Let's talk about the Oscars Best Costume Design movies

Head to squarespace.com/minale to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or a domain!
PODCAST
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/3wvGhhd...
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
for extra content every Wednesday 😈
SUPPORT
Newsletter: gremletter.substack.com/
Donate: ko-fi.com/minale
SOCIALS
Instagram: / gremlita
TikTok: / gremlita
Letterboxd: boxd.it/7YgX
business email: [e-mail]
PRODUCTION
written by Mina Le and Sophie Carter
Edited by Israh S. and Mina Le
SOURCES
- for Babylon
www.latimes.com/entertainment...
www.voguescandinavia.com/arti...
www.boxofficepro.com/exclusiv...
www.screendaily.com/features/...
www.allure.com/story/babylon-...
- for Black Panther
www.npr.org/2023/02/14/115655...
www.hollywoodreporter.com/mov...
www.wmagazine.com/culture/bla...
ew.com/movies/black-panther-w...
www.vulture.com/2018/02/black...
www.popsugar.com/fashion/blac...
/ clasbieuie-
theplaylist.net/wakanda-forev...
variety.com/2022/artisans/awa...
- for Elvis
www.hollywoodreporter.com/lif...
www.nfsa.gov.au/latest/cather...
coveteur.com/elvis-film-costu...
www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/...
variety.com/2023/artisans/spo...
www.vogue.com/slideshow/how-c...
www.indiewire.com/2022/06/elv...
- for Everything Everywhere All at Once
fashionista.com/2022/03/every...
aframe.oscars.org/news/post/s...
fashionista.com/2022/03/every...
www.hollywoodreporter.com/mov...
www.slashfilm.com/825759/ever...
www.thewrap.com/everything-ev...
www.insider.com/everything-ev...
- for Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris
www.screendaily.com/features/...
www.indiewire.com/2022/07/dio...
www.hollywoodreporter.com/lif...
www.focusfeatures.com/article...
0:00 - intro
2:18 - babylon
15:21 - black panther: wakanda forever
22:18 - elvis
28:34 - everything everywhere all at once
36:08 - mrs. harris goes to paris

[@phoebe256]

The "I want to stay away from 1920s cliches" excuse from Damien is clearly just "the 1920s look isn't sexy enough." Why would the men's outfits be so spot on and the women's not? Stop depriving us of historically accurate clothing because it isn't "hot" enough!

[@WeepingPrince]

Exactly! Also some 20s 30s looks were sexy and interesting. you can do 20s and avoid ‘cliches’!

[@annikania2682]

The old woman also get the actual fashion forward look… well, what does that tell us about how the people behind the costuming view older women, class? Any ideas?

[@dnikkithatsame5990]

Yes when I saw the ads… I thought what exactly is this, what is with her hair and dress… it was so dumb

[@morley364]

I'm so confused about the word 'cliches' being used like that- to me, 1920s cliches would be everyone wearing too-short flapper dresses and ostrich feathers for a normal lunch or something. It would be leaning into what people *think* it looked like, not what it truly *was*. But here, he seems to want to avoid both, and sees both as 'cliche'? It really does seem like a flimsy excuse to push a modern aesthetic on Robbie without a solid, stylistic and story-motivated reason behind it. I'm fine with anachronistic costumes, but they need to made sense 1. as a purposeful and cohesive style and 2. as a story-telling element.

[@lucienephrem]

Calling it a cliche is really so dumb. As if fashion trends weren’t historically and culturally relevant smh

[@jinxonia]

It’s really annoying how directors do a period piece and act like fashion wasn’t a important part of history

[@alexjohnson6192]

Was it an important part of this particular story though? I understand the annoyance but also thought the choices served the more modern aesthetic he was going for.

[@icaruszaragoza1109]

@@alexjohnson6192 fashion is and always has been a reflection of social ideas and norms so its really important when doing a period piece.

[@sophiagoodman-merel7453]

I have not started the video yet, but I'm assuming this is about Babylon because Margot Robbie's hair and makeup was enough to make me not want to watch that movie. I NEVER would have guessed the time period was the 1920s based on how she was dressed.

[@alexjohnson6192]

@@icaruszaragoza1109 I don't think they were attempting to make a straightforward period piece. Fashion is a reflection of social norms but it's also an imperfect one for an observer not from that period, especially one with as many cliches as the 1920's. Making a period piece inevitably results in reframing the past through a modern lens, and Babylon chooses to directly lean into that instead of ignoring it.

[@lobokitty1252]

Totally

[@persephonestudy]

Do I care about the Oscars? No. Do I care about Mina's opinion of them? ABSOLUTELY 💅💅💅

[@hannahlise9120]

My thoughts exactly 😎🎉

[@VirtuallyViktoriyan]

Ditto! 😂

[@writethepath8354]

Pretty much yup

[@warrenjohns3194]

saaaaammmeeeeeee

[@samaraangeline5779]

Pretty much 🥰😭😭

[@sophia4475]

So, Margot Robbie's character is a young, attractive aspiring actress, who's interested in what's going on in the cultural world and wants to be a film star, and catches enough eyes to start getting roles and appearing on magazine characters. And Babylon's makers honestly expect us to believe she wouldn't have at least kept up with *some* of the beauty, hair, and fashion trends of the time?!

[@juliaostlund9360]

Yeah like I'm confused why Robbie signed on to the project in general

[@lobokitty1252]

Yup.

