Cleopatra
Hail, listeners! This week on The Art of Costume Podcast, we’re heading back to ancient Egypt—by way of 1963 Hollywood—as we unravel the epic, opulent, and outrageously chaotic story behind Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s Cleopatra. Spencer and Elizabeth dive into the legendary costumes designed by not one, not two, but three iconic designers—Irene Sharaff, Vittorio Nino Novarese, and Renié.
From Cleopatra’s gilded goddess gowns to Marc Antony’s military regalia, this film set a new gold standard for historical costuming—and for behind-the-scenes drama. We’ll dish on the wild production plagued by health crises, lost scripts, on-set romances, location disasters, and a revolving door of directors. And yes, we’ll talk about that infamous gold outfit. Grab your eyeliner and a goblet of wine—this episode is pure, extravagant scandal from start to finish.
