The genius behind the costumes: Colleen Atwood’s timeless craft

Meeting the master: a‌ behind-the-scenes look

Oscar-winning actor Catherine Zeta-Jones reminisces about her early encounters with the iconic costume designer Colleen Atwood during the pre-production of Chicago. The actor ​vividly recalls the workshop teeming with costumes and an array ‍of dancing fishnet tights, describing it as an “explosion of creativity.”

“Meeting her for the first time and seeing her designs⁤ filled me with anticipation,” Zeta-Jones shares. She was ⁤instantly⁣ captivated by ‍Atwood’s vision, leading to⁣ a deep ​respect and admiration that resonates throughout ⁣the industry.

Atwood’s influence in Hollywood: a trusted ⁤collaborator

It’s no secret that directors like Rob Marshall and Tim Burton hold Atwood in high regard. “I needed the same team from ‘Chicago’ because we speak the same‍ language,” Marshall reveals about their ⁤collaboration on Disney’s 2023 live-action The Little ⁣Mermaid. Atwood, who has become a fixture in many director’s projects, continues to elevate the visual storytelling through her unmatched costume designs.

Honoring‍ a legend: decades of dedication

Atwood will be honored for her contributions to costume design at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, a testament to her prolific career spanning over four decades. Her extensive portfolio includes unforgettable works in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Beetlejuice, and the upcoming WWII series Masters of the Air.

Bringing Ursula to life in The Little Mermaid

Atwood’s expertise is especially evident in her approach to creating Melissa McCarthy’s sea witch, ​Ursula, in The Little Mermaid. Merging glamour and darkness, she selected a purple sequined fabric overlaid with black suede lasercut leather to simulate the⁣ texture‌ of an an octopus’s skin. Her ‍goal was to match the mysterious, cave-like environment while portraying ⁤Ursula as a “showgirl at heart.”

Meticulous process: balancing ‍homage and originality

Research and historical accuracy are pillars ‌of Atwood’s process. She dives into ⁢archives and photographic references to develop costumes that both​ honor the original source material and bear her unique creative signature.‍

For the Netflix series Wednesday, she collaborated once again with Tim Burton. Atwood stayed true to⁢ the iconic look of the titular character⁤ by incorporating classic elements like the pointed collar and modern platform shoes while⁢ ensuring the character stood out in her contrasting environment.

Texturing‍ the macabre: making black pop

One of Atwood’s significant challenges is⁤ using black in a way ⁣that remains visually engaging. For the Addams Family-inspired Wednesday, she embraced texture and layers to prevent black fabrics from appearing flat without intricate lighting.

A testament to authenticity: Masters of the Air

Creating period-accurate costumes for Masters of ⁤the Air was an arduous task requiring over 300​ leather jackets. Era-specific zippers from Japan and sheepskin from Scotland and England were sourced to maintain historical accuracy. To capture the worn-in look needed for the jackets, Atwood employed a unique ​aging process involving ‍vats of rocks and⁣ cement mixers, giving the costumes ⁤authentic, period-specific wear and tear.

Continual ‍collaboration and excellence

Atwood ​continues to ‍enjoy fruitful⁢ collaborations with ⁢Tim Burton, reuniting for Beetlejuice and the second season of Wednesday. Her meticulous attention to detail and innovative design⁢ choices consistently set a high bar in costume ​design within the film industry.

Whether crafting⁣ the gothic elegance of Wednesday or the sea witch’s dual nature in The Little Mermaid, Colleen Atwood’s ​designs remain an integral ​and celebrated component of cinematic storytelling.

Join the conversation by sharing this article on social media or follow our site for updates on⁣ the latest in ⁢film and TV costume ‍design.