… Ginger wore one of the most expensive costumes in Hollywood history. It has come to be known as the Mink Dress, but actually it was a mink over-skirt which was lined with sequins, worn over a matching sequined bodysuit. There was also a mink bolero and muff. It cost about $35,000 to make in those days and couldn’t be made today without a limitless wardrobe budget.
– Edith Head (1879-1981) Hollywood costume designer.
Ms. Head is speaking about the costume she designed for Ginger Rogers in the 1944 film, Lady in the Dark.
Today’s quote is from the book Edith Head’s Hollywood by Edith Head and Paddy Calistro (Angel City Press, 2008). A reprint of Ms. Head’s autobiography, this edition celebrated the 25th anniversary of the original posthumous publication in 1983 by Knopf.
In her autobiography, Ms. Head discusses all her films in detail and provides additional tidbits and insights to old Hollywood. Co-author Ms. Calistro is a fashion journalist and considered among the leading authorities on Edith Head. As a publisher of City Angel Press she reprinted Ms. Head’s book with an expanded photo section.
OverDressed for Life 
And probably, sadly, the movie is in black and white and not about the dress.
Nope. The movie is in Technocolor! That scene is pretty amazing. However, I am not a very big Edith Head Fan.