This past Saturday was the Opening Night Party for the 26th Annual Art of Motion Picture Costume Design Exhibition at FIDM Museum. Every year--for the past 26 years--FIDM Museum and my Alma Mater and the college of which I am the Official Spokesperson for, the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Downtown Los Angeles, has presented this FABULOUS exhibition celebrating costume design and costumes of many of the past year's movies.


This year, the exhibition includes over 125 costumes from 25+ films, including the five Best Costume Design Academy Award nominees! Which includes "Beauty and The Beast", "Darkest Hour", "Phantom Thread", "The Shape of Water" and "Victoria and Abdul". Here is my BLOG RECAP of the night.


First, I will start with the FIVE Academy Award nominated costumes on display plus some of the others at the exhibition. As an EXTRA "Nick Blog" Bonus, I'll include some "Inside Dish" I found out through my many, many hours of research on some of the costumes displayed!! Following that, some "Party Photos" of the illustrious guests at the Opening Night:



**INSIDE DISH: Toronto-based Costume designer Luis Sequeira did a lot of research for the film--based in early 1960's Baltimore about a budding relationship between a South American "fish-man" and a mute janitor. Even though Sally Hawkins' character "Elisa" did not spend much money on her clothes (they were more 50's than 60's because she shopped at thrift stores), she did have a shoe fetish. The red shoes above are "inspired" by a pair of Ferragamos.


Here are some of the other costumes on display--they may not have been nominated for the Best Costume Design but it's WONDERFUL to have them at the Exhibition, of course:

**INSIDE DISH: Costume designer Jennifer Johnson got a lot of her research by acquiring photo clippings from eBay of Tonya Harding. She discovered that her and her ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly began to dress alike. In regards to her famous costumes above, the costume designer never met with Tonya or saw the actual costumes prior to re-creating them. Harding was so impressed that after finally meeting the costume designer at the movie's premiere, she told her "How did you get my costumes!!??"



**INSIDE DISH: Costume designer Ellen Mirojnick said that the director told her to be less "Period-correct" and more "Vogue Fashion Editorial". She commissioned Swarovski to provide 60,000 crystals for costumes in the film--14,000 of which were supposedly used on actress Zendaya's purple leotard costume (above).


**INSIDE DISH: "Lady Bird" was set in 2002 Sacramento, the actual styles used in the film reflected a more 1990's feel. Why? Because--as it was said in the film "Sacramento was the Midwest of California"...not particularly the capital of style. According to April Napier, the costume designer, the prom dress above came from Universal Studios Costume House and the dress on the left...it was the costume designer's favorite. That one came from Palace Costume House.


Opening Party Pics:






         The Greatest ShowWOMAN--(L to R)"The Greatest Showman" Costume Designer Ellen              Mirojnick and Nick Verreos--Opening Night Party of the 26th Annual Art of Motion Picture                                                  Costume Design Exhibition, FIDM Museum
                                   Photo courtesy of FIDM and Alex J. Berliner/ABImages


Here is all the information on the FABULOUS new exhibition:
*WHAT: 26th Annual Art of Motion Picture Costume Design Exhibition

*WHEN: February 6-April 7, 2018; Open Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm/Closed Sundays, Mondays, Holidays

*WHERE: FIDM Museum, 949 South Grand Avenue, Los Angeles 90015, Ground Floor, Entrance facing Grand-Hope Park

*FREE: Open to the public. 

*For More Information: Contact Shirley Wilson at SWilson@fidm.com or for special tours, call 213-623-5821 ext 337