The aesthetics of Edith Head’s costume design in Alfred Hitchcock’s movies

Abstract

This research looks into costume design and to what extent it contributes to the movie’s narrative. Through the analysis of the costumes chosen by Edith Head for some of the greatest Hitchcockian masterpieces, it has been possible to find out how much importance is given to costumes in relation to other elements in a movie. Two of the main elements taken into consideration, when carrying on the analysis, have been colours and materials. Most of the time, what influences the choice of an outfit rather than another is the wanting to create certain a character, with a specific background and personality. The choice of colours, then, is made on the base of which feelings the movie wants to evocate on the audience. How would the story change with a different choice of outfit? For sure it would not be the same story because how the viewers will perceive the narrative would be completely different. Another research this dissertation goes through is the contribution of the designer on the costume’s choice.