‘The Great Gatsby’ costume designer Catherine Martin took home the Oscar for her work in the film during the weekend. Martin has now spoken on how important fashion is in film, commenting that she believes that the clothing used in films are an important part of telling a story in an authentic way and setting the correct mood – this is especially evident in The Great Gatsby where lavish vintage inspired costumes were styled in keeping with the 1920s era to set the tone. Martin said:
“The language of clothes and the language of environment work hand in hand as storytelling tools in what is a visual medium.”
The Oscar-winner added that director Baz Luhrmann is a very detail-orientated person who wanted her to make sure the fashion on display in the film would represent the kind of people the characters are. She believes that often the clothing leaves a lasting impression on the audience because it silently communicates a lot of important information. She stated that she thus believes fashion in film will always be incredibly important for this reason:
“It’s certainly something Baz considers down to the last detail. Clothes become an indicator of who the person is, what they’re doing, how they’re feeling and where they are. The most successful visual interpretations are ones that are collaborative. It’s quite good to be the same person, even though it can be schizophrenic because you’re arguing with yourself.”
Martin has now won two Oscars as she also previously received one for her work on Luhrmann’s past work, Moulin Rouge.
