2016 Fashion and Costume Design

Before we get too far into the new year, we figured we’d do one last recap! After all, we can’t fully move on without highlighting the most innovative and memorable 2016 fashion and costume designs. Indeed, from film and theater to the red carpet, we saw many outfits that dazzled and delighted. Here are a few of our favorites!

2016 Fashion and Costume Design: Film

2016 featured a handful of superb period pieces. Certainly, one of the best was Jackie. In the film, Natalie Portman dons amazing replicas of Jackie Kennedy’s outfits, courtesy of French costume designer Madeline Fontaine. Jackie’s sharp and sophisticated style is front and center. And the audience is privy to some of her most iconic ensembles and accessories.

Another fantastic historical film was Florence Foster Jenkins. The movie stars Meryl Streep as a 1940s high-society woman with delusions of grandeur (at least when it comes to singing). And Oscar-winning costume designer Consolata Boyle helps provide great authenticity and a theatrical quality with her remarkable work. From the color palette to the use of fabrics and the nuanced accessories, the result is nothing short of exceptional.

2016 Fashion and Costume Design: Theater

The New York theater scene is bursting with amazing costume design. And it’s quite difficult to single anyone out. Nonetheless, we were blown away by Ann Roth’s creations for Shuffle Along. Set in the 1920s, Roth spent six months researching the time period to ensure the final results were wholly authentic. In fact, she even made sure she used fabric that was manufactured the same way it had been in the 20s.  This attention to detail clearly paid off!

Additionally, it was also astounding to see how the costumes in Ivo van Hove’s production of The Crucible were in perfect harmony with the play’s other visual elements – namely the lighting and set design. This is the type of work that’s deceptively simple yet takes a deft auteur like Polish costume designer Wojciech Dziedzic to accomplish. And his brilliant inclination to blur the time period helped lend the show an eerie quality.

2016 Fashion and Costume Design: Red Carpet

Cynthia Erivo just ended her celebrated run as Celie in the acclaimed revival of The Color Purple. However, back in June, she was turning heads as she walked the red carpet at the Tony Awards. Indeed, she looked absolutely stunning in her Roberto Cavalli gown.

Of course, no red carpet recap would be complete without mentioning Cate Blanchett. After all, she always manages to bring a combination of old-school glamour with a modern twist. And this pink Givenchy number, with its nod to the flapper era, encapsulates just that. There is so much originality and detail in this showstopper that only Blanchett could pull it off.

2016 was full of amazing designs and ensembles. And we can’t wait to see what stunning creations will grace the stage, screen and carpet in 2017.  We’ll be watching!

If you’re just getting started in the costume game yourself, we can’t recommend Costuming for Film enough:

More importantly, this Rowenta X-Cel Steam Handheld Steamer will leave your costumes/clothing looking fresh for every take and photograph:

And this Fleet Street Dirt Works Dirt is safe, effective and authentic: