‘The Irishman’ Costume Designers Break Down Dressing 5 Decades of Crime | Vanity Fair

On this episode of “Notes on a Scene,” costume designers Sandy Powell and Christopher Peterson explain how they dressed Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, and Joe Pesci across five decades in Netflix's ‘The Irishman.’ They take us through the challenges and triumphs of reinventing vintage clothes and creating a 50-year-spanning wardrobe for the film’s characters.
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‘The Irishman’ Costume Designers Break Down Dressing 5 Decades of Crime | Vanity Fair

[@martinsan3740]

Sandy Powell is a powerhouse customer designer. I’m sure so is the guy. Please bring more off screen talent :)

[@martinobrien7110]

THEY ARE VERY MUCH ON SCREEN TALENT .

[@inFAMOUSBlastshards]

Martin O'BRIEN I disagree

[@speedracer2008]

Her cousin was legendary costume designer, Anthony Powell (RIP), who worked on Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), and 101 Dalmatians (1996). I think the two became friends while working on 101 Dalmatians.

[@Girlgirlgirl13]

I didn't know Eurythmics was designing costumes now

[@incognitomccooldude]

Taylor Packard underrated comment

[@katherinemorelle7115]

Eurythmics costumes are awesome, so I reckon they’d do pretty well.

[@EverythingInterestingg]

She hasn't had orange hair for over 20 years..

[@thewaitisogre]

love their comments about the ladies wearing outdated clothes because it was what they wore in their heyday. that brought a lot of authenticity.

[@datamachavariani1482]

They look like two versions of david Bowie

[@NavidIsANoob]

LMAO

[@man.6618]

ziggie stardust and the thin white duke

[@marie-ie5no]

IMMEDIATELY WHAT I THOUGHT AHHAHA

[@PrintsCharming13]

I love that the costume designers look exactly how you would expect them to look. Way to live up to my stereotype expectations.

[@groupie8985]

@@puckered6036 huh?

[@dustindemetrius6756]

i guess I am quite randomly asking but do anybody know a good place to stream new series online?

[@adamforbes8556]

@@puckered6036 fr😂

[@noahholder7911]

Would love to see more costume designers in notes on a scene, such brilliant and particular artistry goes into costume design.

[@goobiusthetrafficcone1438]

Would love one for Casino assuming the designers are still around

[@jameslyddall]

Noah Holder blade runner 2049 is one Id love to see more on

[@musicajuansuarezm]

Designer of all types generally are invisible to most people. So this video is lovely for putting them on the spotlight (also, they’re part of the greats so,.. that help haha)

[@Linkous12]

As someone who couldn't care less about fashion, this was really interesting.

[@eanlewis1299]

I love how they also outline the faces too 🤣

[@fungifago]

yeah, they were just having fun

[@thewaitisogre]

i’m glad that they talked about the wives in the pucci-esque outfits. those were my favorite costumes in the movie

[@DerHalbeEuro]

Looks more like Versace style

[@groupie8985]

@@DerHalbeEuro versace didnt exist, pucci was very famous at the time.

[@veerchasm1]

David Bowie’s “Low” hair is alive and well. Irishman was cast well...30 years too late

[@nickroman9876]

They truly did an amazing job with the film, the subtle jumps through time were seamless

[@zyzzyvacation]

Sandy Powell (costume design awards) ~ Oscars: 11 nominations / 3 wins (1994-2019) BAFTAs: 12 nominations / 3 wins (1994-2019)

[@TheRealGuywithoutaMustache]

The Irishman instantly became a Scorsese classic

[@jukaa1012]

Not really. It's a great movie but it's more of a staple of his than a classic imo. It's also too long and the CG is noticable (although ignorable)

[@actualdin8458]

dont listen to the other guy lmao its a masterpiece and the consensus seems to be that its his best movie since goodfellas. i’d say its even better

[@actualdin8458]

jukaa1012 too long? shouldnt people who appreciate these artists be relish the opportunity to spend that amount of time with a movie like this? its a meticulous and thoughtful buildup with an incredibly powerful payoff thats well worth the wait if youve got the patience for and appreciation for it. Only time will tell as far as “classic” status, but I think writing this off as just a Scorsese “staple”, seems kinda sad. I know I and quite few others see this an intensely personal and beautiful retrospective of the careers of Scorsese and the three lead actors, as well as the genre they built their careers on. I hope you reconsider the movie because you’re really missing something incredible here

[@jukaa1012]

@@actualdin8458 in what way is it better? Please elaborate.

