Iconic Costumes In Film And Tv History

While period costumes usually get all the acclaim in film and tv world, the contemporary ones are often left unnoticed. This blog is a tribute to the most iconic of them.
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  • Winners Announced at the 15th Annual Costume Designers Guild Awards.

    • 3 months ago
  • DAVID WOODERSON
Woodersson is supposed to be based on an actual schoolmate of Linklater’s, Bobby Wooderson, who, together with a couple of other friends, filed a lawsuit against Universal Studios in 2004, saying that the director did not get their permission to use their likenesses and surnames.
Whether the Ted Nugent t-shirt and the salmon-pink pants were also something the real-life Wooderson wore remains unclear.
Dazed and Confused (1993), directed by: Richard Linklater, costume design by: Katherine Dover

    DAVID WOODERSON

    Woodersson is supposed to be based on an actual schoolmate of Linklater’s, Bobby Wooderson, who, together with a couple of other friends, filed a lawsuit against Universal Studios in 2004, saying that the director did not get their permission to use their likenesses and surnames.

    Whether the Ted Nugent t-shirt and the salmon-pink pants were also something the real-life Wooderson wore remains unclear.

    Dazed and Confused (1993), directed by: Richard Linklater, costume design by: Katherine Dover

    • 3 months ago
    • 18 notes
    • #David Wooderson
    • #Dazed and Confused
    • #Richard Linklater
    • #Katherine Dover
    • #Matthew McConaughey
    • #film
    • #costume design
    • #iconic costumes
  • RALPHIE’S BUNNY SUIT
 If you want your own “pink nightmare”, as Ralphie’s father calls it, here are some step-by-step instuctions: http://www.instructables.com/id/Christmas-Story-Bunny-Costume/?ALLSTEPS
A Christmas Story (1983), directed by: Bob Clark, costume design by: Mary E. McLeod

    RALPHIE’S BUNNY SUIT

    If you want your own “pink nightmare”, as Ralphie’s father calls it, here are some step-by-step instuctions: http://www.instructables.com/id/Christmas-Story-Bunny-Costume/?ALLSTEPS

    A Christmas Story (1983), directed by: Bob Clark, costume design by: Mary E. McLeod

    • 4 months ago
    • 4 notes
    • #iconic costumes
    • #costume design
    • #film
    • #A Christmas Story
    • #Ralphie's bunny suit
    • #Bob Clark
    • #Mary E. McLeod
    • #Peter Billingsley
  • JOHN SHAFT
Pretty much the only man that can make turtlenecks look cool.
Shaft (1971), directed by: Gordon Parks, costume design by: Joseph G. Aulisi (as Joe Aulisi)

    JOHN SHAFT

    Pretty much the only man that can make turtlenecks look cool.

    Shaft (1971), directed by: Gordon Parks, costume design by: Joseph G. Aulisi (as Joe Aulisi)




    • 6 months ago
    • 11 notes
    • #iconic costumes
    • #costume design
    • #film
    • #Shaft
    • #John Shaft
    • #Gordon Parks
    • #Joseph G. Aulisi
    • #Joe Aulisi
    • #Richard Roundtree
  • ALEX OWENS
(from IMDb) Jennifer Beals’ trend-setting collarless sweatshirt came about by accident. The sweatshirt, which Beals brought from home, had shrunk in the wash and she had to cut the collar off in order to get it over her head.
Flasdance (1983), directed by: Adrian Lyne, costume design by: Michael Kaplan

    ALEX OWENS

    (from IMDb) Jennifer Beals’ trend-setting collarless sweatshirt came about by accident. The sweatshirt, which Beals brought from home, had shrunk in the wash and she had to cut the collar off in order to get it over her head.

    Flasdance (1983), directed by: Adrian Lyne, costume design by: Michael Kaplan

    • 6 months ago
    • 26 notes
    • #iconic costumes
    • #costume design
    • #film
    • #Flashdance
    • #Alex Owens
    • #Adrian Lyne
    • #Michael Kaplan
    • #Jennifer Beals
  • WEDNESDAY ADDAMS

    Regardless of which version you prefer, the costume is still influenced by the original cartoons. Happy Wednesday!

    The Addams Family (1964-1966), Addams Family Values (1993) - both based on the characters by Charles Addams

    • 6 months ago
    • 6 notes
    • #iconic costumes
    • #costume design
    • #film
    • #tv
    • #The Addams Family
    • #Wednesday Addams
    • #Charles Addams
    • #Lisa Loring
    • #Christina Ricci
  • ICONIC HAIR SUNDAY (HALLOWEEN EDITION): BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN
Elsa Lanchester’s hair was permed and combed over a wire mesh frame to achieve the style, the streaks of white hair indicating the character was created with a little help from electricity.
Bride of Frankenstein (1935), directed by: James Whale, hair and make-up artist: Jack Pierce

    ICONIC HAIR SUNDAY (HALLOWEEN EDITION): BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN

    Elsa Lanchester’s hair was permed and combed over a wire mesh frame to achieve the style, the streaks of white hair indicating the character was created with a little help from electricity.

    Bride of Frankenstein (1935), directed by: James Whale, hair and make-up artist: Jack Pierce

    • 7 months ago
    • 11 notes
    • #iconic hair
    • #film
    • #Bride of Frankenstein
    • #James Whale
    • #Elsa Lanchester
    • #Jack Pierce
  • LYDIA’S WEDDING DRESS
Married in red, better off dead.
Beetle Juice (1988), directed by: Tim Burton, costume design by: Aggie Guerard Rogers

    LYDIA’S WEDDING DRESS

    Married in red, better off dead.

