Election Eve

 

Right now I'm working on costumes for a short film called Election Eve. We start shooting tomorrow and political buttons and press badges need to be made. I couldn't find a place that would make the buttons in time, so a trip to Michael's to buy circular key chains and the unearthing of my glue gun and I'm ready to be inventive!

**Yes, that is a New Moon cup you see in the background and their ain't no shame in it! Everyone needs a sparkly vampire in their life.**

My Serious Face

It was a 1930s apparel sketching class. The more beat up the items the better as we are working on the play From Dust Thou Art, a play about the collective stories of people from the dust bowl states who migrated to California and had to make ends meet through crop work.

As you can see I am really focused on drawing the boot in front of me.

FIDM Costume Exhibit

 In front of Star Trek, designed by Michael Kaplan

I was unbelievably excited to attend the FIDM Hollywood 2010: The Art of Motion Picture Costume Design opening last Saturday!! I was recruited, along with a few other MFA Costume Designers, by Kristin Burke from Frocktalk.com to interview attendees and take photos. We got to meet so many amazing people like Audrey Fisher, designer for True Blood and Mona May, the designer for Clueless and Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion, and Monique Prudhomme,  the designer for The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus to say the least!

The highlight of the evening was meeting Helen Butler, who had her beautiful costumes for My One And Only on display. We talked for a good length of time and her and her husband were absolutely lovely. 

On top of all the amazing people there, of course gorgeous costumes on display too.

Check out how the costume designer Ann Roth made Meryl Streep so tall in Julie & Julia.

And this leather jacket from Sherlock Holmes, designed by Jenny Beavan, is rather underwhelming in person but was incredible on screen thanks to the standing of the collar and the richness of the leather. 

 Young Victoria, designed by Sandy Powell 

Nine, designed by Colleen Atwood 

Bright Star, designed by Janet Patterson

Coraline, designed by Deborah Cook and Margaret Meyer

Pirate Radio, designed by Joanna Johnston

Body Paint Extravaganza

A few of us MFA Costume Design students got invited to a M.A.C. Body Paint event last Friday. We were unsure what to expect but were not disappointed. Models were completely covered in shades of paint set up as art installations with lights projected to enhance their looks. It was all very LA and quite fabulous.

Here we all are out on the town: Caitlin, Me, Kaitlin, Sarah & Laura

Sandy Powell: Young Victoria

So jealous! Jessica Schroeder at What I Wore has an interview with the incredible Sandy Powell about her costume designs for Young Victoria. Talk about an absolutely gorgeous movie! Here are two of Powell's beautiful sketches. The interview and bigger versions of these sketches are on the What I Wore website. What wouldn't I give to get a chance to meet Powell -- did I mention that I was jealous?

Images via What I Wore

**UPDATE**

Oh, and to see the rest of her beautiful renderings, and her talking a bit more about individual pieces, check out the Young Victoria website.

 

Trip to the MET

Back when I lived in NYC once a month I would make a trip to the MET to walk through and do some drawing (several guards probably remember me due to some confusion over moving a bench *grin*). I was back in the city for New Years and did some more drawings for class. In my History of Dress class, one of our projects is to draw from paintings through the years so I decided to get a head start. These are a few of my favorites and a few quickie sketches.

 

  

 

My first film!

Here's the poster for my very first film. I worked with a first year MFA film student Paul Reisinger and it was such a fantastic experience. I'm absolutely itching to do more! When I get stills I will be sure to post them.

Christmas Sweater

Going to a Christmas Party this weekend and found the perfect grey argyle cap ruffled sleeved button down sweater. After all, it wouldn't be Christmas without an embellished sweater now would it?!

New Year's Eve dress

Just finished my first quarter of grad school. I'm been lounging in bed and watching movies for the past day and a half and now I can't deal with all this free time. To keep myself busy I'm creating a Christmas break project: make my New Years Eve dress.

Now that I've tailored the pattern I'm off tomorrow to pick fabrics! Hopefully I can find a nice brocade that's not too expensive as this pattern requires 6 yards of fabric. Sister's gotta eat (granted I'd probably look better in the dress if I do that a little less often)

Crazy

For my Costume Design for Film class we're working on a design project for the film Crazy, a bio pic about the Guitarist Hank Garland. Here's one of my sketches for Billy Byrd, one of Garland's friends. In this scene it's late at night after a performance and Byrd has had far too much to drink and is running about their hotel in his underwear.

I'll also have to post my two Elvis designs soon.

Teen Angst

 

For my first year design class we are working on a quirky family (Mother, Father, Son, Daughter). Here's the daughter: Ugh, no one understands her, she loves Twilight because she relates so well to Bella, she's not an outcast but not popular either, she's right in the middle so no one notices her. She has 2 friends, loves Belle and Sebastian, doesn't have a boyfriend, likes to sit in her room and listen to music. always has her headphones on, but her mother makes her take them off during dinner. eats poptarts for breakfast.....