[@KaizerBeatz-vf9wf]

@@jukaa1012 It's deliberately long and boring btw. You might've already known that, but I just think it's tough to criticise a movie for being too long when it was deliberately overly-long, you know?

[@dennyyshmael]

Thank you Vanity Fair for doing these! Unsung heroes of filmmaking! Sandy Powell should honestly be a household name by now.

[@T.R.E.112]

I only want to know where I can find an housecoat like the one Al Pacino wear when he’s talking with De Niro at his house about the fact that all italian-americans are called Tony

[@thgentleman9210]

Designing clothing for films can be quite the task.. well done video explaining!

[@jameslyddall]

Favorite custom designer on films was Inception loved the design and suits in that movie.

[@CashanovaXTREME]

>because Frank’s a younger man I really, truly couldn’t tell in the film. They both look in their 60’s to me.

[@samuelvaldez5389]

Shawn Garcia exactly. Watching these guys paying younger guys when their this age takes me out of the film a lot

[@CashanovaXTREME]

Samuel Valdez I think millions of people think the same. Every other part of the movie was great. But this movie should have been made around the time Goodfellas was made. It would have been another amazing piece of the 90’s.

[@AsukaLangleyS02]

When the WW2 scene popped up I was shocked they would have an old man as this guy in WW2. I was quite shocked that he was supposed to be in his early 20s.

[@CashanovaXTREME]

Hmpppf many soldiers in WWII were between 18-24 years old. The 24 year olds were seasoned officers. They came back to the States changed men at 22-27, and these are the hard men who raised our parents or your grandparents depending on your age.

[@AsukaLangleyS02]

@@CashanovaXTREME I have no idea what you're typing about. All I was saying is that this supposed 24ish-year-old guy looks like he's pushing 50.

[@part4963]

Thank you guys for all the designs. The movie was awesome.

[@ki-adimundi8695]

As someone who likes to dress up, I noticed it right away that the clothing was on point! Very well done!

[@basemshenouda9980]

brilliant show , please more of this .

[@EdsCollegeLife]

Love the costumes and the film!!! Good job to all of you!

[@katherinemorelle7115]

They should have won the Oscar. Little Women 2019 is one of the worst examples of historical costuming I’ve ever seen. It didn’t deserve a nomination, let alone to win. It was atrocious! It truly was the Crash pick of Costume Oscars. I’m still salty about it (obviously).

[@joshualetzgig5534]

PTA breaks down his career please!!

[@alvojnikovic2171]

This was a genius idea. Please make more!!

[@harshitabharadwaj2551]

Few decades more and 2000s will be THAT decade too

[@MrJerondo]

5:39 - I don't remember that scene on the movie, has it been cut?

[@jessicaraffa6400]

Brilliant! ✨

[@ioncamin5]

Just imagine the mob watching this.....

[@alexman378]

They did, actually

[@skg8768]

14:48 He looks like real Jimmy Hoffa

[@DuranmanX]

Pucci-esque "Prime numbers are the loneliest numbers"

[@CodySvsTheNet]

The Eurythmics do costume design?

[@tsuki7845]

Lmao this made my day.

[@phillup7]

I love these two

[@swarnayanchakraborty4618]

Would love to see one such video of Gangs of New York

[@Rekickit]

Where can I find a similar shirt to that vintage Hawaiian shirt

[@littledetter]

Clint Eastwood Breaks Down His Career Please!!!

[@pabl0coronel]

Sandy Powell = Like

[@MrHimyhimy]

The styling in this movie was incredible

[@jabscha7051]

I always wondered about why they wore those collars in Scorsese's gangster films and if it was accurate

[@k3t24]

Irish Man is a g reat movie and they are going to get oscars

[@null_subject]

Oh cool, they came dressed up in costumes too!

