Designer Profile:Sandy Powell

Designer Profile:Sandy Powell

British Costume designer who, has been nominated 10 times for an Academy Award.
Alumni of Central St Martins, yet she left before completing her degree.

Her work includes, The Tempest 2011,Hugo 2012,Shakespeare in Love 1999,the Other Boleyn girl 2008,Gangs of New York 2002, and many others.

"But even if the silhouette and cut are historically correct, no period costume can ever be 100% accurate, because fabrics and techniques have changed. Clothes would have had tiny hand-stitching instead of machine-work" Sandy Powell, speaking about gwyneth paltrow's costume in Shakespeare in Love.

"Gypsies, a book of photographs by the Czech Josef Koudelka. I've still got it: it comes out on nearly every job I do because there are shots in there I love, especially two of young men. The photographs are mostly from the 1960s, but they seem timeless; you could transpose its subjects into any era. I used one as the basis for Leonardo DiCaprio's character in Gangs of New York." Sandy Powell, discussing her method of inspiration.

"For each job, I put together a reference book over a few weeks before doing any actual designing. Then I go fabric shopping. I'm looking for colour, texture, weight." Sandy Powell.

"Hugo could crudely and incorrectly be described as a ‘costume movie’. It is period (Paris, 1931 then flashback to early 1900s), fantastical and populated by kooky, literally colourful characters"Crhis Laverty.Clothes on film Online review.

Sandy Powell excellently worked on a chidlrens film, Hugo, where the costumes were designed perfectly. She choose predominant blues in the first half ot the film, with the brightest being a Police officers, as a method of highlighting  that specific character.This particular film allowed her to create a diverse costume range,this is particually due to the  predominant railway station scenes. These allowed for an assortment of backgrounds,characters and inspirations to come into play.

In Shakespeare In Love, i like Sandy Powell's stylized approach to the periodic fashion. For example,she choose art deco lace for Gywneth Paltrows collar rather than using authetic Elizabethan Lace.

Lisbon 2013

Lisbon 2013:Study Visit

   I have recently just returned from a 5 day visit to lisbon, as part of a college study visit.

I was amazed by how inspired i was by the architecture. It was very european in the sense of plastered walls rather than exposed bricks like that in England. However there were also alot of patterend tile decorated buildings which were jsut exquiste. Being very interested in texture, i was particually interested in the decay, the neglect and obvious age of most of the buildings. 

My particular focus in lisbon was texture,fabric and colour, which is what most of the photographs are capturing.

Therefore i took alot of colour inspired photographs aswell as close ups of buildings and pavements.

Lisbon was very inspiring as it had alot of run down areas but then i also had the opportunity to visit a little fishing village and to visit the strip of designer shops, such the inclusion of Chanel,Mui Mui etc.

Going in the middle of January was perfect because the weather was cool enough that the long exploring all day didnt get too hot and tiring, yet it was warm enough and lacked rain. Therefore still plenty of opportunites to eat in the sunshine.

Above are some of my colour inspiration snaps.

I would love to visit lisbon again for the simple fact that there are so many lovely cobbled streets,patisseries,fish and exquistiely run down architecture. 

Designer Profile:Michael O'Connor

     Designer Profile:Michael O'Connor

 Academy award for best costume design

BAFTA award for best costume design

Satellite award for best costume design

Michael O'connor is renowned for his Academy award for the film The Duchess, in 2009.However he has also worked as assosiate costume designer on Harry potter and the Chamber of secrets and also the Last King of Scotland. Aswell as other minor British films.

His work came to attension to me due to my love for the film the Duchess. The use of millinery to create a persona fo Georgiana is a fantastic and originial method in which to design costume. The periodic costumes are exquitely designed and seem authenthic to the setting and the script.

Duchess of devonshire was seen to be the most influtential female figure in british society, therefore the costumes for this character had to be much more elaborate than the others.She set the trends.

The focul point of the film was the stuggle Lady Georgiana( Duchess) undertook in a bid for her husbands love.She is an important figure in political history as she was influetnail in shaping the beginnings of thr Whig Party. She was an english arisocrat. And was at the same period as Marie Antoinette, The 18th Century.