    Beetle Juice (1988), directed by: Tim Burton, costume design by: Aggie Guerard Rogers

    • 7 months ago
    • 230 notes
    • #iconic costumes
    • #costume design
    • #film
    • #fashion
    • #Beetle Juice
    • #Lydia Deetz
    • #Lydia's wedding dress
    • #Tim Burton
    • #Aggie Guerard Rodgers
    • #Winona Ryder
  • ICONIC HAIR SUNDAY: EDWARD SCISSORHANDS
Edward Scissorhands (1990), directed by: Tim Burton

    ICONIC HAIR SUNDAY: EDWARD SCISSORHANDS

    Edward Scissorhands (1990), directed by: Tim Burton

    • 7 months ago
    • 32 notes
    • #iconic hair
    • #film
    • #fashion
    • #Edward Scissorhands
    • #Tim Burton
    • #Johnny Depp
  • FREDDY KRUEGER
Freddy’s sweater was described as red and yellow in the script and the idea was that whatever Freddy changed into would be yellow and red as well. Wes Craven later changed the colors to red and green, the two most contrasting colors to the human retina.
A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), directed by: Wes Craven, costume design by: Dana Lyman

    FREDDY KRUEGER

    Freddy’s sweater was described as red and yellow in the script and the idea was that whatever Freddy changed into would be yellow and red as well. Wes Craven later changed the colors to red and green, the two most contrasting colors to the human retina.

    A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), directed by: Wes Craven, costume design by: Dana Lyman

    • 7 months ago
    • 34 notes
    • #iconic costumes
    • #film
    • #fashion
    • #Freddy Krueger
    • #A Nightmare on Elm Street
    • #Wes Craven
    • #Dana Lyman
    • #Robert Englund
  • THE GRADY TWINS
We might as well get on board with October and post some iconic Halloween-appropriate looks, so there you go: the Grady twins, famously inspired by this photo by the legendary Diane Arbus.
The Shining (1980), directed by: Stanley Kubrick, costume design by: Milena Canonero

    THE GRADY TWINS

    We might as well get on board with October and post some iconic Halloween-appropriate looks, so there you go: the Grady twins, famously inspired by this photo by the legendary Diane Arbus.

    The Shining (1980), directed by: Stanley Kubrick, costume design by: Milena Canonero

    • 7 months ago
    • 11 notes
    • #iconic costumes
    • #costume design
    • #film
    • #fashion
    • #The Grady twins
    • #The Shining
    • #Stanley Kubrick
    • #Milena Canonero
    • #Lisa Burns
    • #Louise Burns
  • RON BURGUNDY
Burgundy by name, burgundy by fashion.
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004), directed by: Adam McKay, costume design by: Debra McGuire

    RON BURGUNDY

    Burgundy by name, burgundy by fashion.

    Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004), directed by: Adam McKay, costume design by: Debra McGuire

    • 7 months ago
    • 5 notes
    • #iconic costumes
    • #costume design
    • #film
    • #fashion
    • #Ron Burgundy
    • #Anchorman
    • #Adam McKay
    • #Debra McGuire
    • #Will Ferrell
  • THE LISBON SISTERS’ PROM DRESSES

    “It made no difference which pattern of their dream dresses the girls chose. Mrs Lisbon added an inch to the bust line and two to the waist and hems. And the dresses came out as four identical sacks”

    The Virgin Suicides (1999), directed by: Sofia Coppola, costume design by: Nancy Steiner

    • 8 months ago
    • 24 notes
    • #iconic costumes
    • #costume design
    • #film
    • #fashion
    • #The Virgin Suicides
    • #Sofia Coppola
    • #Nancy Steiner
    • #Kirsten Dunst
    • #A.J. Cook
    • #Leslie Hayman
    • #Chelse Swain
    • #prom dress
  • RANDY “THE RAM” ROBINSON
You know a character is extremely well designed when you can find multiple fan-made custom action figures representing him.
The Wrestler (2008), directed by: Darren Aronofsky, costume design by: Amy Westcott

    RANDY “THE RAM” ROBINSON

    You know a character is extremely well designed when you can find multiple fan-made custom action figures representing him.

    The Wrestler (2008), directed by: Darren Aronofsky, costume design by: Amy Westcott

    • 8 months ago
    • 3 notes
    • #iconic costumes
    • #costume design
    • #film
    • #fashion
    • #Randy The Ram Robinson
    • #The Wrestler
    • #Darren Aronofsky
    • #Amy Westcott
    • #Mickey Rourke
  • MARIA COUGHLIN
An excellent example of a movie letting us know how the character feels about herself at any given moment, with nothing but a simple detail - just check whether she’s wearing her glasses or not. Seek out “Trust” if you haven’t yet!
Trust (1990), directed by: Hal Hartley, costume design by: Claudia Brown

    MARIA COUGHLIN

    An excellent example of a movie letting us know how the character feels about herself at any given moment, with nothing but a simple detail - just check whether she’s wearing her glasses or not. Seek out “Trust” if you haven’t yet!

    Trust (1990), directed by: Hal Hartley, costume design by: Claudia Brown

    • 8 months ago
    • #iconic costumes
    • #costume design
    • #film
    • #fashion
    • #Maria Coughlin
    • #Trust
    • #Hal Hartley
    • #Claudia Brown
    • #Adrienne Shelley
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