[@hschenck3394]

Made a video about this film and also talked about the costumes 🤗

[@j7220]

As of now Irishman is my favorite movie

[@aarongalloway3311]

This awesome any that appreciate both film and fashion its cool

[@dylanyoung585]

At 2:22 she went full John Madden

[@guin0816]

Love her hair xx

[@jamisonwoodson8548]

Wow. Look how much thought goes into a film

[@dammifaj]

Euphoria S2: Gangsters in Glitter

[@dennisvanderpost3149]

Awsome suits 😎👌

[@imjustanotherj]

I would love to see one of Rocketman.

[@WestonPedestrian]

Why didnt the meat packers have any blood on their white coats? Everything looked too clean in this movie. How about a shirt with wrinkles, or sweat stains? I loved the movie but the costume design in particular bothered me. Cars also too clean.

[@slack3021]

Big problem with newer movies set in the past

[@outriderjuno9371]

What's up with fashion people wearing scarves

[@oskarbonoe9082]

Best Film of the decade

[@doveshouse]

Vanity Affair... You have a video talking about fashion, where color plays such a big role, and your editor thought it wise to denote the film is paused by changing the color grade!?

[@Rambl3On]

I thought she was a puppet in the thumbnail and when she moved unlike a puppet, it threw me way off.

[@Otoskire]

2:52 young man?? He looks like he is in his early 50s

[@darkjedi7]

These two were legend, but I think Once upon a time in Hollywood or Joker will win the Oscars... 🤔

[@danbam3411]

dark jedi ehh I loved OUATIH but the Irishman really powered a delicate story more superior. As for Joker well...Joaquin most definitely deserves the Oscar!

[@DiegoDiaz-sv1ng]

dark jedi Hopefully Joe Pesci or William Defoe won best supporting role, they absolute nailed it.

[@VanBurenPhilips]

In the thumbnail, Sandy looks like Christopher's ventriloquist puppet. Soz Sandy.

[@tipilot3791]

drink every time they say typical

[@josephmorales652]

Wow. They are fabulous

[@GERPITO3000]

I love how they have cocky and friendly balanced attitudes

[@barfymann362]

Conan O'Brien's sister!

[@ricimercury9490]

LOL like Tilda Swinton

[@Chessxx1]

I think im into fashion

[@wntriam6485]

I hear you guys say Sheeran was a made man a few times, Sheeran was Irish and so couldn't be a made man as this requires you to be full blood Italian.

[@TheHouseontheHill]

Well, yes and no. Frank was certainly not a made man, but they were stating that he was dressing and treated as if he was. Of course discussing this any further would most likely devolve into semantics and pedantry. As an addendum though, due to a dip in prospective members, Cosa Nostra has opened the books to those who are only of partial Italian descent, but it must be paternal. Edit: Spacing.

[@CajunKirk]

The entire idea around being “made” is just a statement to other members of the criminal underworld that if you’re a made man then you can’t be messed with. By that same token Sheeran has become so close with Bufalino that if Sheeran was Italian instead of Irish he would have been made. So he carries that same respect.

[@TheHouseontheHill]

Kirkland DeLaune Precisely.

[@morethanthrills1616]

All of you need to stop hating.

[@rapiton6083]

Can you please make Leonardo DiCaprio break down his career!!!

[@DerHalbeEuro]

People dressed so much better in the past than today. The quality of clothes also was better.

[@TheHouseontheHill]

Indeed, it’s quite the tragedy that sartorial dress has been cast to the wayside in lieu of clothing more typically attributed to the street gangs.

[@michaeltonikov]

sweet clothes are made of this

[@romansoto9644]

Not just the best film of the year, but I'd say the best of the decade.

