The Art of Costume Design in Film this year has a partnership with ASU (Arizona Statue University) and FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising). It is an annual event usually tied to the Academy Awards. I usually make a visit especially if there are some outstanding costumes and it was held several weeks in advance of the awards. This time it opened on March 8th, a Friday, days before the awards which is today, March 10th. It continues until March 14th. There may have been a preview for Academy members or it may have been delayed by the ASU collaboration. The ASU FIDM Museum is located on Grand Ave. at the Los Angeles campus of FIDM.
The Art of Costume Design in Film at the ASU FIDM Museum, photo by the author.
There are some noticeable changes including the book store which has been moved to the other side of the building. This was good to ask any questions about the museum. At the side of the entrance is the first display which is usually a popular movie. Last year, it was The Riddler costume from The Batman (2022). For this year, it was the cowboy costumes of Barbie and Ken from Barbie, the movie’s display was elsewhere in the exhibit. The other feature was the large circular display of a popular movie like Black Panther (2018). Instead, it was an empty space. In fact, there were very few costumes this year, the previous year was costumes from Blonde, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and The Northman.
The Color Purple costumes designed by Francine-Jamison Tanchuck, author’s photo.
It seems like there were mostly costumes of Academy nominated films and not an overview of the year’s movies. Again, I think this may be hasty mounting of the exhibit, which is fine because I almost expected that this year would be skipped. Still, there was many empty spaces, it was missing some Kenergy. Along the left wall was the costumes from The Color Purple which included the black sequined dress of Celie (Fantasia Barrino) that represented her independence.
Next to it was the red showgirl dress, headdress, and jewelry of Shug Avery (Taraji P. Henson). Then, the workman-like shirt, suspenders, and trousers of Mister (Coleman Domingo). I saw the characters as much as the costumes and I think that is the brilliance of costume designer, Francine Jamison-Tanchuck. The designs were period appropriate, vibrant with color, and a nod to the musical and characters. A shame the film was not nominated.
Then, there were the costumes of The Killers of the Flower Moon by Jacqueline West. I did see a more comprehensive display of the costumes at the Apple campus. It includes the wedding outfits of Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Mollie Burkhart (Lily Gladstone). The film is nominated and I think is impressive for not only being period appropriate for a troubled time with tradition mixing with the expensive fashion of the time, but also capturing the unique styles of dress. Plus, the involvement of the Osage Nation in creating the costumes. Deserving of a win IMHO.
On the other side was the royal clothing from Napoleon and his outfit as a general complete with iconic hat. Then, the suit and dress from Maestro, and the costumes from The Little Mermaid which I had seen at the El Capitan Theatre. It is great to see the costumes up close; the dark blue vest and tan trousers of Eric (Jonah Hauer-King), the simple, blue dress of Ariel (Halle Bailey), and the purple dress of Vanessa (Jessica Alexander).
The next room was for Barbenheimer. Barbie had a Barbieland backdrop (which I think is new to have images from the film for the displays). It featured the outfit of Barbie (Margot Robbie) when she is leaving Barbieland, her pink and white checkered dress from the start of the film, to the other side is the beachwear of Ken (Ryan Gossling), and also his fur coat and clothes from the real world! No other Barbies, Kens, or Allan! I hope there is a more extensive display at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour.
Barbie won the Costume Designers Guild Award for Excellence in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film. At the end of the hall was the suit, hat, and pipe along with the dress from Oppenheimer. In the next room on the left wall was costumes from Air including the iconic shoes in a case and on the other side, costumes from Saltburn. On the right hand wall was costumes from Priscilla and then Poor Things costumes. It had the dresses of Belle Baxter (Emma Stone), complete with poofy sleeves, her Victoria, and the suit of Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo). It won Excellence in Period Film at the Costume Designers Guild Awards.
The last room contained some popular movies, to the left were three costumes from The Iron Claw. On the other side was the costumes of The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes which surprised me. There was the bloody red fading to white lab coat of Dr. Volumnia Gual (Viola Davis), the rainbow dress of Lucy Gray (Rachel Zegler), and the red and purple dress of Tigris (Hunter Schafer), cousin of Coriolanus Snow. Strangely, no costume of Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth). It was fascinating to see the blue and white flowers with snakes woven in a bow in the corset.
Against the wall was the outfits from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. There was the uniform of Starlord (Chris Pratt) and the astronaut suits of Drax (Dave Bautista), and Mantis (Pom Klementieff). My favorite costumes at the end of the exhibit were from Wonka! There was the chocolate colored top hat, dark velvet coat, and even his cane, though not suitcase of Willy Wonka (Timothee Chalamet). Also, the costume of Noodle (Calah Lane), and the suit of Slugworth (Paterson Joseph). The Art of Costume Design in Film exhibit gives visitors a look at some of the fine costume work that is featured in 2023 movies up close!
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