In a Glamourous Fashion

First published in 1981, In A Glamourous Fashion is not only a fascinating look at film fashion portraying the glamour and glitter of Hollywood's heyday; but is also an invaluable reference source for any student of the film, of costume, or of the social history. It documents some of the best work of the designers - names like Adrian, Cecil Beaton, Edith Head - but tells the often-dramatic story of their careers and their relationships with legendary stars such as Garbo, Dietrich, Monroe and many more. Here are the stories behind the screen's most famous costumes: Walter Plunkett's 'curtain dress' for Scarlett O'Hara; the red Jezebel gown Orry-Kelly designed for Bette Davis; the slinky back satin sheath Rita Hayworth wore in Gilda; and the extravagant gown - £ 15, 000 worth of mink - worn by Ginger Rogers in Lady in the Dark. The photographs and original sketches are an essential and decorative complement to the text; there is an index, bibliography, and a full list of Academy Award winners for costume design.

W. Robert LaVine

Foreword 1. The Beginnings of an Industry 2. The Creation of Hollywood 3. The Classic Era 4. Realism and Escapism 5. Innovations and a Dwindling Box Office 6. The Rise of the Independents 7. The Designers Academy Award Winners for Costume Design A Selected Bibliography Index