The costume designer often begins with a sketch of an idea. "To sketch an idea is the surest way to capture it, the clearest way to explain it. " Patricia L. Rowe
Irene's sketch of the suit worn by Joan Crawford in "They All Kissed the Bride" (Columbia, 1942). |
Irene Lentz-Gibbons, known simply as Irene, developed a style of boldly signed fashion sketches that became her trademark. She was a successful designer of not only costumes for film but of the personal wardrobes of Hollywood's most noted stars.
Joan Crawford in the suit by Irene. |
Sketches were also commonly utilized within the pages of fashion magazines such as Vogue.
Credits:
In a Glamorous Fashion, The Fabulous Years of Hollywood Costume Design by W. Robert Lavine.
Shorthand Fashion Sketching by Patricia L Rowe. Fairchild Publications, New York.
Fashion Illustrated, A Review of Women's Dress 1920 - 1950 by Deborah Torrens.
How right you are, Melissa! I have always preferred to start with a sketch...it lets me develop the idea and even go farther that I would with fabric at first! Sometimes not all ideas are good, feasible ones...and the mistake on paper is less of a loss all the way 'round! --Monsieur Érik
ReplyDeleteExactly! I too always sketch an idea first to see if it is realistic to execute in miniature. Thank you for your comment Monsieur Erik. Melissa
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