Game changers: Edith Head

It was her style that inspired the fictional character ‘Edna Mode’ in the animated movie, The Incredibles (2004).

Born in 1897, Edith Head was an American costume designer who won a record eight Academy Awards for Best Costume (nominated for 34!). Her career is significant not for just the Awards won, but for the sheer intensity and prolific volume of work she produced.

In a career spanning over 50 years, Head worked on close to 1,000 films at Paramount and Universal Studios. This was during the golden era of Hollywood and stars she dressed included Grace Kelly, John Wayne, Steve MacQueen, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor and many, many more. She also had a close relationship with Alfred Hitchcock whom she worked on 11 films with.

Head’s career started as a sketch artist at Paramount Studios in 1923. In 1938, she was promoted to the head of the costume department at Paramount, and remained in that role for 29 years where she looked after a costume department with hundreds of staff. She was the first woman to head a major studio’s costume department. In 1967, she moved across to Universal Studios. She remained at Universal until her death as an 83 year old in 1981.

Edith Head didn’t just work with the stars. She herself became a recognisable personality due to her distinctive style of a two-piece suit and signature glasses, and her forthright demeanour. It was her style that inspired the fictional character ‘Edna Mode’ in the animated movie, The Incredibles (2004).

Edith Head authored an autobiography, The Dress Doctor (1959), and a self-help book, How to Dress for Success (1967). She also appeared as herself on-screen in The Oscar (1966).

Source:
Britannica.com
Film School Rejects
Oscars.org
Wikipedia

Edith Head image copyright via the Los Angeles Times.

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