Trying on the gown designed by Edith Head for the Academy Awards in 1959Design for What A Way To Go (1964)Edith Head and Shirley MacLaine, Sweet Charity (1969)
You know, the Head Edith couldn’t draw, she just signed them! But she could run her department.
I worked on a play for which she designed the women’s costumes (“Edwin Booth”) and the only conversation I remember was her continually saying to me how insecure she was doing it. “I don’t know why they hired me….” Yada yada yada! A complicated woman.
Another time, I had lunch at the old Oblath’s across from (the old) Paramount with her and Al Nickel, the head of (the old) Western Costume which was then next to Paramount.
Using Oblath’s restroom, I saw there were graffiti on the walls. I couldn’t resist. I wrote “Edith Head gives good wardrobe”!
I do love me some Edith Head! A true eccentric with dreadnought talent.
Shirley in that top photo – best short haircut ever. Only certain people can pull off short hair, and that haircut on Ms. Maclaine was perfection. The later iterations of it… not so much.
You know, the Head Edith couldn’t draw, she just signed them! But she could run her department.
I worked on a play for which she designed the women’s costumes (“Edwin Booth”) and the only conversation I remember was her continually saying to me how insecure she was doing it. “I don’t know why they hired me….” Yada yada yada! A complicated woman.
Another time, I had lunch at the old Oblath’s across from (the old) Paramount with her and Al Nickel, the head of (the old) Western Costume which was then next to Paramount.
Using Oblath’s restroom, I saw there were graffiti on the walls. I couldn’t resist. I wrote “Edith Head gives good wardrobe”!
Ye gods! That comment is worthy of its own post—you had me cackling over my coffee cup! Looking up “Edwin Booth” now…
That first gown is sublime…two complex women…love it!
I know with your theatrical background you’ve had to endure such a gown…let’s say it together, “I could breath, except for this goddamn boning!”
Yep and they are impossible to do theatre in. Breathe from your diaphragm? It looks like a belly dance in that kind of hardware!
I do love me some Edith Head! A true eccentric with dreadnought talent.
Shirley in that top photo – best short haircut ever. Only certain people can pull off short hair, and that haircut on Ms. Maclaine was perfection. The later iterations of it… not so much.
I think the key to that haircut is youth 😉 .