Madonna's former costumer reveals the backstory for 1 of her most iconic looks

[Voguerista 11,915]

This is such a cool read (if you haven't read it yet). Check out all the photos at the link if interested. One is included below...

Madonna's former costumer reveals the backstory for 1 of her most iconic looks

Madonna's former costumer opened up about working with one of the most influential and controversial pop stars of all time.

Marlene Stewart designed some infamous outfits for the music videos and live performances of Madonna, and she revealed the backstory for one of the pop star's most iconic looks ever.

"Well, when I started working with her, I mean, it was really an easy match because it was like playing dress up," Stewart told TODAY ahead of the 2020 Video Music Awards on Sunday night. "We had a great time. She's really easy to work with because she really loves clothes. She knows her body. and that's part of her look."

Stewart, who started her career in fashion by working in the garment industry, designed for the pop star from approximately 1984 to 1992 before later working more heavily in the film industry.

"She'll give you the time that you need for fittings," Stewart said of their working relationship. "So the most important thing for a costume designer is to have someone that participates and really wants to be there. And now many years later, we can look back and know that she understood the power of her look. So she gave it 100 percent or 1,000 percent of her attention."

Stewart ended up winning awards for the costumes she created in Madonna's video for "Material Girl," which was inspired by Marilyn Monroe's pink gown during her performance of “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” in the 1953 film “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.” But Stewart also designed another key look in the history of Madonna's wardrobe: her costume for the 1990 VMAs performance of "Vogue."

"MTV was made for Madonna and Madonna was made for MTV."

"We know historically that the French were the biggest posers and it's the whole idea of voguing and posing," Stewart explained of her inspiration for the costume. "So it was the perfect transition. I suggested for this kind of French court situation with Marie Antoinette. It's really one of the origins, right? All they did was, 'Strike a pose.'"

When asked if it was her idea, she said it was, before adding, "I think one always has to say it's a collaboration. I would never say anything was completely mine. Every time you work with an artist, you work on something together."

"It's a team effort, You can't do anything by yourself"

When asked whether Madonna was difficult to work with, Stewart said that wasn't the case for her. She worked with the pop star for eight years, also designing costumes for other influential music videos, including "Like a Prayer" and "Open Your Heart."

"I don't know if I would use the word 'easygoing,'" Stewart added. "I think she has really high standards and she knew what she wanted and that's all fine. It's better to have someone that knows what they want and what they like than someone who doesn't know what they like or what. That's actually difficult. You can work with someone that knows what they actually like. You want someone that actually has an opinion; otherwise you waste a lot of time."

"I think that she was in a super creative space at that time. That was really the origin story, if you will, and creating really special things ourselves. She didn't want designer works that she was an advertisement for. It was about her being an original."

Considering that some of her designs, including Madonna's black slip dress in "Like a Prayer," were deemed controversial at the time, Stewart explained she never gave the blowback much credence.

"I didn't take it super seriously. For some people, it was very jarring and jolting and provocative, but I kind of have a neutral feeling about it because some people maybe that were very religious, took it to heart and were insulted."

"She pushed the boundaries like any artist would do."

"I saw it as entertainment. You can say that she's making a political statement or that creating controversy is the thing that Madonna does, but she always just changed it up. She pushed the boundaries like any artist would do."

Stewart looks back and acknowledges that it was a great time to be working in music videos, because music videos really dictated so much of culture.

"It was a time when videos, even though it was the beginning, it was also sort of the peak time for MTV those few years," she said. "We really created trends all around the world and it really was the beginning of a movement. So it was an incredible opportunity to be there at that time and have those experiences."

"MTV was made for Madonna and Madonna was made for MTV."

[NowRadiate 3,331]

Interesting read.

But wasn’t the Like a Prayer dress brown, not black? And wasn‘t the costume from the VMA performance in 1990 taken from „Dangerous Liasons“? Glenn Close wore the same thing? I get the Marie Antoinette reference though. 

[EgoRod 5,508]

9 hours ago, NowRadiate said:

Interesting read.

But wasn’t the Like a Prayer dress brown, not black? And wasn‘t the costume from the VMA performance in 1990 taken from „Dangerous Liasons“? Glenn Close wore the same thing? I get the Marie Antoinette reference though. 

Both are happening pre-revolution , so the styles are gonna be similar.

I always thought Like a Prayer was black but look brown because of the lighting?

[NowRadiate 3,331]

„This stunning gown was made for the 1988 film Dangerous Liaisons, where it was worn by Glenn Close as the Marquise de Merteuil.  In 1990 it was worn again by Madonna at the MTV Music Awards for her performance of the song “Vogue.”

Costume Credit:  Katie S.

Find Hundreds of reused costumes from every era at our website, Recycled Movie Costumes. You can also like us on Facebook, and Follow us on Twitter.

Have you found a Recycled Movie Costume not in any of the galleries on our site? Use the “Submit” button at the right, or e-mail your submissions and photos to submissions@recycledmoviecostumes.com“

 

That’s at least what this blog says. https://recycledmoviecostumes.tumblr.com/post/45517622875/this-stunning-gown-was-made-for-the-1988-film

It‘s common to recycle costumes and stage props. 

[EgoRod 5,508]

1 hour ago, NowRadiate said:

„This stunning gown was made for the 1988 film Dangerous Liaisons, where it was worn by Glenn Close as the Marquise de Merteuil.  In 1990 it was worn again by Madonna at the MTV Music Awards for her performance of the song “Vogue.”

Costume Credit:  Katie S.

Find Hundreds of reused costumes from every era at our website, Recycled Movie Costumes. You can also like us on Facebook, and Follow us on Twitter.

Have you found a Recycled Movie Costume not in any of the galleries on our site? Use the “Submit” button at the right, or e-mail your submissions and photos to submissions@recycledmoviecostumes.com“

 

That’s at least what this blog says. https://recycledmoviecostumes.tumblr.com/post/45517622875/this-stunning-gown-was-made-for-the-1988-film

It‘s common to recycle costumes and stage props. 

oh so it was actually reclycled? I didn't know that. I  thought you mean if they didn't replicate it.

[wtg1987 10,227]

Wow she worked on LAP video ? I didn’t know that nor did I know she worked on the 1990 vmas - I bet she has some great photos of M trying on these iconic clothes ?