[@lightheidi9009]

Exactly. There was so many great fashion moments in 1920’s so ridiculous to not embrace it.

[@robbyten100]

Seriously. Maybe some women looked like her but when I first saw images I was so confused. Her hair and clothes looked more 70s or 80s style.

[@poett8875]

@@juliaostlund9360 it’s not hard to understand why. Damian Chazelle is an academy award winning director whose first two movies got actors their first Oscar. On top of the character Nellie Laroy being the definition of Oscar bait. An actress playing an actress in old Hollywood, screaming, crying, cursing, dancing, acting crazy, etc . On paper, it seemed like a genius choice🤷🏽‍♂️

[@tattyg5074]

About Babylon: I think men still really love the whole trope of women "not being like other girls" (🤮) so maybe that's why Nellie "didn't know" how to do hair and make up despite being a former dancer

[@darkciderthemoon3712]

Great point!! Babylon was also directed (like the head director) by a man, so it seems like no one really checked him on that aspect of the character. It reminds of how Harley Quinn's hair changed from being "sexy" to more practical between the original movie and the sequel.

[@tattyg5074]

@@darkciderthemoon3712 yes, exactly!!!

[@miss_chelles1338]

@@darkciderthemoon3712 ya know..... I couldn't help but think that they were actually *trying* to give Margot Robbie that 'Harley Quinn' aesthetic in this movie because that's what she's most known (marketable) for.... Idk, just my thoughts after Mina talk about it. Even though I've NEVER seen this movie yet. 😅

[@micahcook2408]

Also kinda seems like he was hoping to bank off of the “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood” success or just wanted to appear to have similarities to bring in the same crowd.

[@darkciderthemoon3712]

@@miss_chelles1338 Fair point!! That's definitely possible. I agree with you and @Micah Cook.

[@Uncle_Smidge]

Many of the blankets in Wakanda Forever were made by Indigenous-owned brand Eighth Generation in Seattle, WA. Their stuff is super high quality and they feature incredible artists in different lines of the designs. 💕

[@lexis4490]

I live in Seattle. Got to check them out.

[@Uncle_Smidge]

@@lexis4490 They're in a lower level of Pike Place Market! :3

[@Opalmiller19]

I love that, the name and that they feature different lines by different artists, sometimes it’s really hard to start a collection on your own and have the audience for it even, and to center native creatives is so important with the current world featuring mostly white Amazon-resellers

[@risxra]

Ooh thanks for the plug!

[@go0sejuice]

I knew literally nothing about Babylon going into this and the most shocking thing I learned was that it’s meant to be set in the 1920s. Everything I’ve seen has made me think it was set in the 70s

[@micahcook2408]

Kinda seems like he was hoping to bank off of the “Once Upon A Time In Hollywood” success or just wanted to appear to have similarities to bring in the same crowd.

[@lexis4490]

No unfortunately. And the movie is all over the place because of the inaccuracies.

[@gigitastic90]

Oh thank god i'm not alone for weeks after I saw ads for it I thought it was set in the 70s. Only until a friend mentioned loving old Hollywood and having to see it did I realize it wasn't

[@ohbooyourselves]

Y’all thought it was the 70's….😂

[@gigitastic90]

@@ohbooyourselves To be fair the few teasers I saw online and like 2 posters I saw were super vague. The marketing was awful.

[@makdm2405]

They just wanted to make Robbie look hot for a modern audience, they don't really care about the aesthetic beyond that

[@peachesandcream22]

I believe that Margo wanted more than just "being sexy" because I don't think someone ever asked her opinion about costume designs.

[@tink6225]

​@@peachesandcream22 how unfortunate

[@falconeshield]

Bingo!

[@elias7748]

It's not just robbie that's historicall inaccurate. The suits the men wore were too and looked more like 1950s - 60s.

[@emmamyhre9296]

I literally don't understand why Damien keeps calling the 20s women's looks "cliché" when it was literally the culture. I've been waiting for a Mina Le conversation about this movie THANK YOU!!!!

[@tulipsalinger1410]

I personally did not enjoy the film. I really love the 20's and the 30's and I guess the cliches as well lol!

[@bennyton2560]

there was no way in hell to tell from the trailer that this movie was set in the 1920s. Margot's style looks like the 70s

[@tulipsalinger1410]

@@bennyton2560 I agree 100%!

[@claracclenky]

Ugh so I’m writing a medieval story but the fashion of the knights is soooo cliche🙄💅 That’s why I decided to make them wear hi tech space armor with rocket boots!🤩

[@tulipsalinger1410]

@@claracclenky hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

[@Mandavee]

It would be fun to hear your opinion on red carpet fashion. The beige carpet this year felt so GROSS. It just looked messy and dirty and didnt pop. The greige trend makes me gag now.

[@darkciderthemoon3712]

Totally agree. Would love to hear Mina's thoughts on all of the different looks, but also on why the Oscars would change something as iconic and aesthetically pleasing as their red carpet 😂

[@gremlita]

I just KNOW that carpet had so many shoe tracks by the end of the night

[@annikania2682]

This is probably one/a practical reason why it is red in the first place. Red really does swallow a lot of stains! Why? Idk. But it does. Beige, well, is beige.

[@Mandavee]

Someone on Tumblr said it made it look like they were walking in a old rundown strip mall and I couldnt agree more.

