Anna Karenina, the Movie and the Costumes

Because I didn’t want to read the book when I was in high school, I decided to wait until it came out at my movie theatre.  I waited and I waited and finally 60 years later (that’s a very small lie…I exaggerated my age), it (Anna Karenina) was made into a movie.  For me, half a film is the costuming, and this costuming looks spectacular.  The other half is the acting and the story line, but I can’t comment on those until I actually see the movie.  I’m not sure it was worth the prolonged wait, but still, I can’t pass the opportunity by to see the movie.

you can take a look at the new poster, below…

…More at First trailer and poster for Anna Karenina

For more information on costumes, visit us at http://www.costumescostumescostumes.net

Are Superheroes Vunerable to Heat?

When I was in the manufacturing business, we specialized in cartoon character costumes.  One of our main concerns then, was the possibility of the person wearing such a constricted suit to be able to breathe and not to pass out from heat exhasustion or heat stroke.  We vented the costumes well, and suggested the wearer also have ice packks in and around his/her body so as to reduce the risk of faint or worse.  This article reminds me of the engineering that was involved in costuming so as to prevent the very thing that these actors/superheroes were facing.  Though I never heard of a fatality in one of our costumes, I heard there were many, many pounds loss due to persperation, even with the safeguards. 

Playing a superhero is hard work – and potentially deadly. Andrew Garfield nearly suffocated on the set of “The Amazing Spider-Man” after he discovered his spandex suit wasn’t waterproof.

The actor plays Peter Parker, who embraces his incredible destiny after uncovering one of his father’s most carefully guarded secrets. Garfield nearly passed out while shooting an action sequence because he failed to learn proper breathing techniques required for the scene.…More at Batman & Spider-Man Stars Had Trouble Breathing In Their Iconic Costumes

How did Superman last all these years?  Faster than a speeding bullet, able to leap tall buidings with a single bound and was immune to heat.  For more information about costumes, visit us at http://www.costumescostumescostumes.net

Super HeroesWe rarely publish anything about super heroes (and of course, all the cool costumes these guys wear), but today we are.  Sorry, maybe it’s because of my age,  but I don’t recognize all there heros.  There was Superman and Batman when I was a young lad, then a scattering of others came on the scene. now it’s a plethora of heros.  How can we not combat crime with so many of these guys out there.  I think the crime rate in our city had decreased ten fold over the years.

“And there came a day, a day unlike any other, when Earth’s mightiest heroes and heroines found themselves united against a common threat. On that day, the Avengers were born—to fight the foes no single super hero could withstand!”

Each Friday Marvel.com will present a different column focusing on the one and only Avengers. From line-ups to costumes to villains to classic stories and beyond, we’ve got you covered on the history of Marvel’s most prolific team of heroes!

So let the call go out: Avengers Assemble!

By TJ Dietsch

Danny Rand’s general…More at Earth’s Mightiest Costumes: Iron Fist | Avengers | News | Marvel.com

Image by JD Hancock via Flickr

For more on costumes, visit us at http://costumescostumescostumes.net

Fourth of July Costumes

You may or not be planning on wearing a costumes for your local Fourth of July parade, but this article features a couple of costumes that look pretty good.  There are only so so many directions one might take for a costume that relates to the Fourth, but you might also consider “the Spirit of 76” which actually shows three people in the painting, a fifer, and two drummers and possibly a flagbearer to be in the rear.  

Fourth of July Costumes

More on costumes at http://www.costumescostumescostumes.net

GREAT GATSBY COSTUMES

No matter what genre of entertainment, costumes play a role. Movies, included.  It’s always interesting to see how the designers come up with the proprer clothing for the time and character, isn’t it?  It used to be more loose and free with the accuracy of the costumes, but over the past 20-30 years, movies are remarkably accurate in their portrayal of period costumes.  Once in a while, they err, but not often.

