Costume Worn by Keira Knightly in The Duchess (All Photos By Gail)

If you live in Southern California, you still have a few more weeks left to visit Bowers Museum in Santa Ana to see the Cut! Costume and The Cinema exhibit, which I saw in December.

Here’s a little bit about the exhibit from Bowers’ website:

Discover the glamour, luxury and artistry of cinematic couture in this exhibition from the renowned British costumer, Cosprop Ltd and organized by Exhibits Development Group. Forty-three costumes worn by 30 actors in 25 different films attest to the sumptuous fabrics, lavish lace and embroidery, unparalleled craftsmanship and creativity, and the essential ingredient costumes play in the authenticity of a period film. Many of the costumes have won major awards including Oscars from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and BAFTAs from the British Association of Film and Television Arts.

Robe Worn By Kate Winslet in Finding Neverland

Visitors to the exhibition will be transported from fairy tale England (Angelica Huston, Ever After) to colonial Virginia (Colin Farrell, The New World) to 18th-century England (Keira Knightley, The Duchess) and to 19th-century Paris – fantastic and opulent – (Emmy Rossum, The Phantom of the Opera). They will enjoy the fashions of the early 20th century – of World War I Italy (Sandra Bullock, In Love and War), of seedy Shanghai in the 1930s (Natasha Richardson and Ralph Fiennes, The White Countess) and of World War II Belarus (Daniel Craig, Defiance).

With the exception of The Duchess and Finding Neverland, I hadn’t seen, or in many cases even heard of, some of the films in which these costumes were worn. The costumes are all beautiful though and the exhibit includes extensive information and back stories on each piece, how it was made and how the garment relates to the historical period of the film. Very interesting!

Dress Worn by Radha Mitchell in Finding Neverland

If you enjoy fashion or cinema I would say this is a must-see exhibit!

Cut! Costume and The Cinema, will be on Exhibit through March 10th, 2013 at Bowers Museum, Located at 2002 N. Main Street in Santa Ana, California.

Dress from Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

Red Ball Gown from Land of The Blind

Dress from Phantom of The Opera