[@izzyc127]

It would be great to see a tier ranking video of the pre-Oscar’s fashion and the vanity fair after party fashion.

[@moss7737]

it's funny to me because The Great Gatsby from 2013 was way more in line with period standards with hair and makeup and clothing and that was really successful.. I can't understand why someone would want to deviate from that if they're literally choosing the era to recreate?

[@bluecrushlily]

Same thought!!

[@queenmoreau2098]

Plus, I think the Great Gatsby movie during that time inspired a lot of 1920s-themed parties among Hollywood celebrities. So it had some cultural influence as well for the early 2010s.

[@tink6225]

THIS!!! they didn't have to spoon feed the audience with modern styles. people loved it and absolutely ate it up. I don't understand why they don't embrace historical fashion more when it only allows people to use it as escapism.

[@karmica7591]

And the final product was still very modern, but just by using other things like the amazing contrast of the soundtrack. You can be accurate (to a certain degree or more) and still don’t make it feel “old” to attract a wider audience than period pieces lovers.

[@isaacgray2909]

Agree! Like say what you want about Baz Luhrmann's works especially Elvis, but at least he knows how to blend modern and historical aspects for his audience. The costumes and hairstyling are distinctly their respective time period, but with modern soundtrack.

[@firstaidfaery]

seriously, if you don’t like the aesthetic of an era, Don’t Make A Movie In That Era😭

[@maki55556]

I'm latina but everything everywhere really hit home in what its like to be a child of immigrants. having to deal with values that are not your own and desperately trying get your parents to understand you and see you for who you are as well as the fear of parents not being able to understand even though they desperately want to. it made me cry lmaooo.

[@judasxhunter]

i really agree w this, the pain of your parents not understanding hurts and it feels like you have nobody on your side, and nobody to talk to. i also wanna watch it so bad! where can i watch it?

[@camigiron926]

I am latina and not an inmigrant. I believe I hold a lot of the values my family and the society I grew up in holds as well, but the exaggerated presence (esp as a young person) of social media somehow manages this, although probably at a much lesser scale It is such a predominantly american (and other northern hemisphere countries) place, that kids use more and more each passing year, that it creates a sort of dissonance with the actual values of the place where we live in. Happens too with the older generation, that does not know as much English, and isn't going to be exposed to such content.

[@Vizible21]

If only Wakanda forever was written a little bit better.

[@bigjbird4427]

The movie destroyed me omg

[@tink6225]

my Nigerian mom is almost exactly like Evelyn and I'm almost exactly like joy. this is the first time I've seen this kind of representation of depression handled by a parent who essentially caused it so it's now one of my favourite movies❤❤

[@trenchmanager999]

SHES LIGHTNING FAST WHILE LOOKING STUNNING

[@hannahmichelson3211]

as a costume designer, the distressing techniques and research that went into Babylon is seriously impressive but the modern hair and makeup undermines a lot of it especially in the final product for me and cheapened the overall look of the project. Black Panther’s innovative designs and construction is something that is rarely seen in this category which i think is what makes the award so well deserved.

[@hannahmichelson3211]

when a director gets involved in a department they have no background in really ruins the look of the film. It’s frustrating especially knowing that a man in the director position thinks he knows more and steered that direction of a department that is headed by a woman. This frustratingly happens a lot in film.

[@juliaostlund9360]

I feel like the only reason they made an older female character more "period" and less not was because they weren't worried about trying to make her look sexy, which speaks to a lot a lot of things. And also I think audiences deserve to have their intelligences respected more, modernizing the protagonist is just spoon-feeding. Hard eye roll

[@NinaClementina]

My thoughts exactly!! Also on top of not having to worry about her being sexy, i think the creators wanted her to look a little ridiculous so they chose the trends that would look silly to the audience (that doesn’t know these trends)

[@Celestein]

Wow that's so spot-on. Also the super lazy 'oooohh look she's such a maverick free-spirited main character because she's got bed head'. It's not an actual personality trait 🙄

[@tulipsalinger1410]

yay verily! hard eye roll indeed!

[@bennyton2560]

the entire thing is just confusing, because the premise should mean that it's marketed to nerds who are into Hollywood history, yet the choices are so obviously insulting to that crowd, like who are they trying to win over here?

[@cecizilla]

it’s so obvious that it wasn’t “clichés”, he just wasn’t attracted to 20s fashion 😒 such a shame

[@nitrofairywing1541]

He did a whole period piece and trashed the period fashion, cause even in the scenes I see here, how is this supposed to be a movie of the 1920's and the entire look of it screams 1970's, Margot's character doesn't look a single thing like any woman in the 20's at all

[@cecizilla]

@@nitrofairywing1541 1000% agree and that’s what irks me the most! whyyyy

[@queenmoreau2098]

This film would probably have looked more period accurate if a woman directed it. Men directors be thinking with their dicks too much over their brains.

[@danirahernandez383]

I am so happy Wakanda Forever won, i am from México so watch my culture in a big movie is so beautiful, and i love the fact that Ruth made a big research for this movie (the references are so accurate) And just as a note in Mrs Harry goes to Paris i'm so glad to see an older woman had her Cinderella moment, lets be honest there are not age for a Cinderella moment

[@kitart1583]

Omg yes! También soy de México y soy del sur así que casi casi que lloré en el cine cuando vi esos trajes!

