) as his most challenging film, referring to the difficulties he faced in transporting costumes to the remote location in West Texas, after director Paul Thomas Anderson called for a new concept three days before a re-shoot. However these challenges seem to channel the themes of the film itself: hardship, isolation, and the determination to overcome any obstacle to fulfil a goal. Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) is a turn-of-the-century prospector, who receives a tip about a giant oil deposit under a family farm in California. The family includes Eli Sunday, a zealous preacher and faith healer who wants the money from…

    read more
    Lord Christopher Laverty Comments Off on Status and Signifiers: Costume in There Will Be Blood

    You May Also Like

    Homecoming: Betsy Heimann on Costuming Godless

    15 Dec ’17

    Anna Karenina: Jacqueline Durran Talks Jewellery & Costume

    11 Jan ’13

    Review: Django Unchained

    28 Dec ’12
  • Costume Stories and Links

    Costume Stories, This Week: Amy Adams & Sleepy Hollow

    25 Jan ’14 /

    Give us three minutes; we’ll give you the costume world. Amy Adams Current actress of the moment and friend of costume designers everywhere, Amy Adams, is to be honoured at this year’s CDG awards on 22nd February. Totò a colori Satin, peplums, artsy tortoiseshell spectacles and Sophia Loren with unshaven armpits. Superqueen explains exactly why we should all seek out Totò a colori. Game of Thrones Finally someone has realised it is ALL about the embroidery. The Great Gatsby Catherine Martin chats to HitFlix about “colour obsessed” Baz Luhrmann. Easy to Love Engrossing post by Kay Noske at Movie Star Makeover, all about Helen Rose’s fantastic colour combinations for Easy…

    read more
    Lord Christopher Laverty Comments Off on Costume Stories, This Week: Amy Adams & Sleepy Hollow

    You May Also Like

    Costume Stories, This Week: Edith Head and Ender’s Game

    2 Nov ’13

    Costume Stories, This Week: Piero Tosi and Veep

    23 Nov ’13

    Costume Stories, This Week: Wolf of Wall Street & Bruce Lee

    14 Dec ’13
  • Clothes from 1837-1919,  Girls in Films,  Guys in Films,  Premium

    The Lone Ranger: Never take off the Mask

    30 Jul ’13 /

    There is not man behind the mask; the mask is The Lone Ranger.

    read more
    Lord Christopher Laverty 1 Comment

    You May Also Like

    Dress like a Peaky Blinder

    13 Sep ’13

    Review: Jane Eyre at Haddon Hall

    9 Sep ’11

    The Young Victoria: Chris and Maggie Chat About the Film

    26 Jul ’10
  • Clothes from 1837-1919,  Clothes from Fantasy & Sci-fi,  Film Reviews,  Girls in Films,  Guys in Films,  Premium

    Review: Oz the Great and Powerful

    4 Mar ’13 /

    Oz is here and as far as fantasy costume is concerned, you are in for some surprises.

    read more
    Lord Christopher Laverty 2 Comments

    You May Also Like

    12 Years a Slave Trailer: Fine Fabrics

    16 Jul ’13

    Oz the Great and Powerful: Costume Interview with Gary Jones

    5 Jul ’13

    First Trailer for Sherlock Holmes Online – No Deerstalker! No Mac Farlane!

    19 May ’09
  • Clothes from 1930s,  Clothes from 1940s,  Girls in Films,  Guys in Films,  Premium

    Gangster Squad: Gangster Gloss

    28 Jan ’13 /

    The glossy costume world of gangster squad is faithful to history, but not a slave to it.

    read more
    Lord Christopher Laverty 1 Comment

    You May Also Like

    Swing Time: Ginger Rogers’ Day Dress

    26 May ’09

    HBO Sessions Video: Clothes on Film Discuss Mildred Pierce

    21 Nov ’11

    King Kong: Naomi Watts’ White Evening Dress

    23 Oct ’09
  • Clothes from 1960s,  Clothes from Fantasy & Sci-fi,  Girls in Films,  Guys in Films,  Interviews,  News,  Premium

    2001 and Hardy Amies: When Fashion and Film Collide

    21 Dec ’12 /

    Fascinating video about Hardy Amies costumes for 2001: A Space Odyssey.

    read more
    Lord Christopher Laverty 7 Comments

    You May Also Like

    A Cat of a Certain Breed: Breakfast at Tiffany’s

    11 Aug ’12

    Review: Moonrise Kingdom

    29 May ’12

    Two For the Road: Audrey Hepburn’s outfits – Part 1

    8 Jun ’09
  • Clothes from 1960s,  Girls in Films,  Premium

    Sandra Dee in If A Man Answers: A Salmon Run Up Beacon Hill

    9 Nov ’12 /

    The evolving costumes worn by Sandra Dee in classic sixties gender comedy A Man Answers.

    read more
    Contributor Comments Off on Sandra Dee in If A Man Answers: A Salmon Run Up Beacon Hill

    You May Also Like

    Costume Designer Theadora Van Runkle Dies Aged 83

    8 Nov ’11

    Michael Caine in The Italian Job: Part 2

    20 Feb ’14

    From Tailors with Love Podcast: Discussing the Tom Ford Look

    24 Jan ’20
  • Clothes from Fantasy & Sci-fi,  Film Reviews,  Girls in Films,  Guys in Films

    Review: Looper

    14 Sep ’12 /

    A mishmash of sci-fi conventions and clichés cobbled together as something we have never quite seen before.

    read more
    Lord Christopher Laverty Comments Off on Review: Looper

    You May Also Like

    A Sneaky Peek at The Green Hornet Costume

    1 Oct ’09

    Review: Inception

    13 Jul ’10

    Harold Ramis Talks Ghostbusters 3: Return of the Jumpsuit

    10 Jul ’09
  • Clothes from 1950s,  Girls in Films,  Guys in Films,  Premium

    Doris Day in Pillow Talk: Couture Allure

    18 May ’12 /

    Doris Day’s last hurrah for 1950s fashion wearing some of the most exquisite costumes ever seen on screen.

    read more
    Lord Christopher Laverty 8 Comments

    You May Also Like

    To Catch a Thief: Grace Kelly’s Coral Top and Skirt

    21 May ’11

    The Iron Lady: Costume as Distinction, Gender and Protection

    4 May ’13

    Rebel Without a Cause: James Dean in Denim

    1 Jul ’10
  • Clothes from 1930s,  Clothes from 1990s,  Girls in Films,  Guys in Films,  Premium

    The Secret Sharer: Abbie Cornish & Andrea Riseborough in W.E.

    20 Mar ’12 /

    The glamorous look of the mid-1930s threads its way through dual love stories in W.E.

    read more
    Contributor Comments Off on The Secret Sharer: Abbie Cornish & Andrea Riseborough in W.E.

    You May Also Like

    Johnny Depp in Public Enemies: Costume as Plot

    12 Apr ’11

    Mildred Pierce: Uniform Appeal

    1 Dec ’11

    Swing Time: Ginger Rogers’ Day Dress

    26 May ’09
 Older Posts