I am currently attempting to do a report on the influence of the period in which westerns were made on their costuming and hair, and am looking for specific movies that are known for their poor costuming or hair. Examples that would help me would be the cullottes worn in the Big Country, or the spoof of poor costuming in westerns in Blazing Saddles. I was was looking for better examples though and was hoping that you all would be able to help me! I know I don't post very often but I am an active reader of many of the threads posted, espcialy in this catagory. Thanks!
Poorly Costumed Westerns
- Thread starter miss1934
- Start date
Hattysattic
VFG Secretary
I'm afraid I'm not a great western buff myself but I'm sure others must be able to help - sounds like a fun report! 
hatfeathers
VFG Member
Would Petticoat Junction count?
Where was Ms. Kitty from?
The hair in those was always sort of beehive bouffont (sp?) looking. Prairie women would have had a bun and that's about it. Like Karen Grassle in Little House.
Jenn
Where was Ms. Kitty from?
The hair in those was always sort of beehive bouffont (sp?) looking. Prairie women would have had a bun and that's about it. Like Karen Grassle in Little House.
Jenn
That was Gunsmoke!
Let us know what you find!
hi! thanks I made a powerpoint on it and if you email me at [email protected] I will personally send it to you. I apologize for anything I have misspoken about. Thanks for your help!
Jonathan
VFG Member
You might want to check out the book Hollywood in History - Costume Design and Film. I used to own it but sold it on eBay for mucho grando buckso... It is by Edward Maeder of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. They have a lot of Hollywood costumes in their collection and also borrowed costumes from other institutions. Part of the thesis is how historical costume is heavily influenced by current modes and do not reflect period costuming. Things like pointed, separated, uplifted breasts instead of mono-bosoms throughout the 1950s and knee-length saloon gal costumes with off-the shoulder lines.
I am not a fan of westerns so i can't think of any particular films for you, but I imagine they all do that to some extent.
I am not a fan of westerns so i can't think of any particular films for you, but I imagine they all do that to some extent.
antique-frock
Alumni
There are a couple of sellers on Ebay who sell off the old Hollywood costumes. One is backlotcostumes (see this item 190067811285, which looks like it is meant to be Civil War era -- yuck!) and also hollywoodmoviecostumes (see item 230072749902, which is more accurate than most of their stuff). From looking at what they sell, you can get an idea of how incredibly bad most of the costuming is. Generally the problem is that the costumes are made "generic" to work for anything from Civil War to early 1900's.
When I lived in southern California and bought in that marketplace, I once owned a dress that was a typical early Edwardian tea gown. I had provenance for it indicating it was worn by an extra in one of the ballroom scenes in the movie Gone With the Wind. Off by 50 years or so!!! --Cheri
When I lived in southern California and bought in that marketplace, I once owned a dress that was a typical early Edwardian tea gown. I had provenance for it indicating it was worn by an extra in one of the ballroom scenes in the movie Gone With the Wind. Off by 50 years or so!!! --Cheri