16 The Costume Designer Winter 2016
THE COSTUME DEPARTMENT
Illustration by Robin Richesson
rrichesson@cdgia.com
Text by Marcy Froehlich
mfroehlich@cdgia.com
HISTORY OF DRESS
Rhinestone
If all that glitters is not gold ... maybe it's
rhinestones. Early versions were actually
rock crystals gathered from the Rhine River.
In the 18th century, a jeweler thought to
coat glass with metal powder, introduc-
ing the modern iteration of the stones.
Swarovski elevated glass cutting to an
art form and renamed them crystals. Dia-
monds may not be a Costume Designer's
best friend, as evidenced by the crystals
glittering like a snowfall on this illustra-
tion of our CDG statuette and her gown.