5 Costume Designers You Should Know

While we talk about their designs all the time, Costume Designers rarely get the honor and appreciation they deserve. Fashion transcends from the screen into our everyday lives, shaping the way we see characters and inspiring some of the latest style trends.  Glamour UK gave us a wonderful look into their choices for 57 Best Movie Costumes of All time. I selected my top 5 and researched all about the designers behind these iconic looks.

1. Ruth E. Carter

Ruth E. Carter has been out here designing the looks for some of the greatest Black Films such as: B*A*P*S, The Five Heartbeats, School Daze, What’s Love Got to Do with it,  and the upcoming  Coming 2 America! In 2019 Ruth won the Oscar for Best Achievement in Costume Design for her designs in Black Panther, making her the first African American to win the Academy Award for Best Costume Design. 

2. Travilla 

Marilyn Monroe was known for her spicy dresses back in her time. She was not afraid to show a little leg, accentuate her curves, and flatter herself in unique designs. The man who proved Marilyn Monroe could look good in anything? One name Travilla.  He has 97 Design Credits on IMDB for some very classic movies. 

3. Jacqueline Durran

While the article listed the animated version of the movie, the 2017 live action remake featured a stunning rendition of Belle’s famed yellow dress designed by Jacqueline Durran. Jacquline has designed, is credited on IMDB as designing for 27 movies including Nanny McPhee Returns, the 2019 version of Little Women, and the upcoming Batman movie.

4. Mary E. Vogt

Mary E. Vogt is a design extraordinaire, she has 47 credits including the famedddd Sanderson sisters of Hocus Pocus, Men in Black, Inspector Gadget (ONE OF MY FAVES), and  Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer. I love how stunning and dramatic her looks always are. 

5. Mona May

Mona May’s name is just as fun as her designs. She designs some of your fave magical and out of this world movies such as: Enchanted, Zenon: The Zequel, Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie. Outside of these amazing movies she also designed for the Whitney that appeared on Lifetime. While I believe all work should be celebrated, her claim to fame was the infamous introduction of plaid in Clueless!