Hollywood Costume at the V & A
The glamour and style of Hollywood never goes out of fashion. No matter how many films are released or how many stars are made, Tinsel Town has something that we all want. Hollywood represents escapism, a chance to live a dream through the images that we see on the big screen, an opportunity to leave the humdrum and monotony of the everyday world behind. One of the major attractions of the Hollywood movies are the costumes, right from the incredible sweeping gowns of Scarlet O’Hara in Gone With the Wind through to the ramshackle yet sexy attire of Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean, costumes have made the movies come to life.
Hollywood at the V & A
The V & A Museum in the heart of London holds amazing exhibitions that are filled with elegance and style. The exhibition of Hollywood costumes looks set to be another great exhibition that will draw the crowds and see the public looking to capture a little of the Hollywood glamour for themselves. The exhibition boasts some of the most identifiable costumes that have made it onto the silver screen; it also gives insight into how costume plays an important role in the art of character identity and storytelling.
The iconic blue and white dress worn by Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz is one of the stars of the show, along with the perfect little black dress designed by Givenchy, and worn by Audrey Hepburn in the classic film Breakfast at Tiffany’s, through to modern day costume like that worn by heart throb Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow. Visitors will also be able to view exclusive clips from the movies and interviews with all of the people involved in making a movie a block buster, there are also interviews with big name stars like Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep to name but two.
About the Exhibition
Visitors to the exhibition will discover that there is nothing haphazard or frivolous about the clothes that they see a character wearing on the big screen. Every aspect of a character’s costume has been designed down to the last details to ensure that it plays its part in defining the character and assisting in the telling of the story. Costume plays as pivotal part in a movie being a success or a failure as they not only reflect the story and setting of the film, the clothes and accessories that are used within a feature film are a reflection of the current social context, and audience demographic that goes to the cinema to view the film. The right costume elements allow a character to come to life, it makes them into a real person rather than just a character description in the screen play or script. This is a ground breaking, incredible exhibition the likes of which has never been seen before. The Hollywood Costume Exhibition will be available to view until January 2013, and has to be seen to be truly appreciated.
