“You can have anything in life if you dress for it” – Edith Head
Fabulous words, and they could easily have been mine, but it was the legendary Edith Head – one of Hollywood’s most iconic designers – who said this many decades ago.
Edith made her mark in a field that was dominated by men at the time (1930s through 1950s), designing costumes for more than 1100 movies. The winner of eight Oscars, she was nominated for an astonishing thirty-four. Kim Novak’s smoldering wardrobe in Vertigo (1958), Hitchcock’s strangest and sexiest thriller? That was Edith’s interpretation of sexy noir. But also Lana Turner’s sheer, vampy night gown in ‘Who’s got the action’ (1962) and many of Mae West’s lavish, suggestive costumes were Edith’s creations. She helped shape the female Hollywood archetypes we know today – from the Femme Fatale to the Sex Goddess – but perhaps more importantly: she empowered women all over the world with her style wisdom.
“I want to give women a second skin,” Edith used to say, and that is exactly what I do when I design: by framing your natural beauty, I elevate and celebrate it. Because I believe that there is nothing more personal than one’s body – it lies at the core of every person’s sense of individuality. Ultimately, by making your body look its best, Edith and I want to achieve the same thing: to make you feel like you can conquer the world. (Because you can! Believe me!)
This season, I will explore Edith’s legacy and her design philosophy. With my collections, I will pay tribute to the Feminine Feminist icons that still light up our screens, from sultry Lana Turner to feisty Bette Davis. I will share the conversations I had in Los Angeles with Madonna – stylist/costume designer Arianne Phillips – the Edith Head of our time – and Feminine Feminist TV-star Jennifer Finnigan. And you will be surprised to see how Edith’s tricks and tips can still be used to your advantage today. Because in this Social Media Age, aren’t we all the ‘Hollywood Stars’ of our own network?
More than ever the world is your stage. Dress the part, claim the limelight and make your dreams come true! It’s showtime!
“Dare to dream, dare to grow, dare to be.”
— Marlies Dekkers
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