The Henry Ford hosts “Heroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume” through Jan. 1, with Sandy Powell’s Mary Poppins designs for the 2018 movie “Mary Poppins Returns.”
The Henry Ford hosts “Heroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume” through Jan. 1, with Jacqueline Durran’s costumes for the Beast and Gaston in the 2017 movie “Beauty and the Beast.”
By SUE SUCHYTA
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN – Whether you’re a fan of the Disney princesses, or secretly admire its most notorious villains, there are few who haven’t followed Disney stories on the big screen through the years.
Now, the movie magic of the some of the most iconic costumes that brought the characters to life are on display at The Henry Ford, in the Walt Disney Archives’ “Heroes and Villains: The Art of Disney Costumes,” which runs through Jan. 1, and is included with museum admission.
The exhibit includes more than 70 costumes spanning a time period of 70 years, and includes lavish gowns, magnificent capes, sparkling crowns and, of course, a glass slipper.
It features the work of notable costume designers, including Academy Award-winners Colleen Atwood, Sandy Powell and Tony Walton; Emmy Award-winner Ellen Mirojnick; and Emmy Award-nominees Eduardo Castro and Penny Rose.
As one peruses the wardrobe of good guys, bad guys and the characters in between, one may pose for photos and selfies while memories rush into one’s mind and stories related to movie experiences are shared.
The Henry Ford hosts “Heroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume” through Jan. 1, with Mary Vogt’s design of the Sanderson Sisters gowns for the 1993 movie “Hocus Pocus.”
For fans of “Hocus Pocus,” the gowns of the three Sanderson Sisters – Winifred, Sarah and Mary – designed by Mary Vogt, stand at the ready, along with the Hoover vacuum broomstick substitute.
The Beast and Gaston are poised for battle in Jacqueline Durran’s costumes, with the Beast’s costume compatible with the computer-generated imagery technology, and Gaston’s clothes utilizing military uniform elements, as well as reinforcing his vanity.
The costumes Durran created for Emma Watson’s Belle are also on display, which helps one to think of the actress beyond her iconic Hermione Granger role, with both Belle’s everyday dress, with a big pocket for a book, of course, and her romantic yellow ballgown.
The Henry Ford hosts “Heroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume” through Jan. 1, with Sandy Powell’s design of Cinderella’s gown worn by Lily James in the 2015 movie “Cinderella.”
Speaking of ballgowns, multiple Cinderella dresses set the scene, from the 1997 Rodgers and Hammerstein “Cinderella” with Brandy, the 2015 “Cinderella” with Lily James, the 2014 movie “Into the Woods” and the ABC hit series “Once Upon a Time.”
Cruella DeVil faces off with a determined Dalmatian while draped in fur, while Mary Poppins is never without an umbrella in rainy, windy London, in designs by Sandy Powell for actress Emily Blunt.
Danny DeVito’s costume for Max Medici in “Dumbo,” designed by Colleen Atwood, seems taller than it is in its circus-splendor, while Malificent’s evil emanates from what could rightly be classified as the ultimate power suit, designed by Anna B. Sheppard for Angelina Jolie.
Paco Delgado’s costumes from “A Wrinkle in Time,” for Oprah Winfrey’s Mrs. Which, Mindy Kaling’s Mrs. Who and Reese Witherspoon’s Mrs. Whatsit, are bright and brilliant, blending myriad cultures and colors.
A short and engaging film is included as part of the exhibit, sharing the costume designers’ insights and anecdotes.
For more information to plan a visit, go to thf.org.
The Henry Ford hosts “Heroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume” through Jan. 1, with Colleen Atwood’s designs for Anne Hathaway’s White Queen costume and Helena Bonham Carter’s Red Queen costume for the 2016 movie “Alice Through the Looking Glass.”