Edith Head
She dressed Hollywood's greatest stars for over five decades, defining glamour on screen with a sharp eye and sharper business sense.
1897–1981 (age 84)·American costume designer·Birthday: October 28·The Lost Generation
Biography
Edith Head was the powerhouse behind the look of classic Hollywood, a diminutive woman with round glasses and a no-nonsense demeanor who became the most famous costume designer in the world. Without formal training, she talked her way into a job at Paramount Pictures in 1924 and never left, eventually ruling the studio's wardrobe department for decades. She understood that costume was character, crafting the sleek sophistication of Grace Kelly, the fiery drama of Bette Davis, and the timeless elegance of Audrey Hepburn. Head was a master collaborator and a fierce negotiator, known for her ability to manage star egos and studio budgets with equal skill. Her eight Academy Awards stand as a record, but her true legacy is the visual language of mid-century American cinema, where her designs conveyed ambition, vulnerability, and pure star power.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Edith was born in 1897, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Edith Was Born
The biggest hits of 1897
Edith's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1897Born
President: William McKinley
1902Started school
The eruption of Mount Pelee kills 30,000 in Martinique
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1910Became a teenager
Halley's Comet makes its closest approach
President: William Howard Taft
1913Could drive
The Federal Reserve is established
President: Woodrow Wilson
1915Could vote
The Lusitania is sunk by a German U-boat
President: Woodrow Wilson
1918Turned 21
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1927Turned 30
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1937Turned 40
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1947Turned 50
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1957Turned 60
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1967Turned 70
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1977Turned 80
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1981Died at 84
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
Key Achievements
- Won a record eight Academy Awards for Best Costume Design from 35 nominations, the most for any woman in Oscar history.
- Served as the chief costume designer at Paramount Pictures for 44 years and later at Universal Pictures.
- Designed costumes for over 1,000 films, including classics like All About Eve, Roman Holiday, and The Sting.
- Holds the Guinness World Record for the most credited costume designer in film history.
Did You Know?
She initially worked as a French and art teacher before applying for a sketch artist job at Paramount, claiming others' drawings as her own to get hired.
She often wore simple, uniform-like dresses in neutral colors, saying she didn't want to compete with the stars.
She wrote two books on fashion and even had a line of paper dolls.
The animated character Edna Mode from The Incredibles is famously inspired by her appearance and personality.
“You can have anything you want in life if you dress for it.”
