22nd Annual Art of Motion Picture Costume Design Exhibit

FIDM, 919 South Grand Ave, LA . fidmmuseum.org

At the lovely Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising ( FIDM )

their gallery is currently exhibiting costumes from 22 movies released in 2014.

Hours are 10am-5pm Tuesdays thru Saturdays

The exhibit ends on April 26.

FREE admission :)

Every year for the past 22 years FIDM has not disappointed 

in the caliber and variety of the costumes from top grossing films.

This year continues the excellence with amazing costumes from

sci-fi fantasy to wonderfully historical.

All four films nominated for the 2014 Academy Award for 

best costumes are represented... 

Photo uploaded from tyrannyofstyle.com

American Hustle; designer Michael Wilkinson

Photo uploaded from tyrannyofstyle.com

The Invisible Woman; designer Michael O'Conner

Photo uploaded from tyrannyofstyle.com

The Grandmaster; designer William Chang Suk Ping

photo uploaded from tyrannyofstyle.com

12 Years A Slave; designer Patricia Norris

Photo uploaded from tyrannyofstyle.com

The Great Gatsby; 

Winner of the 2014 Academy Award for Costume

designer Catherine Martin 

Catherine Martin accepting her Academy Award

Viewing the actual costumes is always very interesting.

Film is an edited illusion and reality is often different.

From the fabrics to the construction techniques to the size and stature ( or not ) of the actors

it is an enjoyable glimpse into movie magic.

And if you travel to LA for the
Art of Motion Picture Costume Design Exhibit

do not overlook a small gallery off the main exhibit…

this small gallery has a constantly revolving selection of items from

The Helen Larson Historic Fashion Collection

Currently 10 wedding gowns from the 19th-century are on display.

I've also seen 18th century hats and accessories, beaded party dresses from the 1920s

and it's always a pleasant surprise.

Desert display at Bottega Louie, 700 South Grand Ave, LA 90017 www.bottegalouie.com

And I would be remiss if I did not divulge that two blocks from FIDM

is a culinary wonderland called

Bottega Louie

Stretching your $$

$12.50 for four elastic bands at J Crew

These stretchy elastic bands that my girlies and I frequently wear on our wrists 

( and wear even more frequently in our hair ) 

are extremely popular AND extremely over-priced.

How over-priced became very clear when

I was wearing an elastic band while touring Britex Fabrics 

and the guide pointed out that the exact same elastic was for sale… 

$1.99 a yard.

I bought a yard each of four different colors

and each yard yielded 4 bands.

 I cut the elastic, 

girlie singed the edges so they would not fray,

and other girlie tied the ends into knots.

The missing bands are already on our wrists and hair

Within 5 minutes we had 16 stretchy elastic bands at a cost of 50 cents per band…

which still seems a little over-priced :)