Compare and Contrast: Duke and Duchess of Windsor-- Madonna's "W.E" Movie Costumes & The Real Thing!

A Style Story...



For their September 2011 issue, Vanity Fair just published photos by Tom Munro from Madonna's (Happy Belated Birthday!) feature-length directorial debut "W.E".

Madonna, the Director

"W.E." is a film on the lives of Wallis Simpson and Britain's Kind Edward VIII, who abdicated the throne to marry the twice-divorced Simpson. She became Duchess of Windsor when they married in 1937.



Academy Award-nominated Costume Designer--and longtime Madonna style collaborator Arianne Phillips (above) designed the costumes (GORGEOUS!!!). According to Phillips, she worked with design houses such as Cartier, Dior and Dunhill for the 60+ costume changes for the actors playing the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

Costume Encounter: (Left to Right) Nick Verreos, Costume Designer Monique Prudhomme, Costume Designer Arianne Phillips, and fellow Project Runway Season 2 Designer Andrae Gonzalo

In the film, British-born actors Andrea Riseborough and James D’Arcy play the Duchess and Duke respectively. I thought it would be fun to "Compare & Contrast" between the Vanity Fair photos from the film--and the actual COUTURE the Duke and Duchess of Windsor wore (as seen through available photographs, of course). Let's take a look at some of the photos from the film with actors:

Striped Daywear: Actors D'Arcy and Riseborough--Notice the impeccable mitering (stripes matching) in her dress--that is COUTURE darling!!!

Zig-Zag Diva: Actors Riseborough and D'Arcy lounging for cocktail hour

Home Sweet (Couture) Home: Actress Andrea Riseborough, wearing Dior and Cartier jewels

Hosting Pair: Actors Riseborough and D'Arcy playing the Duchess and Duke of Windsor

The Schiaparelli Jacket, ordered by Wallis Simpson: Wallis purchased 18 items from the Elsa Schiaparelli Summer 1937 Collection for her Marriage Trousseau to the Duke of Windsor, including a gown and jacket combination of carbon blue jersey (above). The Baroque scrolls on the jacket were white leather.

Wallis Simpson--in her Schiaparelli ensemble--photographed by Cecil Beaton

Wedding Day: The Duke and Duchess of Windsor at Chateau De Conde France 1937; The simple crepe gown was designed and created by Mainbocher, a Chicago-born Paris Couturier and Paris Vogue Fashion Illustrator (his actual name was Main Rousseau Bocher). The Duke wore a Morning Suit. Her Trousseau consisted of almost 70 garments, including the above Schiaparelli suit-gown, many Chanel's and others. Diva.



Garden Chic: In 1937, Wallis Simpson posed for Vogue in a Schiaparelli evening gown that had a lobster printed on its skirt. Salvador Dalí designed the print, which also featured sprigs of parsley. The Vogue spread was intended to introduce readers to Mrs. Simpson, who in July of that year would marry Edward VIII, Duke of Windsor and abdicated King of England.

Lobster Couture: The Schiaparelli-designed Salvador Dalí-printed gown

Color Blocking: The Duke and Duchess of Windsor--and their dog--Miami, circa 1941--Between his ascot, her Cartier pin and turban, and their colored ensembles...well, I think this may be one of the fiercest "Holiday" photos ever!

Nipped In: The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, circa 1946

Resort Wear: The Duke and Duchess of Windsor vacationing in Italy, 1953--in HIGH STYLE!!! PS: Where can I get a robe like that??

High-Low: The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, early 1960's

I cannot wait to see the film and more importantly, the fashions!!! Kudos Madonna and Arianne!!!

Compare and Contrast: Duke and Duchess of Windsor-- Madonna's "W.E" Movie Costumes & The Real Thing!

A Style Story...



For their September 2011 issue, Vanity Fair just published photos by Tom Munro from Madonna's (Happy Belated Birthday!) feature-length directorial debut "W.E".

