'Pink Diamonds' costume from the movie 'Moulin Rouge'
Object No. 2008/199/3
Moulin Rouge was a high budget movie directed by Baz Luhrmann and released globally in 2001. Set in the 1890s in the Moulin Rouge in Paris, the film is a 'red carpet' theatrical production starrring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor. Luhrmann and his partner Catherine Martin were first inspired by Bollywood movies when they conceived the project. The fourteen key Moulin Rouge costumes, props and continuity books, are a magnificent example of the work of a talented team of Australian designers and costumiers working under director, Baz Luhrmann, with his partner Catherine Martin and costume designer Angus Strathie. In all 450 costumes were designed and made for the production and another 350 costumes were hired or 'found' for the eighteen principals and seventy dancers. The film involved many levels of complexity in its development and a large number of talented people in all areas of cinematography, choreography, musical composition, sets, props and costumes. The movie was heavily promoted online, in magazines and publications. The characters represented in this costume selection are Satine played by Nicole Kidman, Christian played by Ewan McGregor, the Unconscious Argentinian played by Jacek Koman, Harold Zidler played by Jim Broadbent, Toulouse Lautrec played by John Leguizamo and five can can dancers. The Pink Diamonds outfit is a pink diamente corselet with ostrich feather skirt worn by Satine, played by Nicole Kidman. The Moulin Rouge costumes are the second group of Luhrmann's film costumes represented in the Museum's collection. The complete set from Luhrmann's first movie 'Strictly Ballroom' was featured in a Powerhouse Museum exhibition in 1991. The exhibition of these costumes, 'Spectacular! Spectacular! On the set of Moulin Rouge', held in 2001 was an enormous success with 10,000 people visiting during the first weekend. The costumes are extravagant and beautifully made and they admirably represent the skills and talents of the many Australians involved.
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Summary
Object Statement
Film costume, 'Pink Diamonds', from the movie, 'Moulin Rouge', various materials, designed by Baz Luhrmann / Catherine Martin / Angus Strathie, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2000
Physical Description
Pink Diamonds costume worn by Nicole Kidman consisting of bodice, feather plume skirt, bra, panties, suspender belt, stockings (2 pairs), gloves, shoes and bracelets (2). Bodice of pale pink Lycra covered with fishnet and lines of paste jewels and diamantes in pink and silver. Shoulder straps of cream elastic covered with a wavy line of diamantes in varying sizes, with a bead in the centre of each. The neckline of the bodice is a curved 'V' down to a low point at centre front, with a slightly curved neckline at the back. On each breast is a large heart motif created from the diamantes set in gold coloured metal, with a very large central heart-shaped diamante. There are 3 jewels suspended from each large heart motif. There is a matching large heart shaped motif at the base of the bodice, over the crotch, where the border of the motif is cut separately so it can move independently from the central jewels. The hem of the bodice is cut slightly rounded over the hips with a heavy fringe of gold and silver bugle bead strings all around the front and hips. The corset is lined with peach cotton and fastens with 15 metal eyelets and pale pink cotton laces. It is stiffened with 24 bones and has a pad at each breast. There is a panel tacked on with herringbone stitch behind the lacing. There are 8 tapes stitched at the waist and hips to attach the feather plume skirt. Ostrich feather plume skirt with 7 floor length ostrich plumes which are coloured to gradually change from a darker pink at the waist to white at their tips. The plumes are attached at the waist to a wide pink satin waistband which only reaches round the hips. The waistband is lined with white cotton and has lines of metal eyelets which are used to tie the skirt onto the bodice. There are plastic bones covered in pink satin which are stitched into the waistband and are bent to extend half way down each of the plumes to make them stand away from the body. There is also a stiffened strip running around the plumes which holds the bones away from the bottom of the wearer. Cream strapless bra, Size 10B, by Fine Lines, with boning at each side. Panties of pale pink polyamide, elastane and cotton, made by Levante of Italy. Suspender belt of pale peach pink coloured nylon and lace, which fastens at the centre back with adjustable hook and eyes. There is a small bow at the top centre front with 3 tiny pearls in the centre. The suspender tabs are dotted with diamantes. Over the rubber and metal suspender fastenings are gold metal heart-shaped motifs covered with diamantes, above gold filigree elongated ovals with a diamante in the centre. Two pairs of pale peach pink coloured nylon stockings with a diamond-shaped fishnet pattern covering them. The lace band at the top in varying pale peach pink tones and dotted with diamantes. Pair of full length white kid leather gloves, made by Chester Jefferies. Pair of heeled satin shoes by Donna May Bolinger. Pale pink satin shoes with 3¼" heels, pointed toes and a T-bar strap. The front of the shoe has a pattern of diamantes of various shapes in gold settings spreading out in a star shape from a central point; a line of diamantes also continues up the strap. The strap fastens with a large diamante. The shoes have lilac lining which has the Donna May Bolinger logo printed above the heel and 'Made for Moulin Rouge by Donna May Bolinger' hand-painted down the foot. There is a grey insert labelled 'NSW Orthotic Laboratory' in each shoe. The sole of each shoe has a ribbed grey rubber sole stuck on. Two bracelets of bright gold metal and diamantes. There is an arched rectangular motif in the centre, which is decorated with small diamante, and at either side is a mesh of larger diamante set in gold metal. Three diamantes are missing from one of the bracelets.
PRODUCTION
Notes
The Pink Diamonds outfit is a pink diamante corselet with ostrich feather skirt worn by the character Satine, played by Nicole Kidman. 450 new costumes were designed by Catherine Martin and Angus Strathie. Catherine Martin came up with a conceptual idea of each character which was then interpreted and developed by Angus Strathie. Martin referred to long term fashion forecasting to decide on themes and colours. Costumes combine a professional theatrical approach to quality and historical silhouette juxtaposed with contemporary fashions and colours. The costumes were not designed to be reproductions of costumes from 1899, but to give enough flavour of contemporary western trends to capture interest and entice us into the past at the Moulin Rouge. Eliza Godman co-ordinated the project, supervising a Sydney team of 40 costumiers, cutters, shoemakers and milliners. Millinery was organised by Rosie Boylan, with Rick McGill and seven milliners. The hair and 85 wigs were designed by Aldo Signoretti. All the main characters wore wigs except Ewan McGregor and John Leguizamo. Make-up was by Maurizio Silvi, costume art finishing by Jason Gibaud, shoes by Jodie Morrison and Donna-May Bolinger.
HISTORY
Notes
The Pink Diamonds outfit is a pink diamante corselet with ostrich feather skirt worn by the character Satine, played by Nicole Kidman. Satine was the beautiful lead courtesan employed at the Moulin Rouge who was to star in their new show 'Spectacular! Spectacular!' In the 1890s Paris courtesans like Satine were avidly watched by the press and public for their extravagant fashions and flamboyant affairs. The costumes, though made in Australia, were owned by Fox Studios who funded the film.
SOURCE
Credit Line
Gift of 20th Century Fox Feature Film Division, 2008
Acquisition Date
9 October 2008
Copyright for the above image is held by the Powerhouse and may be subject to third-party copyright restrictions. Please submit an Image Licensing Enquiry for information regarding reproduction, copyright and fees. Text is released under Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivative licence.
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