It’s been over two years since we last saw the iconic doors of the FIDM Museum open to the public. But with Oscars season upon us, the magic of costume design has returned to Downtown Los Angeles! I am pleased to report that the “Art of Costume Design in Film” exhibition presented by the FIDM Museum opened it’s doors to the public on Tuesday, March 15, 2022 and will be showing through Saturday, June 4, 2022.
(Photo:Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)
This exhibition celebrates the creative talent of costume designers and their films seen throughout 2021. Included in these films are all five Academy Award nominees for Costume Design. We all know how fierce this year’s nominees are. But let me just say, seeing the nominated costumes in person is quite the experience.
When you step into the exhibition, you are automatically drawn to the incredible costumes of Cruella, designed by Jenny Beavan. Beavan has already won the BAFTA and Critics Choice Award for her costumes in Cruella. Will the Academy Award be next?
(Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)
One of my favorite films of the year has to be Nightmare Alley. This Guillermo del Toro film was hauntingly beautiful with it’s all-star cast and memorable production design. But above all, the costumes were just absolutely legendary. The proof of Luis Sequeira‘s excellence is seen within the FIDM Museum exhibition with a incredible display of costumes from Nightmare Alley. To answer your question, yes there is not one but TWO Cate Blanchett costumes!
The 2021 Steven Spielberg rendition of West Side Story was so vibrant and colorful! While this star-crossed lovers story may have ended in tragedy, the colorful costumes designed by Paul Tazewell had me dancing around my living room. The joyful feeling came rushing back when I saw the West Side Story costumes at the FIDM Museum exhibition. Anita’s yellow dress… come on! Perfection.
I am still in disbelief that I was within mere inches of the Dune costumes. Denis Villeneuve’s version of Dune was by far my favorite film of the year. What Jacqueline West and Bob Morgan did with those costumes… I am in love! My jaw dropped when I saw the Lady Jessica Atreides golden dress and train in person for the first time. It’s incredible. Then there is Reverend Mother Mohiam’s veiled ensemble and Paul Atreides’s stillsuit. A costume design fan’s dream!
Genius strikes again! Cyrano costume designer Massimo Cantini Parrini is nominated for an Academy Award for a second year in a row alongside the talent of Jacqueline Durran. I love these costumes, because you really get to see the incredible ageing and dyeing that took place in bringing Cyrano to life. There are so many interesting fabrics and textiles seen within the costumes of Cyrano.
“Cyrano” costumes by Massimo Cantini Parrini and Jacqueline Durran, Academy Award nominees for Costume Design. (Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)
There are so many great costumes within this exhibition. There are over twenty films being featured in this exhibition including House of Gucci, Coming 2 America, The Suicide Squad, Eternals, and The Eyes of Tammy Faye. With that being said, I don’t want to ruin all the surprises. That means you need to stop what you are doing and rush over to the “Art of Costume Design in Film” exhibition at the FIDM Museum as soon as possible!
The exhibition is free to the public, and is now open until Saturday, June 4, 2022. Visitor’s hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., closed Sunday/Monday. Located on the campus of the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, FIDM Museum is at 9th Street and Grand Avenue.