[@danirahernandez383]

@@kitart1583 es que Ruth hizo un trabajo increíble lo ame ❤️

[@gabrielleporter553]

the amount of times my suspension of disbelief was lost during babylon PURELY because of Nellies costumes, like the short shorts?? in the TWENTIES?? one of my friends was like “ it’s meant to be fantastical and modernize the story more “ but… really?? REALLY???

[@krugersmith8970]

I think Emma 2020 is a good example of fantastical costumes while still keeping the integrity of the time period.

[@marvel096]

fr! it annoyed me SO much, also that scen of her with the overalls? no, simply no

[@tink6225]

​@@krugersmith8970 even Marie Antoinette

[@the_brinaki]

@@marvel096 omg the fugggging overalls with no bra, what in the seven hells WAS that???

[@mothmonarch9789]

Not sure if it was very deliberate, but Shuri's black panther suit had both silver and gold, which to me signified she is honouring both T'challa and his legacy AND Killmonger's need for retribution (T'challa's suit having been silver accented, and Killmonger's gold).

[@alyssapinon9670]

Jobu Tabaki is my Asian maximalist fashion icon but BP helped me realize how I could blend western and traditional cultural elements into fashion. Even had the privilege of meeting one of the BP designers in my fashion class ❤ That being said, whoever put Tenoch Huerta in those little green shorts deserves all the awards 😂

[@gloria7190]

I was so confused when I watched the Babylon trailer, I was like “Why does Margot Robbie look like Debbie Harry if this are supposed to be the 20’s?”😂😅 now that I heard Chazelle directions I’m even more confused

[@gloria7190]

Like Robert Plant was the model? just go for a Led Zeppelin biopic if you are so intrigued by his hair ? Wtf I’m so confused 😂

[@lisdexamphetamine]

i saw this movie without trailers or anything and it was so distracting for the first few scenes with her lmao

[@lisdexamphetamine]

she do look great though just very much like an unexplained time traveller

[@gloria7190]

@@lisdexamphetamine It’s hysterical 😂🗿 Yeah she looks great but more like a rockstar from the late 70’s!

[@the_brinaki]

I find that Chazelle's women costumes generally exist in an ambiguous no-man's land. I was so confused in Babylon. Hell, I was confused in La La Land, I was trying to figure out when the heck the film was set, past or present 😅

[@Skip-Towne]

What personally annoys me about directors opting out of period accurate clothing (or as close as possible at least), is that it comes across as them thinking the audience is too stupid to understand that this is how people looked or dressed. It doesn't matter if that's their intention or not, that's how to feels to a lot of us watching. Part of why I watch period pieces to begin with is to be immersed in a different time. I LIKE seeing what people used to wear, even if it isn't "sexy". Unless they go all out and make it obvious that it's a stylistic choice, it just feels like they're condescending to the audience.

[@marquisehebbler9471]

I LOVED the costumes in BP and EEAAO! They both had that edge of culture and played with dramatic silhouettes. I’m glad BP won, but I wouldn’t be been mad if EEAAO won. Also EEAAO SWEEP! 🎉

[@bigflx2754]

EEAAO had the better costume design, it was also a significantly better movie than Wakanda Forever, I found it very boring personally

[@alyssapinon9670]

@@bigflx2754 Jobu’s costumes carried EEAAO but BP had better costumes across the board so I guess I can understand that even if I am partial to EEAAO

[@squeezie_b8895]

@@bigflx2754BP’s costumes were more technically innovative than anything in EEAAO. Be serious.

[@bigflx2754]

@@squeezie_b8895 I am being serious, Wakanda forever was a crappy movie, and the costumes weren’t innovative, EEAAO costumes were innovative but black panther? No. EEAAO deserved the win

[@rimun5235]

@@bigflx2754Honestly, EEAAO for me was a better movie, but I'm surprised to even see it nominated for best costume design.

[@selectedshipper8282]

Watching Babylon, I feel like an old woman clutching my pearls and fanning myself when I see that Nellie’s hemline is too short

[@atuvera9021]

Fr

[@dmonologyy]

As someone who's a huge fan of superheroes and fantasy and also has indigenous heritage, it means so much to me that this Black Panther movie takes so much effort to bring genuine care to showing Mayan culture. U rarely see authentic representation and diversity in mainstream superhero media which makes it even more meaningful

[@kitart1583]

Not only superhero media just media in general, I can’t remember a single other movie (even Mexicans movies) that feature Mayan and Aztec cultures in such a prominent way! And so accurate and well researched too, it almost made me tear up to see how beautifuly represented my culture was on the big screen! This movie totally deserved the win

[@nicodranasien]

I am always astounded by what a little research can do for movies… like as a Mayan Archaeologist, it make me SO happy to see thorough peer reviewed research and wonderful online resources like the Maya Vase Database backing costume design! Especially using descendant community artists and experts!

