Sandy Powell - Design Inspiration!!

Ah Sandy Powell, 3 Academy Awards behind her, 9 nominations, 2 Baftas and career to die for. What i wouldn't give to be her! At this moment in time she is one of the leaders in the Costume Design world. 

Her films include The Other Boleyn Girl, Shutter Island, The Tempest, Young Victoria, Shakespeare in Love, Mrs Henderson Presents, Gangs of New York and Interview with a Vampire... to name a few...

I think the reason why i love her so much is her attention to details. As far as i am concerned it takes a particular vision to design period costumes and she definitely has it. So often you see period clothing in films either looking like it is a genuine 200 year old item or so new that the actors just look uncomfortable and odd. The skill that Powell has is that she can make clothing look real. She has the ability to destress things just enough to make them look lived in. When i see her costumes it feels like that i actually what they would have looked like. The actors always seem at ease wearing her creations and it makes me feel that i would be perfectly comfortable wearing a Victorian dress down the street.

An example of what i mean could e the costumes for The Other Boleyn Girl. Ever since i was a small girl i have had an interest in Anne Boleyn. Looking at her fashion in the very 2 dimensional portraits, i always thought she looked so uncomfortable. However, Powell's Tudor gowns seem so real and believable. My particular favourite is the green dress worn by Natalie Portman and Anne Boleyn. The colour choice is just remarkably genius.

 

Here are some of her designs for Young Victoria. These deservedly earned her a Oscar and a Bafta!

Here are her most recent designs for The Tempest. Although i haven't seen the film (yet!) knowing The play very well this costume seems spot on. Prospera seems to have the perfect balance of power, magic, being a mother and being stranded on an island.

To finish this post here is a photo of the one and only Sandy Powell with one of her well deserved Oscars-

"A costume designer's contribution is to help make some believable characters, that's all."- Sandy Powell

"Unless of course the film requires it, I'm not interested in an exact replica of the period. I look at the period, how it should be, how it could be, and then I do my own version."- Sandy Powell

"There's a beauty in dirt. When I go to the movies, I think, 'Why is that dress so clean? The boat is going down and they look perfect.' You want to have beauty in a film, but if something looks a bit worn, a bit soiled, it usually has more depth."- Sandy Powell