Apparel design students recreate designs for Edith Head exhibit

Monday, March 1, 2010

(Stillwater, OK   March 1, 2010) -- Apparel design and production students in the College of Human Environmental Sciences at Oklahoma State University had the opportunity to participate in the exhibition, Lights! Camera! Fashion!: The Film Costumes of Edith Head, which opened Jan. 22 at the Price Tower Arts Center.

The exhibition focuses on the career and designs of famed Hollywood costume designer Edith Head. Students in an upper-level draping class were asked to recreate Edith Head designs as a project in the course.  

“I was very excited about this prospect, because this was a wonderful opportunity for the students to work on a project that will have a real impact on their community,” said Adriana Petrova, assistant professor in design, housing and merchandising. “When I announced the project to the students, they were very enthusiastic. They felt great pride in being able to show their work and to represent their school and approached the project with great responsibility.’

Ten students were provided copies of original sketches by Edith Head and each student recreated one outfit.  DHM students participating in the exhibition include Nikki Gunter of Mustang, Okla., Paivy Pedersen of Norfolk, Va., Brooke Alfrey of Garden City, Kan., Kirsten Webster and Megan Tarlton of Edmond, Okla., Rachel Hamilton, Nicole Stuart, Melaney Stevens, Lindsay Gin and Raven Zimmer all of Oklahoma City.

"This exhibition is a first in many years to focus on fashion and costume design,” said Scott Perkins, Curator of Collections and Exhibitions at Price Tower Arts Center. “And, since it is the first exhibition in nearly 30 years on the work of Edith Head, we wanted to bring some of her designs to life.

“Due to the fact that many of her designs no longer exist, we turned to OSU's design department to recreate the realizations of her work with a contemporary twist.  The 10 students are constructing Miss Head's designs in an all-black color palette allowing us to really understand the architecture of the garments and to look at them through a lens of contemporary fashion design.”

Edith Head was a leading Hollywood costume designer for nearly 60 years.  As a designer at Paramount until 1967 and then at Universal Pictures until her death in 1981, Head worked closely with the top directors and actors in the film industry.

Along with the sketches of her award-winning designs, the exhibition will also feature six of the eight Oscars awarded to Edith Head.
The exhibition will run through May 16, 2010 at Price Tower Arts Center, located at 510 Dewey Avenue in Bartlesville, Okla.