wihm day 25/Edith Head and Alfred Hitchcock
Edith Head was a costume designer who worked with Alfred Hitchcock on 11 of his films. They had a symbiotic working relationship – Hitchcock had a strong idea of what he wanted to see his characters wearing and Head was able to bring those ideas to fruition. She was a fascinating women who started her design career in 1924 and worked (her last project was Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid) right up to her death in 1981. She was well known for consulting with her female actors about their on set wardrobes- something that her contemporary male costume designers rarely, if ever, did. She became somewhat of a celebrity herself due to her unique sense of fashion – severe hair cut/dark glasses- and candid personality. She appeared in numerous tv shows (Columbo) and films as herself. The character of Edna Mode in Pixar’s 2004 animated film The Incredibles was based heavily on Edith Head. It’s great to see them tip their hat to old Hollywood. Edith Head created the costumes for some of the best twisted thriller/horror movies ever and they still look good today. She was a trend setter – not a trend follower. She won an unprecedented number of Oscars – eight – and as the Oscars are airing tomorrow – she seems a fitting pick for day 25 of women in horror month.
Notorious (1946)
Rear Window (1954)
The Trouble with Harry (1955)
To Catch a Thief (1955)
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
Vertigo (1958)
The Birds (1963)
Marnie (1964)
Torn Curtain (1966)
Topaz (1969)
Family Plot (1976)
