Who Inspires You to Create?
Who are or what are your inspirations to create? I have several... people like Valentino, Badgley Mischka, Sonya Rykiel, Betsey Johnson, Bob Mackie, Carolina Herrera, soooo many more. I am just as equally inspired by some less known individuals like Ann Cole, Willie Otey Kay, and my great-great grandfather, Andrew Jackson Martin who was a tailor here in Augusta,GA.
However, the one that really captured my attention in the earlier years was a woman named Edith Head. I was, and still am, in love with old classic movies. You know the ones with Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire, Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell,etc., you get the point. If you drooled over the clothes in any of those movies, then nine times out of ten you were drooling over an Edith Head Gown. I mean, that's all I heard, Edith Head, Edith Head, Edith Head.
She is best known for her beautiful and stunning gowns and costumes in movies like, Roman Holiday, Imitation of Mink, To Catch a Thief, Sabrina, White Christmas, and The Lady Eve, just name a few of the many movies she is credited with designing costumes for.
She designed for the best of the best like, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Rosemary Clooney, Barbara Stanwyck, Natalie Wood, Ingrid Bergman,Bette Davis, Lana Turner, and so many more.
I cannot tell you how I could not wait to watch one of these oldie but goodies movies. The movies were great in themselves, but it was the costumes that triggered my creative button. To this day, I still flock to a good old classic. I attribute my choice to specialize in bridal and formal wear tailoring and design because of the many creations by Edith Head.
Exactly who is this fashion design phenom? Born Edith Claire Posener, she was born of a German father and an American mother. The only clue that Edith's talent could have been a family bent is that her father opened a haberdashery in San Bernandino that did not last past a year. According to records, Edith had very little drawing skills. She actually received a bachelor of arts in letters and science with honors in French, and a masters of arts in romance languages. She became a language teacher, teaching French, but she desired more money. So,she took a chance at something she had little skills for, teaching art. To improve her skills, she took night courses at a local college. Still, with very little art or drawing skills, no design, or costume design experience, she was hired on as a costume sketch artist for Paramount Pictures. It was actually quite interesting how she got the job. Check out the video below to hear her story, fascinating. Now, many would say that was insane. But, today, Steve Harvey would say she dared to JUMP. Something in her, a seed of some kind must have been calling and pulling on her very being to feel a need to do something that was dormant in her. Who knows, what her family's history is before her father. But, I dare to believe that this was in her all the time.
Needless to say, Edith went on to become one of the most and sought after designers of all times. Go figure. She was nominated for a total of 35 Academy Wards and won 8 times, receiving more Oscars than any other woman. Edith later received her Hollywood Walk of Fame Star.
She will forever be one of my greatest inspirations of all times.
Edith Head
Edith Head in Action.....
However, the one that really captured my attention in the earlier years was a woman named Edith Head. I was, and still am, in love with old classic movies. You know the ones with Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire, Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell,etc., you get the point. If you drooled over the clothes in any of those movies, then nine times out of ten you were drooling over an Edith Head Gown. I mean, that's all I heard, Edith Head, Edith Head, Edith Head.
She is best known for her beautiful and stunning gowns and costumes in movies like, Roman Holiday, Imitation of Mink, To Catch a Thief, Sabrina, White Christmas, and The Lady Eve, just name a few of the many movies she is credited with designing costumes for.
She designed for the best of the best like, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Rosemary Clooney, Barbara Stanwyck, Natalie Wood, Ingrid Bergman,Bette Davis, Lana Turner, and so many more.
I cannot tell you how I could not wait to watch one of these oldie but goodies movies. The movies were great in themselves, but it was the costumes that triggered my creative button. To this day, I still flock to a good old classic. I attribute my choice to specialize in bridal and formal wear tailoring and design because of the many creations by Edith Head.
Exactly who is this fashion design phenom? Born Edith Claire Posener, she was born of a German father and an American mother. The only clue that Edith's talent could have been a family bent is that her father opened a haberdashery in San Bernandino that did not last past a year. According to records, Edith had very little drawing skills. She actually received a bachelor of arts in letters and science with honors in French, and a masters of arts in romance languages. She became a language teacher, teaching French, but she desired more money. So,she took a chance at something she had little skills for, teaching art. To improve her skills, she took night courses at a local college. Still, with very little art or drawing skills, no design, or costume design experience, she was hired on as a costume sketch artist for Paramount Pictures. It was actually quite interesting how she got the job. Check out the video below to hear her story, fascinating. Now, many would say that was insane. But, today, Steve Harvey would say she dared to JUMP. Something in her, a seed of some kind must have been calling and pulling on her very being to feel a need to do something that was dormant in her. Who knows, what her family's history is before her father. But, I dare to believe that this was in her all the time.
Needless to say, Edith went on to become one of the most and sought after designers of all times. Go figure. She was nominated for a total of 35 Academy Wards and won 8 times, receiving more Oscars than any other woman. Edith later received her Hollywood Walk of Fame Star.
She will forever be one of my greatest inspirations of all times.
Edith Head
Edith Head in Action.....
Audrey Hepburn- Tiffany's
Audrey Hepburn- Funny Face
Sabrina-Audrey Hepburn
White Christmas-Grace Kelly/Rosemary Clooney
I'm still in awe and inspired by Edith Head's creations. Now, your turn, what or who inspires you to create in whatever genre you create. I can't wait to read your responses!!!
Until then, remember , you are blessed to be a blessing!
Love you to life,
Alethia
a.k.a.
Mesewlot
When I watched those movies, I fell in love with fashion. I love any classic look of the 50s and 60s. I swear I was born in the wrong decade. Great post.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I often said that too, I must have been born in the wrong time period, LOL!
DeleteI still want the old 60's movie "The Group" because I love the clothes of the women and men in that movie. I would make every outfit for me and my honeydo
ReplyDeleteI have to look that oneven up!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteEdith was a master of design. I have one of her Vogue patterns in my stash.
ReplyDelete