These Side-By-Side Photos Prove How Serious Old Movies Took Costume Design

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1.Edith Head designed the costumes for Sweet Charity in 1969. Here's her sketch of Shirley MacLaine's character for "I'm a Brass Band."

A person striking a pose in a classic marching band drum major uniform with tall boots and a feathered hat
/ Courtesy Everett Collection

Here's what it ended up looking like for the film. While there's no baton and the boots aren't heeled, it seems pretty close to Head's original drawing!

Shirley MacLaine in a marching band uniform with a white hat, red jacket, black shorts, and red boots, dances in front of two drummers beside a fountain
Universal Pictures

Here's what they look like next to each other:

A sketch of a marching band leader in uniform, standing on one leg with the other raised, wearing a hat and holding a baton with feathers
A sketch of a marching band leader in uniform, standing on one leg with the other raised, wearing a hat and holding a baton with feathers
Cast members of
Cast members of

Courtesy Everett Collection, Universal Pictures

2.Here's Head's sketch of Audrey Hepburn as Princess Ann in Roman Holiday.

Sketch of Audrey Hepburn in a gown by Edith Head for "Roman Holiday". Handwritten names of Audrey Hepburn and Edith Head are visible
Courtesy Everett Collection

Here's what she looked like in the film. It's totally spot-on! Even the necklace and the tiara are exactly like the sketch.

Audrey Hepburn, in an elegant ball gown and tiara, shakes hands with another woman in formal attire during a grand event with others looking on
Courtesy Everett Collection

And this is a side-by-side so you can compare nice and easily:

Illustration of Audrey Hepburn in a gown with hand-written names
Illustration of Audrey Hepburn in a gown with hand-written names
Audrey Hepburn in an elegant off-the-shoulder gown and tiara shakes hands with a seated woman at a formal event, surrounded by others in formal attire
Audrey Hepburn in an elegant off-the-shoulder gown and tiara shakes hands with a seated woman at a formal event, surrounded by others in formal attire

/ Courtesy Everett Collection, Courtesy Everett Collection

3.Here's the sketch of Elizabeth Taylor in A Place in the Sun. Edith Head thought the silhouette of this gown, a tight bodice and full skirt, would be a silhouette with staying power.

Fashion sketch of Elizabeth Taylor wearing a strapless, embellished ball gown. Text: "Elizabeth Taylor," "A Place in the Sun," "1951," and "Edith Head."
/ Courtesy Everett Collection

She was right. After Elizabeth Taylor wore it, this dress became the most popular the year after the movie's release.

Elizabeth Taylor in a formal gown with intricate detailing, standing next to a pool table
Paramount Pictures

Here's the side-by-side:

Illustration of Elizabeth Taylor in Edith Head's gown from
Illustration of Elizabeth Taylor in Edith Head's gown from
Elizabeth Taylor in an elegant strapless gown with floral embellishments stands by a pool table inside a room
Elizabeth Taylor in an elegant strapless gown with floral embellishments stands by a pool table inside a room

Courtesy Everett Collection, Paramount Pictures

4.Here's what the sketch looked like for Mary Martin's gown in The Great Victor Herbert. Head was trying for an 1890s evening dress.

/ Courtesy Everett Collection
/ Courtesy Everett Collection

Here's what it looked like in the movie: fan and all!

Woman in elaborate vintage dress with ruffled layers and flower details, holding open heavy curtains in a theatrical pose. I don't know who she is
/ Courtesy Everett Collection

And here they are right next to each other:

Sketch of a person in an elaborate, tiered gown with floral detailing, holding a fan. Signature reads
Sketch of a person in an elaborate, tiered gown with floral detailing, holding a fan. Signature reads
An actress in an elaborate tiered dress embellished with flowers poses dramatically between curtains
An actress in an elaborate tiered dress embellished with flowers poses dramatically between curtains

Courtesy Everett Collection, / Courtesy Everett Collection

5.This is the sketch Cecil Beaton created for Barbra Streisand in On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.

