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In 1938, Head was named the
chief costume designer at Paramount,
the first woman to head a design
department at a major studio, where
she oversaw a costume department
with a staff of hundreds. It is said
Head managed to survive more
through her ability to please quixotic
directors and stars than for her design
creativity, a distinction that even she
acknowledged. She referred to it as
“temperament.” “You have to have the
patience of Job,” she once said about
her job. ‘‘That’s why I’ve been around
so long.’’ If her mentors taught her
anything, it was how crucial it was to
establish a rapport between the star Edith Head was vocal in her dislike of ‘60s fashions like miniskirts,
and the designer. but she offered a mod spin on the era’s fashions for 1970 Best Picture
Over the years, she worked her nominee Airport and earned an Oscar nomination herself.
magic on such stars as Clara Bow, Mae
West, Joan Crawford, Barbara And the Oscar goes to…
Dorothy Lamour in The Jungle Stanwyck, Ann Sheridan, Veronica
Princess, Paramount Lake, Olivia de Haviland, Marlene In 1948, when the Academy introduced an Award for Best Costume
Dietrich, Grace Kelly, and Elizabeth Design, Head became famous worldwide, going on to dominate the
Taylor. She had a keen knack for visually trans- category in the coming decades of her career
forming these actresses into whatever screen guise with a record eight Academy Awards for Best
was required, whether in a period drama such as Costume Design and 35 nominations, making
The Heiress, for which she won her first Academy her the most awarded woman in the Academy’s
Award, or an adventure film such as To Catch a history. Head was extremely proud of these
Thief. “There isn’t anyone I can’t make over,” she recognitions and was known to refer to her eight
pronounced. And her loyal clientele also knew, as Oscars as “my children.”
Lucille Ball once put it, that “Edith doesn’t tell.” Head received her first Academy Award in
Of the times Head wrote, “Then, a designer was as 1949 for The Heiress, which was followed with
important as a star. Dress was part of the selling of awards for films that have become a part of
a picture.” Hollywood legend, including Samson and
Head worked at Paramount for 44 years. In Delilah, All About Eve, A Place in the Sun,
1967, the new parent company of Paramount Roman Holiday, Sabrina, and The Facts of Life.
declined to renew her contract and she was invited After leaving Paramount, Head earned her
by Alfred Hitchcock to join Universal Pictures, eighth and final Academy Award while at
where she continued adding to her illustrious career Universal for her work on The Sting in 1973. Of
resume. She remained at Universal until her death the award for The Sting, Head, who is said to
in 1981 despite working on outside projects. have preferred designing for men, remarked

Above, Edith Head with
her eight Oscars

Hedy Lamarr
in the final
interpretation of
her costume in
her role as
Delilah.
Audrey Hepburn “Jo Stockton” Costume Sketch
by Edith Head for Funny Face (Paramount, Grace Kelly “Lisa Fremont” Costume Sketch by
1957). Vintage original costume sketch Edith Head for Rear Window (Paramount,
accomplished in gouache and ink on 14” x 1954). Vintage original costume sketch,
16.75” artist’s paper leaf by legendary costume gouache and ink on 14” x 16.75” paper, by
designer Edith Head. Designed for fashion icon costume designer Edith Head.
Hepburn, there were multiple variations worn by Hedy Lamarr’s “Delilah” costume and sketch by Edith Head for Samson and Worn by Grace Kelly in the classic Alfred
six actresses during the fabulous “Think Pink” Delilah (Paramount, 1949). Vintage original costume sketch, Hitchcock thriller. This drawing sold for
segment. Edith was again nominated for the “Best gouache and ink on 13.75” x 16.75” paper, by costume designer Edith Head. $21,250 at Heritage auctions in July 2022.
Costume Design” Oscar. This sketch sold for Iconic peacock gown worn by Lamarr in the Cecil B. DeMille epic. The film
$6,250 at Heritage Auctions in July 2022. earned Edith one of her 8 Oscars for “Best Costume Design.” This drawing March 202 3 23
sold for $6,250 at Heritage auctions in July 2022.