Evening star., 1937-03-07
Real Richness Produced
In Garments of Screen
Hollywood Building Houses Workshops for
Group of Artists and Artisans s-Reality
More Beautiful Than in Pictures.

six-story building, occupying almost
an entire block on Hollywood's Mel
rose avenue.
can think Of no better name for
the place than the "What-not shop of
Movie-land." Is a producer planning a
picture Of pirate days? Good! An
assistant director arrives from his
studio and Is taken to the costume
department. Dozens Of costumes are
to be found suitable for the occasion,
but should there not be enough or
should they not be exactly what is de-
sired an order Is sent to the tailor
shop, where within an unbelievably
short time the garments are made.
Among the half million costumes
which hang In the closets Of this
concern are to be found uniforms,
peasant costumes, ball gowns and
street clothes for men, women and
children of periods as far back as
the days Of Cleopatra. But despite
this, frequently the exact style, size
or color may not be found among the
garments already IN stock.
THE wardrobe director from Q tech
color company arrived one morn
ing to secure costumes for . picture
Of buccaneer days. The company,
which produced the current picture,
Becky Sharp" with rs scenes Of COL
orful beauty, Is constantly working
on the perfection Of color pictures.
The costumes for the techdcolor
picture now in production have been
made to order, as only certain colors
can be used.
What colors reproduce best?" the
director was asked.
"Drab colors and neutral shades
make the best pictures" he replied.
Remembering the brilliant red coats
in Becky Sharp" his interviewer ex-
pressed surprise, whereupon he stated
that the company had not personally
been satisfied with the brigh' costumes
of that picture, explaining they did
not hold their colors in the movement
of the actors as do the neutral or drab
colors.
All Of these facts are well known
to the dreSsmakers and designers Of
this costume What-Not shop, which
carries tn one department yard goods
Of every color and material describ.
able, to say nothing Of buttons and
trimmings in . variety Of styles and
designs sufncient to meet the demands
Of the most exacting designer Or
director.
II you should visit this bewildering
home Of Hollywood's costumes, you
are apt to feel like the miserly uncle
in Ali Baba" when he found himself
i1' the den Of robbers. With so many
treasures around him, he did not
know where to turn or what to take
first and therefore he missed during
his first visit many of the riches he
might have taken with him. It would
therefore be wise to take one depart
m-nt at q time, so as not to miss any
thing in this remarkable place where
one may pass from laces to feathers
without stepping outside the door.
At THE left Of Il building q you
enter Is the art department,
where costume artists carry out the
designs which Later take form in silks,
satins. calicos and rags. Here 1t Is
the Job Of the director Of the depart.
ment, young graduate from q New
York art school who designed COS.
tunes on Broadway for several sea.
sons, to see that temperamental clients
are satisfied. Be she q plump little
principal who wishes to appear slight,
or a gaunt, skinny Gentleman, who
wishes to appear lusty and pugilistic,
costumes are designe to create the
proper illusion.
An anecdote was related by the
head Of this department concerning .
prominent star Of the screen, who was
cast for the Lead in an important pic
ture, shortly aftei the birth Of her
first baby. From having been q slight,
petite figure, the young mother had
developed the buxum, plump lines Of
. matrou. In the picture she was 10
take the part Of slender young sirl.
It was up to the costume designer to
see that "milady" was slenderiSed,
As 1t was q period costume play, the
task was not 20 difficult, the artist
creating . costume with very full
skirts, puffed sleeves and tightened
waist which gave to his plump little
patron the appearance of q fragile
doll. In the files of this department
ar to be found trawings Of the worlds
favorite screen stars in costumes spe-
cially designed for them.
After leaving the art department
one travels to the rear Of the build
ing. where at one side are dozens Of
rows of feminine costume. Innumer-
able drawers containing hose, feathers,
buckles, sashes, Leads, flowers and the
hundred and me accessories which
have made up the costumes Of women
down through the centuries.
In one slass-doored wardrobe alone
are to be seen over 200 hospital nurses