[@bennyton2560]

I love how respectful and anthropological they were

[@lis_michu1314]

As a Mexican, and an habitant from the south of México, where most of the culture was Mayan, it was AMAZING watching my roots in a movie. Unfortunately, a foreing movie has to come to show us our culture and represent us. But everything was beautiful, the clothes, the way Ruth incorporated our culture I know it was a difficult job 'cause theMayann culture just was a reference and Talokan is just a result of multiple cultures being mixed. Wakanda Forever was my favorite movie from this year, and i'm biased because I love the actors involespeciallyially my beautiful Tenoch

[@astridveronicaixehuatlgonz729]

La verdad esa representación de la cultura es de las más cercanas y bien hechas que he visto en una película, y sobre todo el respeto que muestran al no tratarlo como un disfraz, pues aún hay trajes típicos de México y de esa zona que se siguen usando. También Black Panther fue una de mis películas favoritas del 2022 ❤

[@katgreer6113]

i think its a good thing that a foreign movie represented your culture. most people in america wouldn't know anything about your culture otherwise. we are not mexican but we liked it a lot! we learned something new, and also it brought two groups of black people and mexicans together :)

[@Du-Masses]

I love the Mayan inspirations in the “Atlanteans” and they felt like the real heroes of the movie. I found myself rooting for Namor from the moment he did his James Bond, and walked out of the sea.

[@Therealcania]

There is nothing “unfortunate” about it, black people wish more races would be that way with us. Just be grateful.

[@morganorwhatever]

The main woman in a period piece dressing anachronistic is like an animated movie protagonist looking like a fashion model while everyone else is all stylized

[@EvilCraboid]

Yeah, like in that meme "I wonder who is the main character"

[@xeniaduda2973]

I wanted to take out my camera and take a pic of every single costume in Wakanda Forever while in theatre. All of them. Costumes were just stunning! So happy it won the Oscar

[@iamalma4621]

I'm so happy EEAAO won many oscars they deserve the world I love the cast,I love the directors, I love everything.

[@meanpersona4686]

I love how when presenting the award for costume design they're had a bit about how "it's presented by most fashion forward, glamorous people" and they added "and Paul Dano" like Paul is not consistently dripped out on the red carpet.

[@kathrynvincent1563]

His announcement suit was so dapper. He could’ve been a boring black suit like many others…

[@meanpersona4686]

@@kathrynvincent1563 he's a drip god lately 👌♥️

[@rinina]

trueee, his riddler suit for the batman premier is so unbelievably good.

[@lexis4490]

He actually tries to do something different. 👏

[@susannahs8533]

We stan a humble king

[@googoogaga7986]

EEAAO is my absolute FAVOURITE creative costume design film ever. Joy’s costumes are so mind-blowing especially and I love that it felt like the designer had an actual understanding of and passion for eccentric fashion. (EDIT: it is obvious to me now I’ve seen photos of the designer she definitely is a wearer of eccentric fashion, and is obviously incredibly creative. It makes me so happy to see a newcomer to movie fashion design given such a huge first film, and to do the best job I’ve seen in years at that!) She truly felt real as a character (between all the sci-fi double stuff haha) and means so much to me as a queer person, to see a character as bold as her double and to get lgbtqia+ rep which felt so real is truely deserved and is still such a gift all the same. I love all the colours used and the inspirations her outfits take from things in so many areas of pop culture and history, it truely felt respectful, real and well done in general to me personally. My favourite Jobu costume, even though I literally adore them all and find it v hard to decide, is probably the one which has kinda an angelcore vibe, with the pearls and sparkles in the hair and I loveeee the makeup too, the dress itself is gorgeous and feels almost rebelliously royal due to the contrast with the hair styled into a bagel shape, which gave it some edge and there was perfect amounts of attention drawn from head to toe :DD

[@momo7989]

As someone who originally went to an art school for fashion design and then change my major over to art history I loved the costumes in Wakanda Forever. I personally studied non Western art and I enjoyed seeing the various cultures that got their time to shine from both Africa and Central America, and they touch base on afrofuturism. I think we often forget how designers and those cultures are overlooked when it comes to fashion. How often they are viewed thru the white gaze, a Western lens. I'm not saying that I didn't love EEAAO, it was my favorite movie of 2022, I think the customers were creative, but they were brought to life more so by the actors wearing them. Where the pieces in Wakanda can be seen in gallery or art space and still speak on their own. If ppl don't believe me, the NMAAHC in DC will be hosting pieces from Black panther in it's afrofuturism exhibition.

[@bennyton2560]

oh hell I wish I could go see that!

[@violettbellerose1173]

Mina not liking Babylon for the same reasons I didn't, and her having a soft spot for X-men makes me irrationally believe we are soulmates

[@mwv1217]

I feel like Babylon was too modernized. I get the why producers and directors want to appeal to a modern audience but then listening to what they costume designer said and then what they said in defiance to it its a little contradictory. Let's dress them for the period and then completely ignore the obvious trends just for the sake of originality and avoiding the cliche but the cliche defined the period

[@alexjohnson6192]

I think the idea was to frame that time period in a new way. There is a lot of cultural baggage associated with the cliche styles of that period and a sense of false authenticity that period pieces sometimes carry by following them. By being unapologetically modern in certain ways it allowed them to focus on the way the characters felt in a more relatable way

[@alexjohnson6192]

@Ks There's a difference between capturing the historical details of an era accurately and evoking a specific feeling related to that era. The cliches about the 1920's have a lot of "baggage" and don't feel fresh or provocative, which is an issue for a movie that is attempting to evoke the feelings of people experiencing moments of cultural change. There are already plenty of movies that depict the era more accurately; that just isn't really what Babylon is trying to do. I totally get why that isn't to a lot of people's taste, it just doesn't really make sense to expect a movie to be something entirely different than what it is.

