Friday, May 8, 2009

Fashionable History: Orry-Kelly

Marilyn Monroe The gorgeous metallic sequin dress in Some Like it Hot

Mitzi Gaynor Mitzi Gaynor in Les Girls
Three on a Match1930's luncheon wear in Three on a Match.
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I recently watched the fantastic pre-code 1930's films, Three on a Match (starring Joan Blondell Ann Dvorak and a young and blonde Bette Davis) and Female (starring Ruth Chatterton) and discovered the wonderful costumes were designed by Orry-Kelly. Not as well known as Adrian or Edith Head I had never heard of him and decided to do a little research. As it turns out he should be more well known than he is. He has done the gowns and costumes for hundreds of films including the big Busby Berkeley musicals, Jezebel (1938), The Maltese Falcon (1941), Casablanca (1942), and Les Girls (1957). He won oscars for his designs in An American in Paris (1951), and one of my absolute favorites, Some Like it Hot (1959).
I was already a fan and didn't know it!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wonderful designers. Too bad they didn't get the attention they deserved.

Sidenote, I love Bette Davis' look in the last picture! Work!

Unknown said...

I agree! Bette Davis was adorable as a young blonde!