Edith Head was an extraordinary woman, she was named head costume designer at Paramount Studios in 1938 and was the only woman, up to that time, to hold such a position. She remained at Paramount Studios for 44 years until 1967. During her time at Paramount, Head was loaned to other studios including MGM, Universal,and 20th Century-Fox.
In 1967, she signed a long-term contract with Universal Studios, where she worked for 14 years until her death at age 83 on the 24th October 1981.
Edith Head was nominated for 35 Academy Awards, she actually won 8 Oscars and her wins remain the record in the Costume Design category and represent the highest number of nominations and wins by any woman in any category.
Her first Oscar was for The Heiress (1949). This was only her second nomination, she had been nominated for the 'Emperor Waltz' in the previous year. Head's other Oscars were awarded for some of the most iconic films of the day including, 'A Place in the Sun' (1951), 'Roman Holiday' (1953), 'Sabrina' (1954) and 'The Facts of Life' (1960).
In 1950 Head was nominated in 2 categories, Costume Design on a Colour Film, for 'Samson and Delilah' and Costume Design on a Black and White film for 'All About Eve', she won in both categories.
Her last Oscar was awarded in 1973 for the film 'The Sting' which starred Robert Redford and Paul Newman. Head was said to have been very proud of this win because it was the first time that a predominantly male film won an award for costume.
Despite her undoubted talents as a costume designer for period films such as Samson and Delilah, it is her talent for creating elegant and stylish clothes for films that were contemporary with the period in which they were made, including 'All About Eve', that sets her apart for many. Edith Head became known for designing clothes which any woman in the 1940's or 1950's could easily imagine herself wearing and was in fact able to do so. Head designed a number of dress patterns for Vogue from which they could make her designs for themselves.
One of the most outstanding 'frocks' created by Head was the amazing evening gown worn by Grace Kelly in the Hitchcock film 'Rear Window', a stunning concoction of black and white.
One of the lesser known films on which Head is credited as having worked was 'Love Has Many Faces' made in 1965 and which starred Lana Turner and Cliff Robertson. By the time this film was made, Lana Turner was 44 years old and in the first glimpse of her in the film she was wearing a beach costume of shorts and top in bright orange. It is a testament to Heads ability as a designer that Turner looked incredible in that outfit and 2 further outfits, the stunning evening top embellished with crystals and trousers in bright emerald green silk and the beautiful, elegant white evening dress.
Edith Head's contemporary designs are timeless and the sketches she made when designing her work still turn up in auctions and are eagerly collected today. They are a reminder of a past era of glamour, style and elegance.
In 1967, she signed a long-term contract with Universal Studios, where she worked for 14 years until her death at age 83 on the 24th October 1981.
Edith Head was nominated for 35 Academy Awards, she actually won 8 Oscars and her wins remain the record in the Costume Design category and represent the highest number of nominations and wins by any woman in any category.
Her first Oscar was for The Heiress (1949). This was only her second nomination, she had been nominated for the 'Emperor Waltz' in the previous year. Head's other Oscars were awarded for some of the most iconic films of the day including, 'A Place in the Sun' (1951), 'Roman Holiday' (1953), 'Sabrina' (1954) and 'The Facts of Life' (1960).
In 1950 Head was nominated in 2 categories, Costume Design on a Colour Film, for 'Samson and Delilah' and Costume Design on a Black and White film for 'All About Eve', she won in both categories.
Her last Oscar was awarded in 1973 for the film 'The Sting' which starred Robert Redford and Paul Newman. Head was said to have been very proud of this win because it was the first time that a predominantly male film won an award for costume.
Despite her undoubted talents as a costume designer for period films such as Samson and Delilah, it is her talent for creating elegant and stylish clothes for films that were contemporary with the period in which they were made, including 'All About Eve', that sets her apart for many. Edith Head became known for designing clothes which any woman in the 1940's or 1950's could easily imagine herself wearing and was in fact able to do so. Head designed a number of dress patterns for Vogue from which they could make her designs for themselves.
One of the most outstanding 'frocks' created by Head was the amazing evening gown worn by Grace Kelly in the Hitchcock film 'Rear Window', a stunning concoction of black and white.
One of the lesser known films on which Head is credited as having worked was 'Love Has Many Faces' made in 1965 and which starred Lana Turner and Cliff Robertson. By the time this film was made, Lana Turner was 44 years old and in the first glimpse of her in the film she was wearing a beach costume of shorts and top in bright orange. It is a testament to Heads ability as a designer that Turner looked incredible in that outfit and 2 further outfits, the stunning evening top embellished with crystals and trousers in bright emerald green silk and the beautiful, elegant white evening dress.
Edith Head's contemporary designs are timeless and the sketches she made when designing her work still turn up in auctions and are eagerly collected today. They are a reminder of a past era of glamour, style and elegance.
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