While researching The Great Gatsby, I enjoyed the detective work and the discovery of all kinds of ephemera in archives, catalogs, and magazines … But, I too found my inspiration in the text. What’s particularly interesting about Fitzgerald is that, unlike many authors who never mention clothes, he was obsessed with how clothing tells you who people were. He describes in great detail every outfit Gatsby wears because Gatsby’s creation of himself as a gentleman relied on his ability to gather attention to his social station.
(As told to The Costume Designer: The Official Magazine of the Costume Designers Guild.)
– Catherine Martin, costume designer. Ms. Martin won her third and fourth Oscars for best costume design and best production design – The Great Gatsby. She also won best costume and production in 2002 for Moulin Rouge.
Congratulations Ms. Martin!
OverDressed for Life 
Can you imagine, Moya, winning for costuming on that world stage? And I thought our trip up the stairs at the Shellie’s was earth-shaking… who doesn’t love the romanticism of Gatsby?
Nancy – did you win a Shellie for costumes? Do tell more!!
Thanks Paula… Both Moya & I won, several years apart. I was nominated 4 times… to the point that no one was interested in accompanying me. So I went alone… that was the trick! Actually, the Shellie was for ‘Night of the Iguana’, with those quasi-seedy, 30’s tropical costumes… the set was appropriately ramshackle, plus flora… I did love costuming, yes, ‘those were the days’!
Was that the one at the Lesher Theater about 15 years ago? I saw that.
Moya – when did you win a Shellie???
Thanks, Nancy and Paula. Nancy always did such a great job costuming. Any theater was lucky to have her on board. I won a few years before Nancy and it was a slightly ironic show for me. I’ll tell you more, Paula, when I see you.