#travilla

[ediths-shades]

Costume appreciation

MARILYN MONROE in How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)

Costume design by Travilla

[recycledmoviecostumes]

Get a glimpse of Marilyn Monroe's stunning costume from the 1956 film 𝑩𝒖𝒔 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒑, designed by the talented Travilla. This jade green satin leotard features a black netting overlay, jet-like sequins, and scalloped gold bullion fringe with topaz-colored faceted glass.   The costume, worn by Monroe as Cherie, was later used by Leslie Caron in the 1959 film 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒂𝒏 𝑾𝒉𝒐 𝑼𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝑾𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏. It even made an appearance in 1972 when worn by Christie's employee Jane Kerin for a promotional photo.   The piece eventually went up for auction in 2016, selling for $100,000!   There is a Hollywood story claiming the piece Monroe wore was actually reused from an earlier production, as she wanted something that looked old. In any case, it's possible that multiple copies of this costume are floating around, and though the ones worn by Monroe and Caron may not be the same exact piece, they certainly derive from the same set.   Discover more incredible costumes like this one by visiting our website. Bit.ly/PostEd070

[65eatonplace]

"Sunday Best"

Sharon Tate modeling a Travilla design for "Valley of the Dolls" at 20th Century Fox Studios in 1967

[costumeloverz71]

Kay Weston (Marilyn Monroe) Green dress w red petticoat.. River Of No Return (1954).. Costume by Travilla.

[gatabella]

Ginger Rogers in Travilla for Dreamboat, 1952

Marilyn Monroe in Travilla for Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, 1953

"One day, Marilyn Monroe dropped by the set for a visit. I was wearing a wonderful gold lamé evening dress and Marilyn liked it. Moreover, she told the front office she wanted it. She got it and wore it in a brief scene in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes."

-Ginger: My Story, 1991

[poppingmary]

Stunning Jane Russell in a publicity photo for “The Revolt of Mamie Stover” - 1956

Costumes by William Travilla

[cressida-jayoungr]

One Dress a Day Challenge

June: Weddings

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes / Jane Russell as Dorothy Shaw and Marilyn Monroe as Lorelei Lee

This is certainly one of, if not the most classic double wedding scene in film, and the matching wedding gowns designed by William "Billy" Travilla were real trendsetters. There's a good writeup of them here, which I'll quote from:

"The dazzling floral lace wedding dresses featured a high neck, bell sleeves and tulle skirts. The two women also wore matching hats and netting. The overall look was romantic, graceful and delicate.

"The white floral lace gives the gowns a demure look without being entirely covered up and the bell sleeves add a playful touch.

"Drawing in at the waist, the lace overlay covers the entire torso of the dress. The layers of tulle fan out at the hips into a full skirt. The tea length gown sits just above the ankle, showing off some feminine strappy heels. The dress was buttoned half way up the back where it then had an open slit up to the neck.

"Both women wore their hair in pin curls at the nape of their neck with a lace netting headband on top. They had a thin veil which sat just below their nose... Both women carried a medium sized bouquet of white roses, tied together with long white ribbon which hung to their knees. They also had on fiery red lipstick with red nail polish to match."

The article also notes that rising hemlines in the 1950s "consequently led to the rise of shorter veils and thus attention was directed towards the bride’s wedding shoes."

[onefootin1941]

On the set of The Seven Year Itch, Marilyn Monroe gives a fan a kiss on the cheek and a sweater from her own wardrobe. Marilyn is wearing the tiger dress designed by Travilla, used in the Rachmaninov daydream scene of the film.

[chicinsilk]

US Vogue March 1, 1961

Dorothy McGowan wears a golden yellow silk jacket and dress set. By Travilla, of grained silk. Hat, chiffon: Lilly Daché. Beauty note: Avocado eyeshadow, tawny Sunbronze lipstick - Charles of the Ritz.

Dorothy McGowan porte un ensemble veste et robe en soie jaune doré. Par Travilla, de soie grainée. Chapeau, mousseline de soie: Lilly Daché. Note beauté : fard à paupières Avocado, rouge à lèvres fauve Sunbronze - Charles of the Ritz.

Photo Irving Penn vogue archive

[denver-carrington]

Heather Locklear (Sammy Jo) modeling for Travilla. Many thanks to so_stephanie_beacham for sending this to me.

[recycledmoviecostumes]

This stunning striped gown, designed by Travilla, was originally flaunted by the stunning Corinne Calvet in the 1951 movie 𝑂𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑅𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑟𝑎 before it returned being worn by an extra in the 1953 film 𝐶𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑀𝑒 𝑀𝑎𝑑𝑎𝑚. Shoulder straps and floral embellishments were added to give it a different look.   Who found this reuse? Find out on our website: Bit.ly/PostEd181      

[65eatonplace]

Sharon Tate modeling a Travilla costume design for 20th Century Fox's "Valley of the Dolls" in 1967

[costumeloverz71]

Mamie Stover (Jane Russell) Green & silver dress. The Revolt Of Mamie Stover (1946).. Costume by Travilla.

[angelsandpinkpeaches]

[poppingmary]

Marilyn Monroe & Jane Russel as Just Two Little Girls from Little Rock in “Gentleman Prefer Blondes - 1953

Costumes by William Travilla

[cressida-jayoungr]

One Dress a Day Challenge

July: Blue Redux (+ Green Redux)

The Inspector General / Elsa Lanchester as Maria

The 1830s is a decade that doesn't make it to film particularly often. I like the unusual combination of black and light blue here, and the looped pattern around the neckline with the little heart-shaped ornament in front. I'm not an expert, but I believe the hairstyle is actually from a decade or two later, with the dangling ringlets.

Costumes for this movie were by (William) Travilla, who also designed costumes for several of Marilyn Monroe's films and, much later in his career, the TV show Dallas. This was one of his early projects.