Edith Head: Queen of Fashion

Today we learn from Google that it is Edith Head's 116th birthday.

Edith Head designed costumes for over 400 movies, dressing famous actresses such as Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor, Barbara Stanwyck, Dolores Hart and many others. Edith Head once said, "If it is a Paramount film, I probably designed it." She is the only woman to receive 8 Acadamy awards for her work and was nominated for an Oscar 35 times. She is the most honored costume designer and woman in Acadamy Award history to date.

 

Did you know that her trademark "sunglasses" were not "sunglasses" but rather blue lensed glasses. Looking through a blue glass was a common trick of costumers in the days of Black and White film to get a sense of how a color would photograph. Edith had a pair of glasses made out of the proper shade of blue glass to save herself from looking through a single lens. Her friends commonly would see her in regular "clear" glasses. - Imdb

 

 

 

How To Dress For Success

This looks like a fun book to get!

Read more about this book here or look at the preview on Amazon. 

 

Also, don't miss this book.

It was very good! Lots of anecdotes about the big movie stars she dressed!

 

 

A Look at Edith Head's Many Designs

slideshow

 

 

Audrey Hepburn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grace Kelly

 

To Catch a Thief

 

 

 

"I've dressed thousands of actors, actresses and animals, but whenever I am asked which star is my personal favorite, I answer, "Grace Kelly." She is a charming lady, a most gifted actress and, to me, a valued friend." - Edith Head

 

Barbara Stanwyck

 

On the special features of The Lady Eve, there was a feature on Edith Head. It said that most costume designers were afraid to dress Barbara Stanwyck because of her tall, thin figure. Edith Head saw it as a challenge though and loved to design outfits for Stanwyk.

 

White Christmas

(best movie ever)

 

 

Happy Birthday Edith!