To: Persuaded
From: Design Muse
Date: Oscar Night
Subject: Real Inspirations

Sandy Powell was presented with the Achievement in Costume Design Oscar for"The Young Victoria". Here is her acceptance speech and backstage Q&A:

"Wow. Well, I already have two of these. So I'm feeling greedy. I'd like to dedicate this one to the costume designers that don't do movies about dead monarchs or glittery musicals. The designers that do the contemporary films and the low-budget ones actually don't get as recognized as they should do, and they work as hard. So this is for you, but I'm gonna take it home tonight. Thank you."

Q. Sandy, congratulations. How does it feel to be the first British winner of the night?
A. I hadn't thought of that like that. Of course I'm thrilled to be a winner at all. But British winner, yes, I'm happy for the Brits. But you know what? Normally they don't mention the costume design. They just mention the actors. When it gets a ripple in the press, and it's the British winners it's usually the actors, directors and cinematographers. So let's see, I hope it will get reported.

Q. Hi. At the costume designers awards you mentioned that you like to work on period pieces because you can bring a lot of your own ideas and creations to the costumes. What were some of your inspirations for Young Victoria?
A. Oh goodness. The inspirations. Well, the inspirations were the real thing, the real costumes, and I was fortunate enough to actually see some of Victoria's real clothes. They're archived at Kensington Palace, so I got to do that. So I started with that and looking at the portraiture from the period then, I don't know, I guess that was the inspiration then I go ahead and design my versions of things which are hopefully historically accurate as far as we can get them, using contemporary materials and things.

Q. Hi. This is our kind of film. Listen, how surprised have people been to discover that the old frumpy Queen Victoria that they pictured was this young, sexy woman, and you got to design what she wore?
A. Well, I didn't know anything about Victoria. I mean, I mean my image of her was the old fat frumpy woman in black. I didn't really know she was young once, but I didn't know that she was actually vibrant and attractive and a real character. You know she was a real sort of head strong even tomboyish woman. So you know, I'm glad that we've been able to portray her as something different, and it's actually interesting and people enjoy the movie, and go to see it, more importantly.

Q. Hi. Congratulations. Would you mind describing in a little more detail your outfit actually and
A. My outfit?

Q. Especially the green nail polish. Where is that from? What color is?
A. It's interesting. The green nail polish I looked everywhere for this shade of green nail polish. I couldn't find it and I found it two days ago in a little supply shop for professionals only in the bargain basement basket of the stuff that hadn't sold. And I persuaded them to sell it to me because I was a non professional makeup artist on the condition that I would wave it on camera if I won. And actually my inspiration was Liza Minnelli in Cabaret that I saw when I was 11 years old. That changed my life. That's what I wanted to do. It was the fingernails that did it.

Q. Do you know the name of the
A. I have no idea. Some cheap brand. I have no idea. It's great. The dress is vintage deco loaned to me by Elizabeth Mason here in L.A..

Previous | Next