History Of Hollywood Costume Design

Arts Calendar

Ongoing exhibit

CITY OF FORT LAUDERDALE'S CENTENNIAL TRAVELING EXHIBITS

Fort Lauderdale History Center

Hours are Tuesday to Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Located on the New River Inn's second floor, this is one of the few times that all four of these traveling exhibits (Panorama of the Past; New River Inn Visitor's Room, c. 1908; King-Cromartie House; and Digging up History: An Archeological Excavation of the Second Stranahan Store) will be presented in the same place. The exhibits provide an opportunity for visitors to expand their knowledge of Fort Lauderdale's past. Included in History Center General Admission: $10 for adults and $5 for students with a valid ID (through age 22). Members and children 6 and under are free. New River Inn, 229 S.W. Second Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Visit

Through Aug. 19

YOUNG ACTORS/YOUNG ARTISTS CAMP

Art and Culture Center of Hollywood

Half- and full-day camp sessions are available. Camp times 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Participants ages 6 to 12 will obtain performing and visual art-making skills. From 9 a.m. to noon, "Young Actors" features drama, improvisation, storytelling, music, movement, basic set and costume design, and more. Between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., "Young Artists" explore drawing, painting, mixed media, clay and more. Family and friends will enjoy a presentation at the end of this camp, whose theme is "European Folklore." Camp prices per child: $250 members, $275 non-members for half-day; $350 members, $375 non-members for full day. Center's Art School, 1626 Harrison St. Visit http://www.ArtAndCultureCenter.org , call 954-921-3274 or email info@artandculturecenter.org .

Through Sept.

Edith Head: The Life and Times of Hollywood's Celebrated Costume ...

Edith Head is widely considered the most important figure in the history of Hollywood costume design. Her career spanned nearly half a century and included such classic films as Rear Window and Sunset Boulevard. Her private life and professional achievements have been the subject of speculation since she rose to the top in the late 1940s. Ruthlessly competitive and intensely secretive, Head had few close friends and many detractors. Her longtime friend, protégé, and confidant David Chierichetti offers a privileged glimpse into the personality behind the famously impenetrable "schoolmarm" façade and a comprehensive account of her creative process. With more than 150 images –– including family snapshots, sketches, and studio portraits of the stars and roles she helped to create, Edith Head is a fresh and vital portrait of the designer, as well as of the era she epitomizes.

Amazon Sales Rank: #1052915 in Books Published on: 2004-01-01 Released on: 2003-12-23 Original language: English Number of items: 1 Binding: Paperback 272 pages

From Publishers Weekly Film historian Chierichetti pays tribute to the grit behind one woman's glamorous career. Head spent more than 40 years at Paramount, won eight Oscars and became as famous as the stars she dressed. Her longevity came thanks to diplomacy and manipulation, and Chierichetti meticulously details her love affairs, touted designs and public appeal. From 1925 until her death in 1981, Head was a byword in Hollywood and an American fashion icon. She endured long hours, modest pay and studio machinations, yet never lost her cool. And she dressed everyone, from Barbara Stanwyck and Grace Kelly to Paul Newman. Draped in dark glasses and severe suits, Head was a master at playing politics and keeping competitors at bay. She was also an accomplished liar, which haunted her throughout her life. Head accepted the Oscar for Sabrina, though the gowns were designed by Givenchy. She gambled that the unknown Frenchman would remain silent-and he did. Not that the impenetrable Head wasn't a talent in her own right. Her ability to stay within budget and placate divas-"I might have to dress her again"-was as legendary as her fashion virtuosity. Olivia de Havilland dubbed her "a marvel." Yet the twice-married designer was also insecure and aloof; keeping secrets kept her in the game. Few, save Chierichetti, ever penetrated her inner core.

Dressed, a century of Hollywood costume design

Fashion and costume in American popular culture, a reference guide

The study of dress history

Hollywood and history, costume design in film

Women in World History: Y-Z, Indices