Hindi Wedding costume from the movie Moulin Rouge
Object No. 2008/199/4
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 Hindi Wedding costume in cream beaded rayon crepe was made for Satine, played by Nicole Kidman, in her death scene. (Satine dies in this dress, but blood was not allowed on it, so Christian's shirt was bloodied instead). 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 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, Hindi Wedding, from the movie, 'Moulin Rouge', various materials, designed by Baz Luhrmann / Catherine Martin / Angus Strathie, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2000
Physical Description
Hindi Wedding costume worn by Nicole Kidman consisting of dress, bra, 3 pairs of bra inserts, pair of tights, 2 handkerchiefs, pair of sandals, headdress, necklace (used in film) and three necklaces (used in Annie Liebovitz photography shoot). Wedding dress of ivory rayon crepe in a Hindu style, with borders of silver metallic embroidery and beading. The dress is strapless with a curved neckline over each breast, coming to a shallow dip at centre front. Across the left breast there is a narrow embroidered border running along the neckline, but on the right breast there is a very broad embroidered panel which crosses diagonally across the body down to the waist and around the back where it narrows as it crosses back up to meet the straight neckline and forms an inverted 'V' over the back lacing, with the panel coming around from the right side. The embroidered panels are stylised floral motifs in raised metallic silver thread and silver pearling (coils), with silver sequins, clear, pale pink and pale green beads and diamantes. The ivory rayon crepe is swagged over the hips at the back and front and caught in a knot at the left hip with the ends hanging loose. Flowing from the left hip down diagonally across the body to mid-calf height is a matching border of embroidery, which forms an overskirt. As the border hits the right side seam it turns diagonally upwards again to cross the body up to the left hip. The hem of the dress is cut to form a short train, all of which is bordered with the matching embroidered panel. This then crosses diagonally at centre front with the right side continuing to under the overskirt at the left hip. The dress fastens with lacing down the back, which is designed to be very widely laced as the embroidered border around the neckline is only attached to the dress at the side seams and crosses over the top of the lacing and fastens with 2 press studs, which would not meet if the lacing was pulled tightly together. White metal eyelets are used with cream cotton laces. There is a fabric insert behind the lacing. The dress is lined with cream cotton along the neckline and white velour along the hem, but throughout with white polyester. There is a small pouch for a microphone pack stitched inside the dress under the swag at the back. There are 2 hanging tapes stitched inside the bodice. White lacy bra made from polyamide, elastic, viscose and polyester, made by Darling of Brasil. The bra has a strip of the ivory dress fabric stitched along the top of each cup. One pair of large moulded inserts covered in the dress fabric. Two identical smaller pairs in white satin. Pair of tan tights in 'large' size by Wolford of Paris and London. Two square white satin handkerchiefs. Pair of cream sandals by Sergio Rossi, Italy in a size 38. They have very narrow cream thong straps and a small leather section at the heel, which have straps running through to cross over the foot and then fasten on the outside with a small silver buckle. They have black soles with a 1cm heel. The heel and sole both have rounded rubber soles stuck to them. They have a piece of cotton binding around the thong strap between the toes. Jewelled Indian headdress in brass coloured metal, faux pearls, diamantes, silver thread embroidery, sequins, beads and silver pearling (coils), mounted on a wire frame bound with red cotton. The frame goes round across the top of the head and then up to two ear-like structures constructed from embroidered and beaded mesh mounted on wire in leaf shapes, the reverse of these are dotted with beads and pearls. There are 3 metal jewels which sit high at the side of the forehead, with 2 brass coloured and diamante chains which loop down over the forehead. An elaborate jewelled Indian necklace of brass coloured metal, diamantes and faux pearls. The necklace is constructed of swags and strings of pearls of various sizes and chains of heart-shaped jewels with diamantes in their centres and also chains of larger brass coloured motifs with plain circular discs hanging below each. In the centre there are 2 larger medallions dotted with diamantes and small green and brown gems and the bottom one has 5 drop pearls suspended from it. Necklace of 3 strings of beads - faux pearls and pink and clear faceted beads, attached to a small brass coloured clasp at each end. Another necklace of brass coloured metal with a centre section of looped flower/foliage design incorporating small yellow paste jewels and slightly larger pink gems, with a small chain at each end. The third necklace of an elaborate Indian design. It is constructed of numerous swags and strings of faux pearls and floral and heart-shaped brass coloured metal motif chains, suspended with metal discs. There are 2 large central metal filigree motifs in brass coloured metal dotted with green and brown paint, imitating jewels, there are 5 pearls suspended from the bottom medallion.
PRODUCTION
Notes
Wedding costume, rayon crepe and beads, for Satine, played by Nicole Kidman. Satine dies in this dress, but blood was not allowed on it, so Christian's shirt was bloodied instead. The Hindi jewellery was made/supplied by Lisa Javelin and Tessa Atherton. 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
Wedding costume, rayon crepe and beads, for Satine, played by Nicole Kidman. Satine dies in this dress, but blood was not allowed on it, so Christian's shirt was bloodied instead. 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
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