Barbara Streisand in a long, flowing dress with a bonnet, standing beside a sketched drawing of herself in the same outfit
Courtesy Everett Collection

Here's what Barbra looked like in the film. Notice that the long gloves were replaced with long sleeves, and the sash in the middle was replaced with a drawstring.

Barbra Streisand stands beside a sketch of herself in an elegant, long-sleeved dress with puffed shoulders and a bonnet, matching the illustration
Courtesy Everett Collection

Here's the side-by-side for comparison:

Barbra Streisand stands next to a sketch of a woman in a similar victorian-style dress with a bonnet
Courtesy Everett Collection

6.Initially, I thought this sketch was for a bridal gown in You Were Never Lovelier.

Sketch of a woman in a long, elegant dress with a tight-fitting bodice and flared skirt holding a bouquet, signed by Jozef J. Mašek
Courtesy Everett Collection

However, with the flower headpiece swapped out for the wide-brimmed hat, Rita Hayworth looks much more like a bridesmaid.

A woman dressed in a long-sleeved, button-down dress and a wide-brimmed hat with a veil, stands indoors, looking down at her hands
Columbia Pictures

Here's what they look like right next to each other:

Sketch of iconic actress Joan Crawford in a vintage gown designed by Adrian, holding a bouquet. The image exudes old Hollywood glamour
Sketch of iconic actress Joan Crawford in a vintage gown designed by Adrian, holding a bouquet. The image exudes old Hollywood glamour
Rita Hayworth, wearing a long dress and a wide-brimmed hat with a veil, stands indoors with her hands clasped
Rita Hayworth, wearing a long dress and a wide-brimmed hat with a veil, stands indoors with her hands clasped

/ Courtesy Everett Collection, Columbia Pictures

7.Here's the sketch for Marlene Dietrich's character in 1937's Angel.

A vintage illustration of a woman in an ornate, floor-length gown with detailed patterns and holding a fur stole
Ben Stansall / AFP via Getty Images

Here's what she looked like in the film. This dress looks like it weighs about 30 pounds.

Marlene Dietrich in an elegant, form-fitting, beaded gown with a luxurious fur stole, posing gracefully indoors
Courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection / Everett Col

Here they are side-by-side:

Woman in an elegant, patterned floor-length gown with asymmetrical draping, holding a fur stole. She exudes glamour and sophistication
Woman in an elegant, patterned floor-length gown with asymmetrical draping, holding a fur stole. She exudes glamour and sophistication
Marlene Dietrich poses in an intricately patterned, floor-length gown with a fur stole, in an elegant room
Marlene Dietrich poses in an intricately patterned, floor-length gown with a fur stole, in an elegant room

Ben Stansall / AFP via Getty Images, Courtesy Everett Collection / Everett Collection / Everett Col

8.Here's a sketch of Eleanor Whitley's gown for Turn Off the Moon.

Sketch of a woman in a long, elegant dress with puffed sleeves and intricate detailing. The dress has a fitted bodice and flows into a full skirt
Courtesy Everett Collection

And here's what it looked like on Eleanor Whitley. If you had shown me that dress and told me it was yellow, I wouldn't have believed you.

Three unidentified people stand together, dressed in formal attire. The person in the center wears a long dress with white fur accents. The men wear suits
Lmpc / LMPC via Getty Images

Here's what they look like right next to each other:

Sketch of a woman wearing a vintage-inspired, floor-length gown with puff sleeves and floral details. The dress features a cinched waist and flared skirt
Sketch of a woman wearing a vintage-inspired, floor-length gown with puff sleeves and floral details. The dress features a cinched waist and flared skirt
Three people on a red carpet in formal attire: a man in a black tuxedo, a woman in a long dress with white fur sleeves, and another man in a dark suit
Three people on a red carpet in formal attire: a man in a black tuxedo, a woman in a long dress with white fur sleeves, and another man in a dark suit

Courtesy Everett Collection, Lmpc / LMPC via Getty Images

9.Here's the sketch for Ginger Rogers's dress in It Had To Be You.

