St. Pete movie costume exhibit raises curtain on classic looks

Fashion can help set the tone of a movie. A hint of seductive lace, scads of luxurious fabric, glimpses of coquettish frills or a well-worn jacket can be strong supporting players to the characters. Such are the trappings of fashion from our past, for men and women alike.

Visitors can marvel at a sampling of such sartorial wonders at the Florida International Museum at St. Petersburg College's "Cut! Costume and the Cinema" exhibit that opens Saturday. It features 43 period costumes from major motion pictures that span five centuries of clothing design.

The exhibit features creations worn by the likes of movie stars Keira Knightley, Johnny Depp, Angelica Houston, Kate Winslet, Daniel Craig and Sandra Bullock in such film as "Finding Neverland," "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," "Casanova," "Ever After," "Sherlock Holmes," "The Duchess" and "Sense and Sensibility."

"When fashion is accurate and reflects the time period, it can make the entire film believable," said Christine Renc-Carter, associate curator and registrar of the museum. Fashion "helps draw you into the story. It makes the film seamless."

The exhibit features gowns with flowing trains and bustles, and creations made of silks, satins, wools, velvet, laces, embroidery and hand-beading; shoes, boots, hats and a sword, too. Many of the costumes were designed specifically for the actors who wore them. Most of the garments were made by the British costume company of Cosprop, which specializes in period costuming.

"These costumes were made to withstand close scrutiny by directors," Renc-Carter said. "They are made of vintage materials of that era and made to withstand several scenes and the actors moving (around). There's an incredible amount of detail in these costumes."

Among them are Depp's "Captain Jack Sparrow" pirate ensemble including the belt, the boots and the sword; the late Heath Ledger's wardrobe from "Casanova" and Craig's leather jacket from "Defiance." For the movie, directors created two leather jackets for Craig - a new one and a distressed one to show the jacket looking more worn in the final scenes, Renc-Carter said.

Visitors also will see the detail and hand-beaded work in the turn-of-the-century gown worn by Winslet in "Finding Neverland." And from "The Duchess," starring Knightley, there are several day outfits, evening gowns, wigs and shoes. The exhibit also includes a short presentation of Knightley talking about the difficulties she had wearing some of the looks.

A section of the exhibit focuses on the underpinnings. Usually a costume was built up from the correct underwear to achieve the right silhouette. Fashion corsets, crinolines and bustles put great demands on designers and costumiers, Renc-Carter said.

The dresses "were all about the back and bustle rather than the front," Renc-Carter said. "We really tried to accommodate the trains and get a sense of the costumer and the details particularly from the back."

EXHIBIT PREVIEW

Cut! Costume and the Cinema

WHAT: 43 period costumes from major motion pictures on exhibit

WHERE: Florida International Museum at St. Petersburg College, 244 Second Ave. N., St. Petersburg

WHEN: Exhibit opens Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and continues through May 16. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

COST: adults, $12; seniors (62+), military and groups $10; students, $5; children 6 and younger, free; (727) 341-7900

INFORMATION: Visit www.spcollege.edu/FIMuseum.