[@alexjohnson6192]

The movie even sort of makes a point about the way the past is fundamentally distorted when depicted later by contrasting Singin' in the Rain with its own depiction of the era, neither of which are really accurate.

[@alexjohnson6192]

@Ks He obviously did want to make a movie based around the 1920's...he just wasn't interested in conforming entirely to the aesthetics of that era. There were quite a few anachronisms beyond Robbie's clothing; she was hardly the only one dressed out of place and the language and music was also not of that period. Your argument is the equivalent of people who argue that only photorealistic landscapes are real art and anything abstract or impressionistic is bullshit. And again, it's totally understandable as a personal preference but acting like it's some objective law of moviemaking that everything set outside of the current year must conform to a certain level of literal realism is really silly.

[@alexjohnson6192]

@Ks you're the only mad one and nothing you said was a fact lmao

[@livewellwitheds6885]

so they used period "cliches" for men but avoided them for women? that makes sense "period piece" means nothing anymore 😭 also the thing about random English words... so true! that shocked me when I lived in korea

[@junhansguitar1036]

in my stagecraft: cosmetics and design class, we watched a recorded zoom event where the costume designer of Black panther explained her process and how all the costumes were designed and it was so increíble and inspiring to learn from.

[@jr3wx]

I so appreciate you being respectful of those of us who do love the superhero stuff by just saying it's not your thing and leaving it there. And your perspective on Black Panther as someone who's not into the genre adds a lot! I've seen so much analysis of the Wakanda Forever costumes and you're the first person I've heard mention Shuri's street wear. That's so cool that she's on trend with tech-y runway looks! It makes perfect sense for her character, and it wasn't until you pointed it out that I realized it's a massive departure from the standard MCU costume for a superhero trying to blend in, a painfully neutral tshirt and jeans look with a solid-colored no-logo baseball cap. I'm gonna cherish this detail about Shuri on future rewatches! You totally have a right to mispronounce comic book things you don't care about and spend your energy on things you do like and yet you still got comics Namor's name right! NAY-more is typically how comics readers have been pronouncing his name for a long time.

[@myettechase]

I loved Mrs Harris because it seemed just like the type of movie my grandma and I would have seen in theaters together before she passed away ❤️

[@hagfish_]

Costume Design is so underappreciated by movie lovers, that videos like this are really an amazing way to learn more about costume designer's amazing work. Would love to see more of these!

[@kthxbi]

can we all just appreciate the 'Addams family ancestor from the 30's' vibes Mina has going with her look this video? stunning!

[@Paulxl]

I remember her talking about her work in the first Black Panther movie and explaining all the notes she took from different african cultures and it made me really appreciate what she did. Ruth E. Carter is obviously talented. The video is in the vanity fair youtube channel under the "notes on a scene" series. Just in case anybody is interested

[@valerieobehi7107]

Who knew Austin Butler would play a lead role in a big film like Elvis. I remember watching him on Disney. Mrs Harris goes to Paris seems like a lovely movie but also a Dior campaign

[@marle7]

the way you feel about everything everywhere all at once is somehow very similar to how i feel about wakanda forever, i’m latina and also black so it’s very fulfilling to see myself represented in the characters, i also watched when it first came out when i was in spain visiting my sister, so it was really funny to see the reactions of everyone in the theater when a character said something about colonization 😅

[@mutantsupremacies]

Why did you have to make us relive the awkwardness of La La Land “winning” the oscar 😂😂

[@TimothyCHenderson]

I can see why they tried to get around the 20s ban by channeling the 70's for Babylon, kind of sneaky on the production teams part so kudos's to them. Either way, the idea of doing a period movie and then not channeling the basic silhouette's and design choices of the time is bizarre.

[@AllTheArtsy]

The fact that Ruth Carter's cards were color-coordinated to her dress proves that she deserves the win 💛💛💛💛💛💛💛

[@marissasa]

I noticed that Daniel Kwan's suit jacket at the Oscars was based on Evelyn's red punk sweater in the New Year's scene that you mentioned :) I loved the costuming for EEAAO too!

[@annahill99]

I’ll always stan Jenny Beavan solely because she designed the costumes for Ever After. The silver wings gown is the love of my life!!!

[@4evrSabrina]

My choice would have been EEAO also because Jobu's costumes were so iconic and cool and different BUT Wakanda Forever costumes were amazing also and knowing all the work and research that went into it, I definitely think Ruth Carter absolutely deserved that award, the costumes in that movie were so good! I think the movies in 2022 were just so good and every category's nominees were so close lol

[@j.s.walker3656]

I thought Wakanda Forever did deserve the win, those costumes were simply stunning. But it was hard since EEAAO was also stunning in its wardrobe. I'd love to see more videos like this BTW!

[@mwv1217]

Another fashion influence for Elvis was Liberace. Liberace's personal style and flamboyant stage profomance was defining in the way that Elvis dressed

[@patchnpaw15]

I went to see Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris in the cinema and I loved it. So adorable so wholesome, made me feel all fuzzy and reminded me of my mom

[@7_ty_]

I’d love for this to be an annual thing, Mina! Not only would it be entertaining, but with how big of a following you have, it could definitely start some important conversations about how overlooked costume design is by certain filmmakers.

[@heyanuja517]

I absolutely don't care about the Oscars, but this technical breakdown about the costumes was super enlightening. By all means do this again.