Sketch of a woman in a gown with flowing lines resembling leaves or branches. The outfit has an elegant, vintage style
Courtesy Everett Collection

Here's what the dress looked like in real life. She's even posing the same way the sketch is!

Ginger Rogers wearing an elegant gown with floral patterns, standing beside a portrait of herself in the same dress
Courtesy Everett Collection

Here's a little side-by-side for you:

Illustration of a woman in a glamorous evening gown with a flowing skirt and elegant detailing
Illustration of a woman in a glamorous evening gown with a flowing skirt and elegant detailing
Ginger Rogers stands in an elegant, flower-pattern gown next to an illustration of herself wearing the same dress
Ginger Rogers stands in an elegant, flower-pattern gown next to an illustration of herself wearing the same dress

Courtesy Everett Collection

10.Here's what Edith Head had in mind for Ellen Drew's character in The Mad Doctor.

A fashion sketch by Edith Head, featuring a woman in a checkered blazer, knee-length skirt, and hat, signed by the designer
Courtesy Everett Collection

Here's what she looked like in the 1940 flick. Notice the had was swapped for something more wide-brimmed and the collar was made larger than what the sketch had.

Two people in vintage attire, including a man in a suit and a woman wearing a large hat and a patterned dress with white accents, standing in front of an office door
Paramount Pictures

Here's what the frocks look like next to each other:

Fashion sketch of a woman in a 1940s-style outfit with a structured jacket, a full skirt, and a hat, signed by Edith Head
Fashion sketch of a woman in a 1940s-style outfit with a structured jacket, a full skirt, and a hat, signed by Edith Head
A man in a suit and a woman in a checkered blazer with a large hat stand together in front of a door
A man in a suit and a woman in a checkered blazer with a large hat stand together in front of a door

Courtesy Everett Collection, Paramount Pictures

11.Edith Head won her first Academy Award for her work on 1949's The Heiress starring Olivia De Havilland as Catherine. Here's what the sketch of her ball gown looked like.

Courtesy Everett Collection
Courtesy Everett Collection

Here's what it looked like in the actual film. It looks like a necklace was added but the earrings were omitted.

Unknown actress in an elegant, voluminous 19th-century style gown featuring ornate detailing, holding a fan, and standing in a lavishly decorated room
Paramount Pictures

And here's the side-by-side:

Illustration of Olivia de Havilland in the film
Illustration of Olivia de Havilland in the film
A woman wearing an elaborate, long, period-style gown with ornate details, holding a fan, stands in a doorway, smiling
A woman wearing an elaborate, long, period-style gown with ornate details, holding a fan, stands in a doorway, smiling

Courtesy Everett Collection, Paramount Pictures

12.The Big Broadcast of 1938 had a star-studded cast. Here's a costume sketch of Dorothy Lamour's character.

A stylish figure stands in a vintage outfit with a cinched waist, wide belt, and matching hat, exuding elegance and poise. No visible text or identifiable persons
Courtesy Everett Collection

And here's what that costume looked like in the movie. Pretty spot-on to me!

Dorothy Lamour wears a striped scarf and hat, next to someone is in a white naval uniform. They have focused expressions
Paramount Pictures

Here's the side-by-side:

A fashion sketch of a woman in a stylish outfit with a high-waisted skirt, cape-style jacket, and a scarf tied around her neck
A fashion sketch of a woman in a stylish outfit with a high-waisted skirt, cape-style jacket, and a scarf tied around her neck
A woman in a vintage hat and striped blouse stands beside a man in a sailor's uniform on a TV set
A woman in a vintage hat and striped blouse stands beside a man in a sailor's uniform on a TV set

Courtesy Everett Collection, Paramount Pictures

What's your favorite costume from the Golden Age of Hollywood? Tell me in the comments below!

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