Edith Head was one of the most famous and influential costume designers in film history. She worked for more than 50 years in Hollywood and designed the wardrobe for over 1000 films. She won eight Oscars for her work and was nominated for another 35. She dressed some of the biggest stars of the silver screen, including Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor, Cary Grant and Humphrey Bogart. She was known for her distinctive style, creative vision and close collaboration with directors and actors.
Edith Head was born Edith Claire Posener on October 28, 1897 in San Bernardino, California. She was the daughter of Jewish immigrants from Germany. She studied at the University of California, Berkeley, earning a bachelor’s degree in languages. She then taught French and art in a Los Angeles high school.
She began her career in 1924 as an assistant to Howard Greer, then Paramount’s chief designer. She quickly learned the basics of costume design and developed her own style. She soon became one of the studio’s most sought-after designers and worked with some of the most renowned directors, such as Alfred Hitchcock.
She designed the costumes for some of the most famous films in movie history, such as “The Ten Commandments,” “Vertigo,” “Sabrina,” “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” “The Pink Panther” and “The Godfather.” She created iconic looks for screen legends, such as Marilyn Monroe’s white dress in “The Darned 7th Year,” Audrey Hepburn’s black dress in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” Grace Kelly’s green dress in “Over the Roofs of Nice” and Elizabeth Taylor’s red dress in “A Place in the Sun.”
She was not only a talented designer, but also a skillful businesswoman. She built a reputation as an expert on fashion issues and published several books on her field. She also advised many celebrities on their personal style and became a friend and confidante of many stars.
She was also a pioneer in her professional field. She was the first woman to win an Oscar for Best Costume Design, in 1949 for the film “The Heiress.” She was also the first woman to be named head designer of a major film studio, in 1967 at Universal Pictures. She was also the first woman to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, in 1974.
She died of a bone marrow disease in Los Angeles on October 24, 1981. She left a legacy of unforgettable films and costumes that are still admired today. She is considered one of the greatest costume designers of all time and an inspiration to many generations of designers.