Designer, Edith’s Head 116th Birthday
Being honored by Google is no modern-day generosity; it’s quite the courtesy act. Upon this brisk morning, the chosen honoree is none other than, Edith Head. Google is commemorating the 8-Academy Award, Oscar-winning icon for her costume designing legacy. Instead of Google’s customary multi-colored logo, it has been replaced by 6 of her most-esteemed, iconic designs. It displays the American costume designer standing in front of her legendary Hollywood past. For over 50 years, she has designed the wardrobe for Hollywood film stars. Defining cinema style from the golden era to the 1980s. She is credited to an estimated of 430+ films and has been best friends with Alfred Hitchcock, forging a friendship that lasted over 30 years.Head holds the title of the most Oscars claimed by any woman. She has been a favorite among the leading actresses at that time. During her 54-years of career, Edith has been nominated for 35 Academy Awards. Head has worked with magnificent ladies such as Ginger Roberts, Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, Natalie Wood, and Audrey Hepburn. She held a staggering resume at Paramount for 43 years before moving to Universal Pictures. She has created attire for celebrated films, such as Funny Face, To Catch a Thief, The Birds, Sabrina, Roman Holiday, Carrie, and All about Eve. If you remember Edna Mode in the 2004 children’s film, The Incredibles, she was the pure inspiration behind the superhero designer character.
1. Edith Head's Grace Kelly Sketch, To Catch a Thief (1955)2. Jeanmaire in Anything Goes (1956)
Head received her master’s degree in French from Stanford University. During the 1920s, she briefly taught French and art at the Hollywood School for Girls. However when she understood her amplitude towards contours and figures, she immediately sought after the costume circuit. She began designing costumes for silent films, commencing with The Wanderer (1925) and, by the 1930s, had established herself as one of Hollywood's leading costumer designers. The Costume Department building on the Paramount lot is named after her.
Edith Head with her numerous sketches sprawled out in her Paramount office
It was in 81’, when the designer passed at the age of 83, from myeolofibrosis, an incurable bone marrow disease. Her Hollywood plaque remains on the Walk of Fame at 6504 Hollywood Boulevard. Image Source: Google + Getty Images