Clothes on Film

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

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  • Clothes from now,  Guys in Films

    The Essential Nature of Simple Costume in Locke

    1 Sep ’15 /

    Locke (2013, costume design by Nigel Egerton) is a film unique in its restrictions – it takes place in real time, has only one character and only one setting. Ivan Locke (Tom Hardy) is driving somewhere important, and over the course of the film’s 85 minute running time, his life gradually begins to crumble around him as he desperately tries to salvage it. The controlled environment – the inside of his car – and the fact that the only character we actually see is Ivan himself means that interest in him is the only way of maintaining an audience’s attention with such limited visual stimulation. Ivan is the only character…

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    Black Swan Images = Costume Heaven

    23 Oct ’10

    Full The Dark Knight Rises Trailer Hits: Merry Christmas

    19 Dec ’11

    Designer Style: The Counsellor (or Counselor?) Trailer Hits

    26 Jun ’13
  • Clothes from 1940s,  Clothes from 1950s,  Clothes from 1980s

    Cinema Paradiso: Invisible Costume

    9 Feb ’15 /

    Cinema Paradiso is a beautiful examination of the relationship human beings have with film. This connection is explored through the story of a young boy and his friendship with the projectionist at the town’s local cinema. The strength of this friendship is only surpassed in intensity by the boy’s deep desire to become a part of the world of movie making. This is a story not about the medium of film in itself, but about the real people whose lives are illuminated by the stories it relates. As a tale primarily of ordinary Roma people, the costumes in Cinema Paradiso, as designed by Beatrice Bordone, help create a 1940s/50’s period…

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

    21 May ’11

    Captain America: The First Trailer

    24 Mar ’11

    To Catch a Thief: Grace Kelly’s Beach Wear

    5 Apr ’11
  • 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…

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    Live and Let Die: Roger Moore’s Chesterfield Coat

    4 Jul ’09

    Alien Anthology: A Revolution in Sci-Fi Costume Design

    19 Oct ’10

    From Tailors with Love Podcast: Discussing the Tom Ford Look

    24 Jan ’20
  • Clothes from 1980s,  Guys in Films,  Premium

    The Bloody Sartorialist: Christian Bale in American Psycho

    16 Jan ’14 /

    American Psycho (2000, costume designer Isis Mussenden) is a late 1980s set film that highlights the importance placed on external appearance and the disparity that can lie between this and the true nature of a person. The ‘Psycho’ of the title, Patrick Bateman (played by Christian Bale) is outwardly flawless. He has an extreme and involved personal beauty regime, consisting of special shampoos, body washes, face masks and scrubs, complemented by a strict diet and exercise plan that he completes daily and without fail. He believes in looking after himself – or at least his external self. Beneath this perfectly glossy exterior is emptiness – a lack of humanity, of…

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    Brigsby Bear: Interview with Suit Creators Stoopid Buddy Stoodios

    28 Jul ’17

    Body of Lies: Mark Strong in Huntsman

    4 Nov ’09

    Style & Identity in Do the Right Thing

    17 Feb ’12
  • Clothes from 1950s,  Clothes from 1980s,  Girls in Films,  Premium

    The Iron Lady: Costume as Distinction, Gender and Protection

    4 May ’13 /

    A look at late Margaret Thatcher’s colour specific wardrobe as represented in the film The Iron Lady.

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    The Look of Love: Q&A with Costume Designer Stephanie Collie

    29 Aug ’13

    How to Steal a Million, or £60k for an Audrey Givenchy

    9 Dec ’09

    Anna Karenina: Jacqueline Durran Talks Jewellery & Costume

    11 Jan ’13
  • Clothes from 1980s,  Girls in Films,  Guys in Films,  Premium

    Reading Costume Design in No Country for Old Men

    5 Apr ’13 /

    The colours and codes of the costume design in No Country for Old Men.

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    Film Review: Dolores Claiborne

    6 Sep ’10

    Mr Nice starring Rhys Ifans: Lots of Nice Photos

    14 Aug ’10

    Arthur: Trailer No. 2. Brace Yourself

    3 Mar ’11
  • Clothes from 1837-1919,  Girls in Films,  Premium

    The Phantom of the Opera: Colour, Character and Costume

    5 Dec ’12 /

    The Phantom of the opera demonstrates that the colour, size and shape of a character’s costumes can communicate on a subliminal level.

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    Sleepy Hollow: Q&A with Costume Designer Kristin M. Burke

    4 Feb ’14

    Review: The Woman in Black

    10 Feb ’12

    Review: Jane Eyre at Haddon Hall

    9 Sep ’11