Madonna, the Director

"W.E." is a film on the lives of Wallis Simpson and Britain's Kind Edward VIII, who abdicated the throne to marry the twice-divorced Simpson. She became Duchess of Windsor when they married in 1937.



Academy Award-nominated Costume Designer--and longtime Madonna style collaborator Arianne Phillips (above) designed the costumes (GORGEOUS!!!). According to Phillips, she worked with design houses such as Cartier, Dior and Dunhill for the 60+ costume changes for the actors playing the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

Costume Encounter: (Left to Right) Nick Verreos, Costume Designer Monique Prudhomme, Costume Designer Arianne Phillips, and fellow Project Runway Season 2 Designer Andrae Gonzalo

In the film, British-born actors Andrea Riseborough and James D’Arcy play the Duchess and Duke respectively. I thought it would be fun to "Compare & Contrast" between the Vanity Fair photos from the film--and the actual COUTURE the Duke and Duchess of Windsor wore (as seen through available photographs, of course). Let's take a look at some of the photos from the film with actors:

Striped Daywear: Actors D'Arcy and Riseborough--Notice the impeccable mitering (stripes matching) in her dress--that is COUTURE darling!!!

Zig-Zag Diva: Actors Riseborough and D'Arcy lounging for cocktail hour

Home Sweet (Couture) Home: Actress Andrea Riseborough, wearing Dior and Cartier jewels

Hosting Pair: Actors Riseborough and D'Arcy playing the Duchess and Duke of Windsor

The Schiaparelli Jacket, ordered by Wallis Simpson: Wallis purchased 18 items from the Elsa Schiaparelli Summer 1937 Collection for her Marriage Trousseau to the Duke of Windsor, including a gown and jacket combination of carbon blue jersey (above). The Baroque scrolls on the jacket were white leather.

Wallis Simpson--in her Schiaparelli ensemble--photographed by Cecil Beaton

Wedding Day: The Duke and Duchess of Windsor at Chateau De Conde France 1937; The simple crepe gown was designed and created by Mainbocher, a Chicago-born Paris Couturier and Paris Vogue Fashion Illustrator (his actual name was Main Rousseau Bocher). The Duke wore a Morning Suit. Her Trousseau consisted of almost 70 garments, including the above Schiaparelli suit-gown, many Chanel's and others. Diva.



Garden Chic: In 1937, Wallis Simpson posed for Vogue in a Schiaparelli evening gown that had a lobster printed on its skirt. Salvador Dalí designed the print, which also featured sprigs of parsley. The Vogue spread was intended to introduce readers to Mrs. Simpson, who in July of that year would marry Edward VIII, Duke of Windsor and abdicated King of England.

Lobster Couture: The Schiaparelli-designed Salvador Dalí-printed gown

Color Blocking: The Duke and Duchess of Windsor--and their dog--Miami, circa 1941--Between his ascot, her Cartier pin and turban, and their colored ensembles...well, I think this may be one of the fiercest "Holiday" photos ever!

Nipped In: The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, circa 1946

Resort Wear: The Duke and Duchess of Windsor vacationing in Italy, 1953--in HIGH STYLE!!! PS: Where can I get a robe like that??

High-Low: The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, early 1960's

I cannot wait to see the film and more importantly, the fashions!!! Kudos Madonna and Arianne!!!

Los AngelesTimes: Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising "Art of Motion Picture Costume Design" Exhibit Mention!

LA Times Love!

Academy Award-Nominated Costume Designers Colleen Atwood ("Alice In Wonderland"), Mary Zophres ("True Grit") and Nick Verreos, FIDM "Art of Motion Picture Costume Design" Exhibition photo courtesy of Alex J. Berliner/ABImages

Yesterday--on my Birthday no less!!! I opened up my Los Angeles Times--the BIG Sunday Edition--and there was a FABULOUS article--written by Ellen Oliver--about the opening of the 19Th Annual "Art of Motion Picture Costume Design" Exhibition at my Alma Mater (and College I am an Instructor and Spokesperson at) the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM.

