I ca n’t believe how beautiful some of these dresses are .
1.Edith Head designed the costumes forSweet Charityin 1969. Here’s her sketch of Shirley MacLaine’s character for “I’m a Brass Band.”
Here’s what it ended up looking like for the film. While there’s no baton and the boots aren’t heeled, it seems pretty close to Head’s original drawing!
Here’s what they look like next to each other:
2.Here’s Head’s sketch ofAudrey Hepburnas Princess Ann inRoman Holiday.
Here’s what she looked like in the film. It’s totally spot-on! Even the necklace and the tiara are exactly like the sketch.
And this is a side-by-side so you can compare nice and easily:
3.Here’s the sketch ofElizabeth TaylorinA Place in the Sun. Edith Headthought thesilhouette of this gown, a tight bodice and full skirt, would be a silhouette with staying power.
She was right. After Elizabeth Taylor wore it, this dress became the most popular the year after the movie’s release.
Here’s the side-by-side:
4.Here’s what the sketch looked like for Mary Martin’s gown inThe Great Victor Herbert. Head was trying for an 1890s evening dress.
Here’s what it looked like in the movie: fan and all!
And here they are right next to each other:
5.This is the sketch Cecil Beaton created forBarbra StreisandinOn a Clear Day You Can See Forever.
Here’s what Barbra looked like in the film. Notice that the long gloves were replaced with long sleeves, and the sash in the middle was replaced with a drawstring.
Here’s the side-by-side for comparison:
6.Initially, I thought this sketch was for a bridal gown inYou Were Never Lovelier.
However, with the flower headpiece swapped out for the wide-brimmed hat, Rita Hayworth looks much more like a bridesmaid.
Here’s what they look like right next to each other:
7.Here’s the sketch for Marlene Dietrich’s character in 1937’sAngel.
Here’s what she looked like in the film. This dress looks like it weighs about 30 pounds.
Here they are side-by-side:
8.Here’s a sketch of Eleanor Whitley’s gown forTurn Off the Moon.
And here’s what it looked like on Eleanor Whitley. If you had shown me that dress and told me it was yellow, I wouldn’t have believed you.
9.Here’s the sketch for Ginger Rogers’s dress inIt Had To Be You.
Here’s what the dress looked like in real life. She’s even posing the same way the sketch is!
Here’s a little side-by-side for you:
10.Here’s what Edith Head had in mind for Ellen Drew’s character inThe Mad Doctor.
Here’s what she looked like in the 1940 flick. Notice the had was swapped for something more wide-brimmed and the collar was made larger than what the sketch had.
Here’s what the frocks look like next to each other:
11.Edith Headwon her firstAcademy Award for her work on 1949’sThe Heiressstarring Olivia De Havilland as Catherine. Here’s what the sketch of her ball gown looked like.
Here’s what it looked like in the actual film. It looks like a necklace was added but the earrings were omitted.
And here’s the side-by-side:
12.The Big Broadcast of 1938had a star-studded cast. Here’s a costume sketch of Dorothy Lamour’s character.
And here’s what that costume looked like in the movie. Pretty spot-on to me!
























