Irene-Fisher Easter Parade Sketch
Thanks to Christian Esquevin for sending this beautiful sketch and background information! Easter Parade is one of my favorite musicals. It’s a wonderful Hollywood film with beautiful costumes and entertainment.
This sketch, by Virginia Fisher, signed by Irene, presents a design worn by one of the strolling women on the 5th Avenue “Easter Parade” scene.
This sketch and the original costume had been exhibited at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s “Hollywood and History” exhibition many years ago. They were also reproduced in the book by the same title that was published based on that exhibition.
Irene/Fisher Easter Parade Sketch
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- Posted new sketch at Irene’s | From Karlyn - [...] I just posted the beautiful new sketch I received from Christian Esquevin. It is a costume sketch by my ...
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About Irene
Irene is my grand-aunt, and admired for her work in women's fashion and Hollywood costume design. Her talent as a successful clothing designer in Los Angeles led to her long career as a costume designer for many great films in Hollywood.. until her sudden death in 1962. I hope you enjoy your visit.. ~ Karlyn
Costume design sketches are often mysterious – but they can open up information like a nest of Russian dolls. I always look for any information on the back (this one didn’t have any), since sometimes they would provide information on when the costume was completed, how much it cost, who made it and who it was for. Approval initials are always interesting. For this sketch the famed musical producer Arthur Freed put his initials on the front, where they usually went. The director and star would sometimes also initial their approvals. So costume sketches are not just art, they were the working tools that were passed from designer to sketch artist to producer to star and then to the cutter-fitter that had to make patterns for the seamstresses to make the costume. When you hold them you hold Hollywood history.
I did not know that about the initials. I did not know that the sketches got passed around so much either, but it makes sense that everyone – from sketch artist to producer to star and then to the cutter-fitter – got to see what they would be wearing/working with. How interesting! Thank you Christian.