[@urmom07]

eeaao is the first time i’ve watched a movie and been truly conscious of the amazing costume design. every time stephanie hsu’s costume changed, especially during the scene on the stairs, i got distracted by the amazing details. not only was every outfit absolutely beautiful, there was so much symbolism in every part of it. i couldn’t take my eyes off of it, and even though wakanda forever definitely deserved the win, i would’ve been equally happy with eeaao.

[@darkciderthemoon3712]

1) Would love to see you do more best costume analyses! 2) This is slightly off topic, but I am so glad to see more POC led media get recognized at the Oscars in recent years. It's so amazing that films like black panther 2 and EEAAO got nominated in AND won in so many categories.

[@peymcc3279]

Yes pleaseee go back to the movie/historical fashion videosss

[@meschakakur]

Yes! I miss this kind of content from Mina

[@eloisafroes]

of course wakanda forever deserved this oscar but jobu tupaki’s elaborate fits were so much up my alley that i was personally hurt that they were not being acclaimed the way i expected hahahah

[@samuelodihumbo6764]

Seeing you so happy about the diverse references in Wakanda Forever is so heartwarming. We more people to get exited by clothes of colourful backgrounds we need more films that embrace it.

[@blessedfrig]

RE: "let me know if you like this format and would want me to do it every oscars" yes!!! Honestly I would watch you review and analyse all past best costume oscar nominees as well!! That is an easy 94 more videos!

[@toyosibee.mp3]

finding out youre also anti-babylon-costuming just made my entire day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@hkaur4487]

One of the reasons that I watch period films is for the esoteric nature of the costumes, set, language etc. Margot's costumes really pulled me out of the era.

[@tomiwaaina5499]

The zoom in on Jamie lee Curtis after James Wans speech was hilarious 😆

[@305fusion]

Mina! Your mention of anachronistic female leads makes me think of Claire in Outlander. Maybe a rare time where the designers pull ifoff because she's a time traveller. Personally I think season 1 and 2 do this SO WELL! Especially the red dress (look it up if you don't know.... It is AMAZING) based on Givenchy from the 1950's but Claire is wearing it to Versailles in 1745. I'd love to know your thoughts. 🙂

[@antonjoksu6689]

Can we have a video on the definition of fashion? I find it very interesting what is considered fashionable and what isn't

[@LadyAhro]

In many ways it's easier to describe what sits outside of it. The concept of what's "costumey" is easier to quantify. Fashion as a whole vs 'currently fashionable' is another cocept to break down because when something is no longer contemporary that doesn't immediately divorce it from fashion.

[@genericspectator3094]

this is probably like trying to define art

[@antonjoksu6689]

​@LadyAhro Well I'd just be interested to hear Mina's thoughts on the topic. I left a longer comment on her last video explaining more what I mean. Of course defining what fashion is, is basically impossible. And I don't mean trends here but it's just so fascinating what makes a person well-dressed.

[@KaylaLoberg]

@@antonjoksu6689 would make a great vid

[@PokhrajRoy.]

I’m happy that Ruth Carter had a moment and congratulations to her!

[@joshuafrescas5899]

A cool thing I noticed about the way Talokanil men dress was that they were wearing tilmatli, which was a garment men wore over their shoulders sort of like a serape in mesoamerica. The length of the tilmatli as well as it’s design indicated social status, I think it was cool that there was a nod to that. I wish they’d come into style, I would totally rock one.

[@puclari]

I think concept artists should be more credited for this category because they do a great deal of the work of IDEATING the costumes!!! (Coming from a concept artist)

[@mrsbananajerky]

Love this format! An easy bite of context for all nominees, 10/10 would love to see a format like this again.

[@SandraSoapbox]

THANK YOU, MY VIET QUEEN! Thank you for talking about the historical fashion inaccuracies of Babylon. The film itself is okay (C- film) it's like Oscar Bait meets Exploitation cinema in the ways of Caligula. What I really hate is how in your face the historical inaccuracies are like Margot Robbie's dumpster fire hair and clothes and I'm okay with taking certain liberties like Marie Antoniette and Bridgerton. While watching it in theaters, I kept wondering "Does that look happen in the 1920s?" Quick answer, no. It's not.

[@ainsliekatemate698]

I think the Black Panther costume process is so incredible not only did the costume team do so much research to accurately reference the African and Mayan costumes but THEN had to make costumes (both new ones and ones brought from the OG BP) work underwater which is a whole other challenge. Imo just one of those things would put someone in contention for the Oscar but both is just an auto win for me haha. I’m really stoked for them

[@lauragebert5515]

I absolutely loved Jobu’s costumes in EEAAO but Black Panter deserved to win honestly

[@Glamgal04]

i know i can always count on mina to brighten up my day 😌💅🏻

[@laurenk5379]

Would you ever do a video on some of the worst winners of best costume design? Like the fact that Gandhi, Chariots of Fire won in their respective years, but then films like Blade Runner weren't even nominated.

[@arcie3716]

I love how these videos open my eyes to more fashion history and what it’s like to be a costume designer. Also Mrs.Harry Goes to Paris sounds like a fun movie. I need to watch it now

[@runt5622]

Tysm for uploading with subtitles it’s epic

[@dinkerz]

The Wong Kar Wai style universe made me love the movie on a whole new level. It was frustrating that film student me wanted to fangirl over it, but had no one to do it with at the time. I’m so glad it was pointed out here.