And the best part (well, not the best part but it was nice!): It included a wonderful photo of myself, and the Academy Award Nominated Costume Designers, Colleen Atwood (for "Alice In Wonderland"), and Mary Zophres ("True Grit") as well as a short & sweet quote. It was a bit of a shock and (nice) surprise to be having my coffee and scrambled eggs---and then all of a sudden see the photo! Thanks LA Times and by the way, it begs repeating: Wonderful article!

Below is the Los Angeles Times Sunday Edition Article, published yesterday:

Scene & Heard: Costume designers in the spotlight

At the preview of "The Art of Motion Picture Costume Design," two-time Academy Award-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood said Johnny Depp wanted his Mad Hatter costume to capture the flavor of a mood ring. So she layered his topcoat with multiple colors of silk.

Standing beside his costume from "Alice in Wonderland," Atwood said the challenges of designing for Depp, Anne Hathaway, Mia Wasikowska and Helena Bonham Carter included the changing sizes of the characters. "Alice shrinks and grows, and Helena's big head made her neck look as thick as a thigh," Atwood said, adding that she solved that problem by creating a collar to narrow the appearance of Bonham Carter's neck.

An estimated 1,400 guests, mainly members of the Costume Designers Guild, turned up on Feb. 5 to view more than 100 costumes from 21 films at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising's museum (www.fidmmuseum.org) in Los Angeles. Four of the five nominees for this year's Academy Award for costume design were represented: "Alice in Wonderland," "True Grit," "The Tempest" and "The King's Speech." (The fifth film is "I Am Love.")

"In the best pictures, the costumes are subtle," said Nick Verreos, an FIDM instructor and "Project Runway" personality. "The goal of costume design is to create real people, but when it's a fantastic movie like 'Alice,' the costumes have to be fantastic."

For the rest of the article , CLICK HERE.

Los AngelesTimes: Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising "Art of Motion Picture Costume Design" Exhibit Mention!

LA Times Love!

Academy Award-Nominated Costume Designers Colleen Atwood ("Alice In Wonderland"), Mary Zophres ("True Grit") and Nick Verreos, FIDM "Art of Motion Picture Costume Design" Exhibition photo courtesy of Alex J. Berliner/ABImages

Yesterday--on my Birthday no less!!! I opened up my Los Angeles Times--the BIG Sunday Edition--and there was a FABULOUS article--written by Ellen Oliver--about the opening of the 19Th Annual "Art of Motion Picture Costume Design" Exhibition at my Alma Mater (and College I am an Instructor and Spokesperson at) the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM.

And the best part (well, not the best part but it was nice!): It included a wonderful photo of myself, and the Academy Award Nominated Costume Designers, Colleen Atwood (for "Alice In Wonderland"), and Mary Zophres ("True Grit") as well as a short & sweet quote. It was a bit of a shock and (nice) surprise to be having my coffee and scrambled eggs---and then all of a sudden see the photo! Thanks LA Times and by the way, it begs repeating: Wonderful article!

Below is the Los Angeles Times Sunday Edition Article, published yesterday:

Scene & Heard: Costume designers in the spotlight

At the preview of "The Art of Motion Picture Costume Design," two-time Academy Award-winning costume designer Colleen Atwood said Johnny Depp wanted his Mad Hatter costume to capture the flavor of a mood ring. So she layered his topcoat with multiple colors of silk.

Standing beside his costume from "Alice in Wonderland," Atwood said the challenges of designing for Depp, Anne Hathaway, Mia Wasikowska and Helena Bonham Carter included the changing sizes of the characters. "Alice shrinks and grows, and Helena's big head made her neck look as thick as a thigh," Atwood said, adding that she solved that problem by creating a collar to narrow the appearance of Bonham Carter's neck.

