and how can I become like her?
I don't think women realize how much Edith Head has influenced the fashion of today. I know I didn't, until I wrote out that handy dandy list of Oscar-winning costume designers. Did you know she was nominated for 35 and won 8?? That's more than any other female!
Here is a woman who dressed the greats. I'm talking Bette Davis in All About Eve, Natalie Wood in Penelope, Grace Kelly in To Catch a Thief, even...
*drumroll pleaseeee*
Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday which has to be in my top ten all-time favorite movies, fashion-wise.
Interestingly enough, Edith started off with rudimentary drawing skills and actually went to art classes in order to improve them. In 1924, despite the fact that she had no experience, Edith was hired as a costume sketch artist for Paramount Pictures. Her big break came in 1944 when she designed a mink-lined gown for Ginger Rogers in Lady in the Dark. The costume was controversial because the second World War was still going on at the time. She became a close personal friend of Elizabeth Taylor. And was even said to be one of Alfred Hitchcock's favorite designers.
Edith was frequently 'loaned' out by Paramount to other studios at the request of their female stars. She was known for her restrained designs and was called the "queen of the shirtwaisters".
The most interesting thing I found out about Edith was that her trademark was her sunglasses. Yet the reason she even started wearing them was to see how clothes would look in black and white. Isn't that smart?? It's no surprise she managed to win all those awards.
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