OverDressed for Life

I love designing clothes. It’s a silly, ridiculous business and it pays far too much money and you meet silly, ridiculous people and I love it!

– Marilla Brown, fictional character in Designing Women.

The 1957 film Designing Women starred Lauren Bacall as Marilla, a successful New York City fashion designer and Gregory Peck as her sportswriter husband. It’s a very silly romantic comedy directed by Vincent Minnelli but it was also a bit hit with critics at the time and among the most successful for both Ms. Bacall and Mr. Peck.

The costumes were designed by Helen Rose, head designer at MGM since 1943. Ms. Rose won two Academy Awards for The Bad and The Beautiful (1952) and I’ll Cry Tomorrow (1955). She was nominated an additional 8 times.

Fashion show scene in Designing Woman, costumes by Helen Rose.

Ms. Rose is also known for designing wedding dresses for the likes of Grace Kelly and Elizabeth Taylor.