Instead of a section by and about Hansford, why not include a longer, more in-depth essay on Travilla, possibly written by someone who worked with him in film or on television? Beyond the films he made with Marilyn, Travilla had a quite successful career on network television, creating costumes for The Thorn Birds, Dallas, Knots Landing, and many more. Not helping matters are a few errors in the text and multiple typos, which seem to become more frequent as the book goes on. His over-long introduction takes the focus off Travilla and even Marilyn, for no apparent reason other than to share his personal fascination of traveling to Hollywood. His goal to make Travilla and his talent more widely known is an admirable one. Hansford also organized a 2008 exhibitionfeaturing Travilla’s fabulous costumes and designs. Travilla died in 1990 after a long career in Hollywood that started in the early 1940s. As many close-ups as there are of Marilyn’s dresses, the 192-page book leaves one wishing for more.Īuthor Andrew Hansford befriended Travilla’s business partner Bill Sarris, and now manages Travilla’s design archive. The book includes many images of Travilla’s original sketches for some of Marilyn’s most famous costumes - the white pleated dress she wore while standing over a subway grate in The Seven Year Itch, the pink confection she wore during the production number “ Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend” in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and many more.
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