[@aimeewilson4505]

I’m too much of a comic book fan cause I was a little mad the Batman wasn’t nominated for costume or visuals. Like the visuals were incredible and had an actual full suit. We couldn’t have gotten anything?

[@shimpey2410]

the Pattison batsuit is easily the best a live action batman has ever looked - also the only time i think a fully armored superhero suit has really worked, yk ?!

[@TheOnly_Adri]

Also got robbed by the cinematography category. There were so many shots that were pleasing to the eye.

[@lexis4490]

Noooo, you are completely wrong. Batman deserved way more nominations 😉. But seriously, it showed that the Academy didn't even watch The Batman. Costume, Hair & Makeup, Special Effects, Cinematography, Sound, and Score are just the basics of the nominations. And I didn't even love the movie (the movie felt long at the very end for me), but I know artistry when I see it.

[@gabrielleporter553]

batman deserved cinematography nominations and i will forever stand by that

[@inkasaraswati7625]

@@gabrielleporter553 Absolutely! Look up interviews about their cinematography, so fascinating!

[@suburbjorn]

Modern costume design is so under appreciated !

[@williamkarbala5718]

Chick worked on Amsted and Malcom X, during her speech she mentioned her mother had recently passed at 102, black don’t crack indeed.

[@Wuggas]

I really hope you do this every year! I feel like I learned a lot and I enjoyed hearing about the movies I hadn't seen just as much as the ones I did see.

[@akechijubeimitsuhide]

I also love X-Men (especially the old animated series, which is getting a sequel soon!). Black Panther has gorgeous costumes. The first movie was such a breath of fresh air after all the formulaic Marvel stuff, too. It felt a bit like a Shakespeare drama in an afrofuturism setting.

[@hanad1548]

i'm kind of only just starting to fall in love with movies and this year's oscars was the first one where i actually payed attention. i love my little army of youtubers who have expertise in the different categories and i love hearing from y'all. thank you for making costume analysis more accessible, i learn so much from you with every video :D

[@sligoselkie1147]

Agreed! For Babylon, early/mid 1920’s “Russian boots” sometimes had cutouts and sexy Louis XlV heels. Why put her in stiletto heeled boots? I guess to go with her 80s perm? Such a missed opportunity. If the costume designer had researched magazines and catalogs of the time she’d have found them. Long haired chorus girls used to tie a silk scarf with a side bow like a headband around their hair. A lack of research for Margot Robbie’s character in H&MU as well. Happy for Ruth Carter and her win. Also loved Jenny Beavan’s work for Mrs. Harris Goes To Paris.

[@svps169]

I love love love listening to you nerd out about all these details, and especially about how tingly you felt when reading about the Dior headquarters and identifying yourself with the experience. I am not at all into fashion, and I am more of a minimalist in terms of my style, but what keeps drawing me to your videos is this shared interest for the detail and the backstory of grand things. As always, thank you for all the time and work you put into your videos!

[@worrywort27]

Mina, your outfit and accessories in this video are stunning! The hair and makeup are giving full glamour & high drama. You can put together a LOOK!

[@rileyshank2144]

Never watching or caring about awards shows but being obsessed with Mina’s commentary on them

[@Momokeeii]

I’d be interested in your opinion on the costumes in Daisy Jones and the Six. I have been watching it and I HATE the costumes. They feel less 70s and more free people.

[@bethanygreenwood8259]

Definitely definitely definitely love this format, would love to see it again for next year!!

[@ReneesatItAgain]

Mina, you are amazing!!! Recommended your channel to a few of my students who are fashion majors. They LOVE you!! One of them used your channel in a research project for another class!! Made my day!!! Keep up the brilliance!!!

[@Kevin-rg3yc]

I’m so happy I’m not the only one who felt the costuming and makeup designs in Babylon was way too modern with 70s influences it didn’t feel like I was watching a film that took place in 1929-1932 I did like Margot’s character outfit during the movie premiere but other than that I was legit confused as to why in the world is she’s dressing like a girl trying to be Debbie Henry at a Halloween party? And then to find out that Damien Chazelle didn’t want “1920 cliches” like chileee that alone bothered me and further explains why I don’t like Damien as a director he make creative liberties that make no sense to be seen as subversive, innovative and rooted in realism when in reality it end up making no sense like when he hired Emma stone and Ryan gosling bc he thought it would be better hiring actors/actresses with limited musical theatre experiences to have audiences feel more related to the characters as if performers with musical theatre experiences/training can’t do performances that isn’t over the top (look at Jeremy pope performance in the inspection)

[@katherinealvarez9216]

I did like Namor's costumes.

[@shesmyvampire]

Yes, please make this an annual thing! I adore your takes.

[@emv7316]

I'd love you to do this format again next year. The overview on each movie's costume - the work, inspiration and research to bring the looks to screen - and the way you presented it had me riveted from start to finish.

[@ehar2565]

Completely agree with you perspective on Babylon, Chazelle just tried to put everything he could think of into the film without really diving deep into what he wanted to say about any of those things. I think it was incredibly well made, just not enough narratively

[@mattiapascal187]

Yes we do need another episode next year about best costume design❤️❤️

[@irreplaysable]

I love Mina’s outfit so much in this video! It actually looks so well put together

[@foreverlazy552]

Mina PLEASE, I was not prepared for that cut to Jaime Lee Curtis.