An estimated 1,400 guests, mainly members of the Costume Designers Guild, turned up on Feb. 5 to view more than 100 costumes from 21 films at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising's museum (www.fidmmuseum.org) in Los Angeles. Four of the five nominees for this year's Academy Award for costume design were represented: "Alice in Wonderland," "True Grit," "The Tempest" and "The King's Speech." (The fifth film is "I Am Love.")

"In the best pictures, the costumes are subtle," said Nick Verreos, an FIDM instructor and "Project Runway" personality. "The goal of costume design is to create real people, but when it's a fantastic movie like 'Alice,' the costumes have to be fantastic."

For the rest of the article , CLICK HERE.

Nick Verreos and FIDM SuperLab for Alice In Wonderland: Part 2 The Exhibition

Part 2: And Now...Here Is The "Disney's Alice In Wonderland" FIDM Exhibit:Red Carpet Queens: The FIDM SuperLab Gowns designed by FIDM designer grads inspired by Disney's "Alice In Wonderland"

In conjunction with the "Media Only" Party and FIDM SuperLab Alice In Wonderland-inspired Red Carpet Gown Fashion Show thrown by Disney at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising/FIDM which I recapped in my last posting, there was of course something else: This also marked the opening of the "Disney's Alice In Wonderland Costume Exhibit" at the FIDM Museum and Galleries. Underland Costumes: Nick Verreos at the FIDM Museum and Galleries "Alice In Wonderland" Exhibition

Right after Kerli's "Tea Party" performance, guests were led into the FIDM Museum to enjoy the actual costumes designed by 2-time Academy Award-winning costume designer (and special guest of the party) Colleen Atwood. For the first time ever in the US, everyone was treated to a viewing of many of the original costumes, including Johnny Depp's Mat Hatter ensembles, including the iridescent blue "frock coat", waistcoat, and plaid kilt seen above.
Helena Bonham Carter's Red Queen Dress, shown here sans the Queens BIG HEAD;Stayne, Knave of Hearts' exuberant cape and intricate armor costume (love the dramatic cape's inner lining);
And of course, several of Alice's dresses. Here is the original demure pale blue dress worn by actress Mia Wasikowska that you've seen in all the film's press photos (she's SOOOO TINY--go to the Exhibit and you'll see what I mean!);
and above is Alice's "Red Dress" from the Red Queen's Court Scenes: This is one of my favorite of Atwood's designs, very modern and reminiscent of the late Alexander McQueen's work.
In combination with Disney's Alice In Wonderland Costume Exhibit, there was the
Art of Costume Illustration exhibition, which was already on display in the FIDM Museum and Galleries. There are over 200 film and television costume illustrations on display from designers and illustrators like Edith Head, Orry-Kelly (his costume illustration for "Auntie Mame" seen above) and Helen Rose, who is famous for designing the wedding gown for Grace Kelly when she married Prince Rainier of Monaco.Sketch by Helen Rose for actress Alice Kingsley "Washington Story" 1952

Originally I wanted to be a Fashion Illustrator (since I love to draw!), until a teacher a LONG TIME ago (in high school I think), told me there "was no business in that", so I decided to become a Fashion Designer. But I've always been an avid fan of fashion and costume illustrations, and love and respect the art so this was a HUGE HIGHLIGHT for me.
Sketch by Helen Rose for Elizabeth Taylor

If you want to check out Disney's Alice In Wonderland Exhibit, the FIDM SuperLab Red Carpet Gowns designed by FIDM grads as well as the Art of Costume Illustration, get thee to the FIDM Museum and Galleries...NOW!!!

Below is a "Sneak Peak Video I took of the FIDM SuperLab Alice In Wonderland Red Carpet Gowns (which I mentored!) on display NOW at the FIDM< Museum and Galleries:


Exhibition Details:
Where: FIDM Museum and Galleries, 919 South Grand Avenue, LA CA 90015

When:
Art of Costume Illustration Exhibit runs May 18-June 19
Alice In Wonderland Exhibit runs May 27-September 30
Open Tuesday-Saturday (closed Sundays and Mondays)

Fee: FREE!!!!!