DRESSING UP THE STARS

How Edith Head became a famed Hollywood costume designer.

Growing up in the Nevada desert with her mother and mining engineer stepfather, young Edith longed for less solitude and more bustle. While she made the most of her circumstances, asking for fabric scraps from townspeople and sewing little outfits for dolls and pets, Edith wanted more. Going to high school in Los Angeles, she discovered Hollywood movies, and in those, Edith found the life of glamour she craved. After college, she became a teacher but eventually worked her way into costume design. After persevering through more than a few setbacks (which are mentioned but not explored in depth), Edith became a highly regarded Academy Award–winning movie costume designer. Edith’s life was much more intriguing than the bland treatment given by this picture book, which has a flat-footed, predictable rhythm. The mixed-media illustrations, mostly double-page spreads, reflect the text faithfully but do not amplify the storyline. Readers will be left with a feeling of mild respect for Edith’s accomplishments but little else. An author’s note offers a bit more detailed information (her master’s degree from Stanford, her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame). Edith was White; some secondary characters are illustrated with brown skin. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

This trailblazing female costume designer deserves a stronger story with more depth.