[@leonscott543]

What no one says that I think adds to the movie is that everyone involved in making it seems to be a made man and woman within the industry. It adds to the allure surrounding the film. It seems like a film about big time bosses and killers produced and written and designed by big time bosses and killers in the industry. Lol

[@AJJ129]

They look like costume designers and I love it

[@youniverse5512]

other explain : draw a line them : draw all of it

[@thiscomputer4891]

That was 6 decades.

[@gator4458]

Welp guess I'm watching the Irishman again

[@borood1188]

It’s like, don’t forget the diapers first.

[@user-fx1zz3iu9z]

I doesn't surprise me that these 2 wear scarves.

[@tomekstrand1988]

It's funny when these people describe peoples' clothes as "tacky." Pot, meet kettle.

[@bill11222]

Great insight to what goes on designing costumes for a period piece. Just lose the pens. Makes no sense that you point out a detail of a garment, then cover it up with a lime green or neon pink pen. Look at this, but don't blink, or you'll miss it after we scribble all over it. Really?

[@cooterwarts1601]

Of course they are both wearing scarves.

[@PolaBurrr]

"kid" lol

[@TheReloader]

50 year old kid

[@tonycrony5981]

Best film of the year

[@dennydarkko]

They dont exactly look like they should be dressing 50s-70s gangsters. 😂

[@wingwangtingtang]

I've always wondered how costume designers always design the greatest looking costumes and clothes yet always look like their mother dressed them 😂

[@plaidawan]

“5 Decades” Oh I didn’t know Robert was 100 years old by the end of the film.

[@justshady]

For Your Consideration decades are measured in 10 years. So 5 x 10 = 50 since Robert is in his 70’s he’s loved 7 decades.

[@plaidawan]

justshady yeah no I got that. I was implying he looked 50 at his youngest in the film.

[@georgemilo7649]

Yeah I'm not sure how he's supposed to be a "young man" in his first scene with Pesci, looks at least mid-50s

[@plaidawan]

Lobster Patrick Stewart every time he said “kid” a part of me died inside

[@Username-fw1dp]

@Lobster Patrick Stewart I think he’s supposed to look a bit beefy since the real Frank Sheeran was 6ft tall and biggish.

[@laughlut52]

Hi random person scrolling through the comments Have a good day

[@Mrnoone2]

Hi

[@laughlut52]

Frezout Clan hi

[@akz2628]

Stop ur thirsty af

[@jamesR43031]

kobe b whats wrong with saying have a good day to people big guy?

[@akz2628]

JamesAk ur a goof these the comments that ruin comment sections

[@doublefeatures6312]

I hope Best Costume Design goes to Little Women

[@wwaxwork]

I really liked their design, but it was very subtle so not sure if it will.

[@c.hunter9069]

I didn't know that the Eurhythmics designed clothes.

[@johnfranks2661]

They look like they're being hunted by Rick Deckard

[@peterrowan9955]

100

[@matt_the_man9831]

A cartoon caracter and an old man 😂

[@paullosasso7147]

Sandy powle looks like Harry Potter

[@dbchoobie1924]

Sandy Powell looks like she gonna vote for Bernie Sanders.

[@GC_420]

Lol, the irony.

[@KimberlyM0716]

Boring.

[@ThelateDomC.]

lol ok

[@jukodebu]

why brits doing costumes for american film. Any americans doing british period costume regency perhaps?

[@KaliKali-hv9bt]

I was thinking the same thing though

[@KaizerBeatz-vf9wf]

An English woman and an American man designed costumes for an Italian American film named The Irishman. Lol. But I don't know why you said Brits though. The male here is a yank

[@drivernephi2115]

I think the costume design weren't listening the whole time, the whole time being their life time I guess. Non italians can't be made men, they are what are called "associates"

[@issacnewton7059]

ew

[@floydlawsonmayberrybarber5580]

THESE people did the costume design for the irishman? They look like they'd order a $10 cup of coffee.

[@KaizerBeatz-vf9wf]

I don't see how coffee choices are relevant. costume designrs are expected to look like this.

[@suleyman7624]

WHAT ABOUT SIDEBURNS IN THE 70'S??????? AND BELL BOTTOM PANTS? THIS PERIOD ISN'T CREDIBLE...