When costume designer
Sharen Davis read
The Help
years ago, she immediately felt a deep connection with the book. “I
loved the book so much, it was really serendipitous,” Davis says about
getting on board as the costume designer of the 1960s era film about
African-American maid’s experiences working for white families during
the civil rights movement. Davis’ work on the film helped breathe life
to each character who are all represented so well, as if they were
visualized and the facets of their personalities were put to fabric. The
splashes of color on each character speak volumes about who they are.
Skeeter (
Emma Stone), the idealistic heroine of the
film who refuses to get married like the rest of the “proper girls” of
her time, dons Peter Pan collars, shirt-dresses and plaids. Hilly (
Bryce Dallas Howard),
the insecure schemer who will do anything to secure her social standing
in town and keep things the way they are wears the brightest florals
and the loudest bows. Elizabeth (
Ahna O’ Reilly), the
girl who isn’t capable of mothering her own children and stands by
submissively as everything unfolds, wears more muted florals. The camera
introduces Celia (
Jessica Chastain) the girl living on
the outskirts of town looking in, feet first, clad in sky high
platforms before panning to her bare legs and revealing her fitted
romper. – –
Read more about Sharen
When costume designer Sharen Davis read The Help
years ago, she immediately felt a deep connection with the book. “I
loved the book so much, it was really serendipitous,” Davis says about
getting on board as the costume designer of the 1960s era film about
African-American maid’s experiences working for white families during
the civil rights movement. Davis’ work on the film helped breathe life
to each character who are all represented so well, as if they were
visualized and the facets of their personalities were put to fabric. The
splashes of color on each character speak volumes about who they are.
Skeeter (Emma Stone), the idealistic heroine of the
film who refuses to get married like the rest of the “proper girls” of
her time, dons Peter Pan collars, shirt-dresses and plaids. Hilly (Bryce Dallas Howard),
the insecure schemer who will do anything to secure her social standing
in town and keep things the way they are wears the brightest florals
and the loudest bows. Elizabeth (Ahna O’ Reilly), the
girl who isn’t capable of mothering her own children and stands by
submissively as everything unfolds, wears more muted florals. The camera
introduces Celia (Jessica Chastain) the girl living on
the outskirts of town looking in, feet first, clad in sky high
platforms before panning to her bare legs and revealing her fitted
romper. – – Read more about Sharen
