Edith Head
Edith Head Remembered on Her Birthday
Just say the name, Edith Head, and you conjure up images of glamorous dresses, elaborate costumes and famous movie stars.
But the celebrated costume designer, who was born 116 years ago today, had a very different start. She was born in San Bernadino, Calif., and as a kid traveled through dusty mining towns in the West because her stepfather was a mining engineer.
She went on to study at the University of California, Berkeley, and received a master's degree in romance languages from Stanford University.
Google is paying special homage to Edith Head today with a clever drawing on its search-engine page. It shows the diminutive woman with her owl-like glasses standing in front of some of her frothy frocks.
Head started out as a school teacher, eventually landing in Hollywood to teach French at the Hollywood School for Girls, adding on an art class to make extra money. She took evening art classes at the Chouinard Art College.
In 1924, she was hired as a costume sketch artist. The rest is history. She was nominated for 35 Academy Awards and won eight.
Some of her outstanding designs included Bette Davis' off-the-shoulder dress in "All About Eve," Grace Kelly's blue dress in "To Catch a Thief," and Audrey Hepburn's black dress in "Sabrina."
Happy Birthday, Edith.
