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Monday, March 23, 2015

Monday Morning Inspiration

When I was in high school, I completed all the courses  that were offered in sewing. With nothing more to take, I was sent to the local community college to take college level classes. One of the classes that I took was costume design. The woman who taught the class had been a assistant to the costume designer Edith Head. She had the most wonderful stories. She made Hollywood come alive and brought the great actresses down to a common level.
Edith Head worked in Hollywood for over 44 years. She created clothes that weren't costumes, but pieces that any woman would love to have the opportunity to wear.
She dressed all the great actresses,
from Bette Davis,
to Elizabeth Taylor,
Joan Crawford.
One of her favorites, Audrey Hepburn,



And even Grace Kelly.
I remember seeing the movie, "Rear Window" for the first time. I was instantly in love with the above and below outfits.  
While reading her biography, I discovered that she made herself known by calling directors and asking to work on their films. Her tenacity lead to her winning 8 academy awards and  31 nominations. By the end of her life, she had become Hollywood's best know costume designer.
Please take a few moments to watch the video below. You'll be wowed by the clothes. They are incredible. You'll also learn a little more about Edith Head. The video is short, just a little over 6 minutes. Well worth the time spent.

In the video below, Edith Head actually talks about designing the costumes that Audrey Hepburn wore in the movie "Roman Holiday."


As much as I enjoy looking at the clothes, what I am taking away from this post is, to ask for what you want. Look at where asking got Edith Head!!! Well, asking and an incredible talent to back it up.
Have a wonderful day and a great week.
Rhonda



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25 comments:

  1. Oh, Yay !! She was the most talented designer !! She is my muse long as my sewing mojo sauce is down, I only find pictures of her dresses and ... voila !!

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    1. I remember the lovely dress you made using the black and white dress as your inspiration.

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  2. Thank You for this. My husband & I watched Roman Holiday this weekend (he had never seen it), and I spent a little too much time chatting about the costumes as we were viewing it!

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    1. My husband and I always enjoy watching that movie. I especially enjoyed the video showing the screen test of Audrey Hepburn and how Edith Head destined the costumes.

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  3. Thanks, Rhonda, for the wonderful inspiration!

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  4. Love these pics. I also love Edith Head and reading about her. Have one book about her. Fun little story. My Dad worked as a stage hand (for extra $$) at the Dallas Summer Musicals,. As each show came, he would take my Sister and I one night during its run. After the show got underway, the ushers would locate empty seats and we could watch. Sometimes I would get bored and go back to see my Dad. The director was so good to let me sit in a chair (sometimes his director's chair) so I could be near Dad. At intermission or after the show, he would introduce us to various folks there. One of my favorites was meeting the costume ladies. One of them was Vivian and I loved her; she showed me so many of the costumes up close and personal. We also got to meet some famous people who came to do the shows--Carol Burnett for one. She kissed me on the cheek and I didn't wash my face until all her lipstick wore off!!!! Good memories and probably why I'm still fascinated with the costume world.

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    1. What a wonderful story!! How fortunate for you as well. I remember taking the class and just hanging on every word of every story. She told a story about Judy Garland coming in for a fitting, drunk. She was being so belligerent, and kept knocking the pins on the floor. Our teacher said that after about the fifth time of picking up all the pins, she took one and stick her in the rear. Of course she screamed bloody murder. Our teacher said that she grabbed her purse and ran out crying. She said that Ms. Head called her a little later and told her to come back and that if she had guts enough to do that, she would be able to make it in this business.
      I love your Carol Burnett story!

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  5. Oh, Rhonda! This is your best post ever! I just love fashion and the movies. Lately, there just aren't any interesting costumes---every one is so casual. Well, there is "The Good Wife" and "House of Cards." There's a Jeanne Lanvin exhibit in Paris currently, so I'm trying to figure out how to see that! Thank you so much for the Monday Morning Inspiration!!

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    1. Thanks!! Wow, I would love to go to Paris and see that exhibit too!

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  6. This is great. Edith Head must be one of the best designers ever. Such elegant clothes, maybe a few of the people on red carpets today could do with channeling her design skills. Xx

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  7. OMGoodness, Rhonda! I so enjoyed those videos. Edith Head has impressed me since I was a child. I remember Merv Griffin would have her on his show now and then and she would give up tidbits about the various stars. I always have loved her personal style and her suits are impeccable. We see today's designer's shlepping out on the runway in their black tees and jeans. They could learn a thing or two from Ms. Head. She was always personally the epitome of good taste and in her career performed magic for her starlets. Thanks, Rhonda. I totally enjoyed this post.

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  8. Thanks, Rhonda. I was in need of a little inspiration. So I clicked over to you site. Satisfied.., These drawings are beautiful. You've certainly had some wonderful learning experiences.

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  9. She used to be on the Art Linkletter show, too. The force of her personality was striking.

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  10. Thanks for sharing the videos. I enjoyed watching them. I think Edith Head's designs were wonderful!

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  11. My high school offered zero sewing classes (beyond jealous of your experience). I love, love, love Roman Holiday and the story of her tenacity to cold call the directors is so inspiring!

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  12. Thank you so much, Rhonda! I LOVED watching those videos. I want to watch all the movies now JUST to look at the costumes.
    Hugs, Joy

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  13. This is a fun post and Edith Head was certainly very talented - and she needed to be a self promoter! In her day it would have been very difficult for a woman to get such an important job. One shameful part of this though is that she did not create Audrey Hepburn's designs for Sabrina. They were by Hubert de Givenchy. Edith Head made drawings of the dresses and claimed the screen credit. It was never a secret and she was apparently never embarrassed by her deceitfulness. http://silverscreenmodes.com/?p=277

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  14. Wow! Thanks for sharing this Rhonda. The dress are so beautiful!

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  15. Watching those clips was a wonderful way to start my morn. Thank you Rhonda

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  16. I really enjoy your inspiration posts and the drawings in this one are just gorgeous. I was excited to see the 'Rear Window' dresses. The second one has been made into a pattern by a friend (http://savagecocopatterns.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/haltertop-hussy.html). My own version is here (http://www.meggipeg.com/2013/03/releasing-my-inner-hussy.html). You were lucky to get so close to Edith Head's assistant.

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    1. Thanks for the links Megan!! I adore the dress that you did.

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  17. Thanks for posting this. Wonderful videos!

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  18. Finally had a minute to watch the videos...loved them!!! So cool! I'd love to be able to visit the display of all those costumes. And to think...they could have been rented...wow...

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    1. Isn't it amazing to think that there was a time that you could actually rent a Hollywood costume?!! At least we can still enjoy the pictures :)

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