PROFILE MAKE IT WORK

Fiona Ralph chats to the costume designer of Burton and Taylor about recreating Elizabeth Taylor’s iconic wardrobe and inimitable style

ElizabethTaylor (Helena usannah Buxton can’ttalk highly Carter’sTaylor her own spin, toning her look to what she’d understood of Elizabeth so they Bonham Carter)and enough of working with Helena down subtly so as not to distract from the sort of merged, Ithink. Itried to design the RichardBurton (Dominic Bonham Carter and Dominic acting. clothes to complement what Helena was doing West). Picture/Gustavo Papaleo West, stars of the BBC’s Burton “I didn’twant to replicate Elizabeth Taylor’s with the part.” and Taylor, which screens this clothes of the time, although there was alot of She also had two of Taylor’smost famous SSunday on the Rialto channel. photographic reference. Except Idid actually pieces of jewellery copied; borrowing and The film recreates the tumultuous later try to replicate two significant outfits that hiring two other iconic pieces —one a years of the relationship between Elizabeth were very well known.” fabulous Cartier bracelet, and another,an Taylor and two-time ex-husband Richard These were recreated from photos and exact replica of apair of diamond earrings Burton, who came together in 1983 to star in small amounts of footage, and included from Taylor’scollection which had been used astage production of Noel Coward’s Private Taylor’s50th birthday look, and ablue in an early James Bond film. Lives,which coincidentally —and much to sequinned gown worn in her first appearance “Helena didn’twear as much jewellery as audiences’ delight —details asimilarly stormy on stage in Private Lives —“It seemed Elizabeth was wearing, partly because we divorcee relationship. important to not change that,” she says. couldn’thope to emulate it and, in away,both “It was almost like an acting masterclass, I “It is adrama and we wanted to reflect Helena and Iwere worried it would be abig thought they were both marvellous,” Buxton the glamour of Elizabeth and the impact that distraction from the part if she wore as much says of the stars, effusing over Bonham she had when she walked into aroom, which jewellery as Elizabeth did.” Plus there was Carter in particular.“She is amazing. She’s apparently was significant at any age, and the obvious limitation, that “even with ahuge completely full of this positive energy,which Ithink Helena has that ability as well. She’s budget we couldn’thave got close to conveying makes the designer stuff so exciting Ithink. avery big personality,and she’svery,very the reality of Elizabeth Taylor’sjewellery She’swith you all the way.She’sperfectly positive, and she added her own personality collection!” she laughs. excited and as interested as you are in the whole thing.” With such afantastic script, Buxton adds, it was easy for herself and the cast and crew to pull it off. “Everybody loved the project, and when ateam comes together like that, it works really well. Everybody has their ‘‘We wanted input, which is alovely way to work. It doesn’talways happen, but when it does, it’s to reflect the exciting.” Filmed in under amonth with atight budget glamour of and just amonth for sourcing, Buxton had to be creative when dressing the two leads. She Elizabeth and mostly sourced vintage suits for West, apart from one which was made to lend Burton’s the impact silhouette to West, but sourced only afew vintage pieces for Bonham Carter —including that she had an amazing black and white 60s kaftan and a real mink coat from afurrier in Primrose Hill. when she Mostly,she had Bonham Carter’scostumes made by freelance tailors and the costume walked into a house she worked with for Downton Abbey (Buxton designed costumes for the first two room.” series of the hit show), seeking to give Bonham DESIGN ROOM madder &rouge Elos Rejuvenation SALE Elsewhere you pay up to $700 Our Price for aFull Face Treatment $290 From $100 per area •Evens out skin tone •Repairs sun damage •Removes freckles •Treats rosy cheeks and broken veins •Nomore sun spots Before FREE Cosy up with Cushions THIS WEDS -FRI -9-7 consultation WEEK SAT-SUN -9-4 20% offVelvet &French Stripe floor stock &custom made 8LION PLACE, NEWMARKET,AUCKLAND cushions–2weeks only After 25 Teed St Newmarket –522 1062 www.madderandrouge.co.nz 5Reeves Road, Pakuranga. Ph 576 1550 facebook.com/madderandrouge [email protected] www.aboutskin.co.nz

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