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Home > Textiles and Design > Major Textiles Project > The Aviator: a case study in costume design

Major Textiles Project

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The Aviator

One of the focus areas for the Major Textiles Project is Costume. If you are considering this focus area for your Major Textile Project this tutorial will provide a case study on the costume design featured in the film The Aviator and the influence of fashion history on costume design.

Case study: The Aviator

Many people first discover historical costume through the costumes they see in films, plays and TV dramas. In this case study we will take a look at the costume designs from the movie The Aviator released in 2005 telling the story of Howard Hughes. The movie is set between 1914 and the 1940s. As the fashions of this era are a real feature of the movie we will also take a close look at fashion from the 1920s-1940s.

Activity 1

Read the review of The Aviator written by Pauline Weston Thomas for Fashion-Era.com, and complete the following questions:

1. Who was the costume designer for The Aviator, and what was her budget?
   
   
2. The costume designs in The Aviator have received many awards, including an Oscar. What was the key to its success?
   
   
3. Describe the features of the male costume designs from the movie.
   
   
4. A number of actresses, famous for their influences on fashion and heralded as style icons, were featured in the movie, who were they?
   
   
5. Describe the features of the female costume designs from the movie.

Suggested Answers

If you would like to find out more about the costume designer Sandy Powell, click here .

If you would like to find out more about fashion during the war, click here .

Activity 2: Research

1. To gain a better insight into the costume designs you have been reading about view the movie The Aviator.
   
   
2. Focus on the fashions worn by the actor Gwen Stefani and see if you can identify any influences from the styles featured in the movies.
   
   
3. You may have encountered some fabric and fashion design terms that you have not seen before. Do some research to make sure you understand what they mean. Try fashion design books, asking your teacher or even some shop assistants. For example, plus fours are baggy pants that usually finish below the knee with a band to bring them in to the socks, you have probably seen them, as they are still worn by golfers today. Click here to view a picture.

Fashion history and its influence on The Aviator costume design

To gain an understanding of the social history of this period and the influence on fashion, clothing styles and clothing features you will focus on the fashion history of the 1930s.

Activity 3

Read the article 1930s Fashion History Stylish Thirties to complete the following questions.

1. In what ways did women's clothing in particular change during the 1930s?
   
   
2. Why did women's day wear become more practical in the 1930s?
   
   
3. A number of fashion designers became famous during this period, name two and outline their contributions to the fashions of the period.
   
   
4. A number of major developments occurred in the fibre industry during this period. Name two and outline their uses at this time.
   
   
5. Another technological development, which later became universally used, gained recognition in the fashion world in the 1930s, what was it and how did it become popular?
   
   
6. How did the rumblings of war in the late 1930s influence fashions at the close of the decade?
   
   
7. Why is this time considered pivotal in fashion industry history?

Suggested Answers

Extension

The following sites will connect you to some Fashion silhouettes of the 1930s, see if you can identify some of the features that you have been reading about.

1930

1933

1936

1938

If you are interested, you can also link to information on fashion history in the 1920s and 1940s.

Fashion history 1920s

Fashion history 1940s