CDG - The Costume Designer

Spring 2019

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44 The Costume Designer Spring 2019 H er chic suit, round black glasses, slice of black bangs, and stern face punctuated by lips pressed together tightly are unmistakable. Few Costume Designers have had same name and visual recognition enjoyed by Edith Head. With 35 Academy Award® nominations and eight Oscars, she inspired the character of Edna Mode in Pixar's The Incredibles and her birthday was celebrated with a Google Doodle. The United States Postal Service even issued a commemorative Edith Head stamp. Head was also a founding member of the Costume Designers Guild. In honor of Women's History Month, Paramount Pictures held an event featuring an exhibit of over a dozen restored Edith Head garments accompanying a performance by celebrated Edith Head impersonator Susan Claassen. When asked what inspired him to cre- ate this event, Randall Thropp, the manager of the Costume and Prop Archives at Paramount Pictures, said, "We decided to do a tribute to her for Women's History Month since Edith had the longest career of any woman at Paramount, and frankly, any woman in Hollywood. The event was sponsored by Viacom's employee resource group championing women leaders and the Paramount Archive. The costume restoration is an ongoing project. I showcased 23 pieces in the display along with some photographs and sketches. The mission of the Paramount Archive is to restore and preserve these creations for posterity." Emmy-nominated Costume Designer Betsey Potter, a dual-card member of Local 892 and 705, personally undertook the painstaking restorations of Head's garments. Potter has always been intrigued with By Anna Wyckoff Paramount Pictures honors Edith Head Susan Claassen as Edith Head at Paramount Studios. Corrine Calvert, My Friend Irma Goes West Susan Hayward, publicity photo Below: Lizabeth Scott, I Walk Alone Photos: Anna Wyckoff

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