Brooks Brothers’ Costumes for The Great Gatsby: Your First Look …

“Now that we’ve reviewed the unbe-freakin’-lievable trailer for Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby, we’re thrilled to share a first look at the menswear ensembles …www.luckymag.com/…/brooks-brothers-costumes-for-the-grea…”
http://www.luckymag.com/blogs/luckyrightnow/2012/06/brooks-brothers-costumes-for-the-great-gatsby-your-first-look

For more on costumes, visit us at http://costumescostumescostumes.net 

Charlize Theron’s Evil Queen Costume

Per the attached article, the costume designer of Charlize Therons Evil Queen costume, Colleen Atwood must have had a ball with this costume with all its unusual materials and intricasies.  In my former world, we tried to build costumes that looked great on stage (we didn’t do any movie work) and that the costumes(s)would be durable on a long term basis, but not so detailed as this.  

Theron’s evil queen role lets costume designer run wild

“By Sandy Cohen AP Charlize Theron’s evil queen costumes for “Snow White and the Huntsman” called for hundreds of hand-cut rooster feathers, thousands of iridescent beetle wings from Thailand and one particularly imposing crown.Washington Times”
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jun/4/therons-evil-queen-role-lets-costume-designer-run-/

For more on costumes, visit us at http://www.costumescostumescostumes.net 

Tinker Bell Costume Rejected at Disney

Hmmm…to paraphrase something I heard a long time ago: I wonder what Walt would have done?

Tinker Bell costume causes trouble at Disney

“(April Spielman) A Tampa bay area teen and her boyfriend are in shock after being forced to take off the costumes they were wearing at Walt Disney World. By Dalia Dangerfield, A Tampa bay area teen and her boyfriend are in shock after being forced to …Bay News 9”
http://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/on-the-town/article.html/content/news/articles/bn9/2012/6/5/tinker_bell_costume_.html

For more on costumes, visit us at http://www.costumescostumescostumes.net 

Costumes for Dogs Video

Came across this video and thought it was cute and funny.  It’s a little early to be thinking about Halloween (or is it?), especially for your pet, but here it is anyhow.

We will probably do great cat costumes in our next video, possibly next week.

For more information about costumes for humans, visit us at http://www.costumescostumescostumes.net

Renaisssance History, Costumes and Clothing 

The history of renaissance clothing dates back to early 1940’s, where it started with a single nation and then spread throughout the world creating a big impact. However the renaissance costumes were in a stage of evolution during this period when the Germans made an improvement in the natural silhouette. They liked to put bulk of large puffs all over from their head, thighs, arms, back and chest. Also they used feathers to accessorize their whole costume. This stage was followed with more and more discoveries making the renaissance costume more and more creative. These costumes were generally available in dark colors, with the black velvet mostly used for the head dresses. White linen was used with gold and burgundy colored pirate shirt and with collar and wrist ruffles.

When there was an important event, the rich people used to wear an expensive sort of a garb and the ones who cannot afford such garbs wore a usual one.

Renaissance clothing for male included a variation between a low crowned brimmed cap which sometimes was one side turned up or turned up all around. The most usual hairstyle was bobbed. The length and style of the hair depended on their own tastes. During the 16th century men preferred hair similar to the men today in the 21st century.

The women medieval clothing for female had variation…More at About Renaissance Clothing – We Are The Geordies

Image by ExperienceLA via Flickr

The Renaissance movement as described in this article probably went back into the 30’s rather than the 40’s, and perhaps even earlier than that (as per a photo that I came across recently). The movement is well established now, and in fact, our area will be holding it’sr annual event shortly.  It’s great to see so many enthusiasts that do this type of thing.  For more information about costumes or costuming, please visit us at

http://www.costumescostumescostumes.net

Renaissance Costume Designer

Renaissance Costume Designer on TV…More at Julia Soares McCormick :Renaissance Costume Designer on TV …

Image by ExperienceLA via Flickr

This was an interesting interview with an interesting lady who makes Medieval, Renaissance, Tudor, and Elizabethian costumes.  I can’t see the quality of her sewing from the video, but I can tell she is exceptional as to design, pattern, precision as to staying historically accurate.  I would love to see some of her closeup.  

BTW, the dress in the photo above is not one of Julia Soares McCormick’s work.

For more on costumes, visit us at http://www.costumescostumescostumes.info