The Evolution of Clothing

The Evolution of Clothing: A blog about the history of clothing.

Costume in Film and Television

The Evolution of Clothing: A blog about the history of clothing.

Costume in Film and Television

If I were to ask you what you find yourself thinking about most often, you probably wouldn’t say “costume in film and television.” But when I look at my own web history, it’s immediately apparent that I spend a lot of time thinking about this subject. I’ve watched over 100 movies from the 1930s through the 1960s, and while that is certainly not a representative sample of American cinema, it is enough to give me some insights into the role clothing has played on film.

Before the 1950s, clothes were extremely important on film. While the designers behind many silent films are unknown, costumes in notable films such as Ben Hur (1925) or Birth of a Nation (1915) were designed by established couturiers like MacDermott or Trachtenberg. In fact, these costumers often had more name recognition than their stars. Actors who wanted to build their image hired couturiers to make clothes for them off screen so that people would recognize their style, but also so they could be photographed wearing one-of-

The Evolution of Clothing: A blog about the history of clothing.

How to Design Professional Costumes for Film, Theater, and TV

In this article we’re going to discuss how to design professional costumes for film, theater, and TV. Everything from start to finish will be explained here so that you can create your own professional costumes.

First of all, let’s talk about where you should begin the process. You need a script and a general production budget before you can get started. This way you can work on your designs within the parameters given by the director and producer. Don’t worry if there are no costumes in the script because that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t design them anyway. It just means that they aren’t important enough to be in the script. In some cases it is up to you as the designer to create costumes that work with the story being told.

Once you have a script and general budget in hand, you’re ready to begin working on your designs!

Now it’s time for an important question: who do you want to be wearing your clothes? This is important because this will determine what kind of fabrics are used, how much detail is added to each garment, etc… You can have a great idea for a costume but if it

The Evolution of Clothing: A blog about the history of clothing.

I will be posting articles, links, and various other information that has to do with the history of clothing. I have a particular interest in historical costuming, but it is not my only focus.

My purpose is to educate and share interesting tidbits. I am not affiliated with any organization or group, nor do I receive any compensation for this blog.

The Evolution of Clothing: A blog about the history of clothing.

A blog about the history of clothing.

Please note that this is a work in progress and information will be added to as I go along. If you have any questions or comments please email me at evolutionofclothing@gmail.com

Thanks for stopping by!

The Evolution of Clothing

A blog about the history of clothing.

Kill Bill Costume Analysis

The costumes in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill, Vols. 1 & 2 are so memorable that they ought to be studied in a film class. The story is told in such a way that every costume must tell an important story: the characters are so few and the plot so simple that there can be no wasted space. And the costumes do not disappoint: they help tell the story, and they are beautiful in their own right.

Some costumers stick with one designer or style; Tarantino chose to use the talent of many different people for his many different characters. He drew on some big names — Daryl Hannah wears a gown by Vivienne Westwood; Uma Thurman wears a long coat by Jean-Paul Gaultier — but he also gave work to some lesser-known designers such as Catherine D’Lish, who made Thurman’s yellow track suit. The result is a patchwork quilt of a movie, where nothing looks out of place and everything is just what it should be.

The Evolution of Clothing

A blog about the history of clothing.

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Kill Bill Costume: Yakuza Woman Costume

posted on September 27, 2013 by Sara M. Butler | 8 Comments

This post is part of an ongoing project. See all Kill Bill costume posts here.

Kill Bill Volumes 1 and 2 were released in 2003 and 2004 respectively, written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. The films follow a group of female assassins who work for a man named Bill. One assassin, known as The Bride (Uma Thurman), decides to leave the group and get married. After a brutal attack on her wedding day, in which all of her friends and family are killed, she awakens from a coma four years later with a new mission: kill Bill. The film is full of blood-filled revenge scenes, vengeance, and pop culture references. The costumes in the film help set the tone and add to the characters’ personalities. This post will focus on Uma Thurman’s costume as Yakuza Woman, seen in Volume 2 during her battle with the Crazy 88s.

As an actress and a costume designer, I have always been curious about the evolution of clothing. For years I have collected vintage clothing, researched the history of dress making and studied fashion trends through the ages. I would love to share my findings with you! Many questions can be answered by browsing through our galleries. You will find information on the silhouettes of each era and the influence of designers worldwide.

We have many links to helpful resources for those who wish to be informed with up-to-date information on costume history. We are constantly updating this site so check back often! If you cannot find what you are looking for please feel free to contact me.

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