Western Costume Co.

06/21/2024

“The Bikeriders” hits theaters today! Congratulations to Costume Designer Erin Benach, who captured the 60s rough-and-tumble biker style with her gritty, authentic designs. From perusing Danny Lyon photographs in the Research Library to putting on the finishing touches in our Workrooms, we’re thankful you let us be part of this ride!

06/16/2024

Wishing all the dads out there a fabulous day! 👔

06/06/2024

Staff Pick of the Week! ✨ CK Kagawa is a member of our Uniform Department. You can most often find CK in the Insignia Room, where they keep every patch and pin meticulously organized. CK chose a series of WWII insignia for their pick this week. Here’s what CK has to say:

“On the anniversary of D-Day, I thought it would be fitting to pull out some of our WWII-specific unit insignia. Each of these patches tell a story about who these soldiers were and what they did. I picked a personal favorite. My grandfather, Kiyoshi Kagawa, was a US Army translator and is the person who originally sparked my interested in military uniforms. Like many members of the Japanese-American community, I had family serve in the famous all Japanese-American Nisei unit, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. At a time, Japanese-Americans were interred by the US Government at home, but these men still enlisted and served. The 442nd was the most decorated unit of the war, standing by their motto to ‘Go For Broke’. When I was organizing our thousands of US Army unit patches, I was overwhelmed when I found a large bag of 442nd patches. It was a beautiful circle back to listening to my grandfather when I was a kid and helped me identify my own grandfather’s patches that I have kept all these years.”

Thank you for sharing this incredible piece of history, CK!

05/31/2024

Celebrating 35 Years of “Dead Poets Society”! ✨🎬
 
This weekend marks the 35th anniversary of the iconic “Dead Poets Society,” a movie that continues to inspire and captivate audiences. We’re especially proud to remember our late president, Eddie Marks, who served as the costume supervisor for this masterpiece. Eddie had an extensive career, but he was particularly proud of his work on this film. In honor of Eddie, we invite you to rewatch “Dead Poets Society” this weekend. Carpe diem!

04/26/2024

Staff Pick of the Week! Rosy Almaraz is one of our stock costumers in the Women’s Department. You can most often find her in the Jewelry Room, keeping every bangle and bauble organized. Rosy chose this regal set as her pick this week. Here’s what she has to say:

“I love this set, and I love the color. They were Josephine’s jewels from a musical theater production of ‘Napoleon’ in London. I admired the set when it came to our collection, it was so unique. I always love to see it going out all the time, it’s very popular. When people see it, they get so excited. The green jewels with the pearls are beautiful, it’s so memorable, and it’s still one of my favorites.”

Gorgeous choice, Rosy! 👑

04/18/2024

Staff Pick of the Week! Lizzie Brandt, Manager of The Collection here at Western Costume, chose this playful piece has her pick this week. Here’s what Lizzie has to say:

“My pick is a fantastic c.1920s playsuit in The Collection. A jaunty jumpsuit in delicate silk, featuring long billowing sleeves and outrageously wide legs embellished in the happiest hand-stitched appliques. The silhouette reminds me of a few of my favorite things… Pierrot, the heartbroken clown of commedia dell’arte, often depicted sitting on a slice of the Moon with a single teardrop, dollybird model and style icon Twiggy in the 1971 Ken Russell film, “The Boy Friend,” David Bowie on stage in cosmic mime splendor, old European carnivals and street performer troupes, marionettes, charming handmade Halloween costumes paired with ballet slippers, legendary London fashion brand, Biba… Don’t we all have a jumpsuit of our dreams?“

Thank you for this thoughtful choice, Lizzie! ✨✨

02/09/2024

Last night’s panel, “How the West was Worn” was a masterclass in the art of Western costume designs. Moderated by the incredible Cate Adair in conversation with costume designers Antoinette Messam (“The Harder They Fall”), Isis Mussenden (“Lawmen: Bass Reeves”), Patia Prouty (“Justified” 2011-2014), and Mary Zophres (“True Grit”). Western Costume Co. was honored to collaborate with the Costume Designers Guild and The Autry Museum on this event. Western Costume got its start costuming Hollywood’s earliest silent Western films – hence the name, Western Costume – so this one was particularly close to our hearts.

01/12/2024

Congratulations to all the incredible nominees of the 26th Costume Designers Guild Awards! 🎉🎉

01/08/2024

Western Costume Company is proud to introduce Gilbert Moussally as our newly appointed President and Chief Executive Officer. Gilbert joined Western in 2018 as the head of the Uniform Department, assuming the role of Vice President of Operations shortly thereafter. His impressive background in the industry, costuming knowledge, and business expertise made him the natural successor to the late Eddie Marks. As we embark on the new chapter under Gilbert’s leadership of this 112-year-old company, there is confidence in his ability to guide Western Costume towards continued success.

12/18/2023

We’ll be closing early on Wednesday, December 20th and reopening January 2nd with a return to regular operating hours of 8 am to 6 pm. Happy Holidays!

11/14/2023

It is with profound sadness that we inform you that longtime Western Costume employee Mauricio Osorio passed away over the weekend. Mauricio was a master leather artisan with extraordinary skills, but more than that, he was our dear friend and colleague. A native of El Salvador, Mauricio trained at his family’s shoe factory before immigrating to America in 1973. He joined Western Costume in 1978 and has been a fixture ever since. Mauricio was known for running our world-class shoe department and crafting footwear that has been featured in countless films and television shows, but we also knew him for his humor, his love of world travel, and the kindness he extended to everyone he interacted with. He’ll be missed more that we can possibly express, and our thoughts are with his beloved wife Delmy, his sons Hugo and Bryan, and his grandchildren Caleb and Raizel.

10/26/2023

A Celebration of the life of Eddie Marks.
RSVP: www.westerncostume.com/eddie

(See map in comments section.)

09/12/2023

It is with great sadness and deepest regret that we inform you of the passing of our president and mentor, Edward Howard Marks. Eddie passed away on September 11, 2023, in Prague.

A life so generously lived deserves to be beautifully remembered. We will keep you informed about his memorial service.

Please keep his family in your thoughts as they go through this difficult time. May his memory be a blessing.

07/14/2023

06/28/2023

Western Costume will be closed on Monday, July 3rd, and Tuesday, July 4th, in observance of Independence Day. Have a fun and safe holiday!

01/30/2023

Have you always wanted to see inside the Western Costume archive? Right now at the Academy Museum you can see some of our pieces on display. Regeneration: Black Cinema 1898-1971 features these fabulous striped suits designed by Helen Rose and originally worn in the Zoot Suit number in Stormy Weather (1943). Western Costume also loaned Sammy Davis, Jr.’s vest to complete his classic look from Porgy and Bess (1959, designed by Irene Sharaff). It’s always exciting to reunite the original pieces of a costume that have long been separated!

01/12/2023

Western Costume will be closed on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day

12/14/2022

Western Costume will be closing for the holidays beginning Friday, Dec. 16 at 11am. We will reopen on Jan. 3. Wishing you all a happy and safe holiday season!

11/29/2022

Be sure to check out the new Knives Out mystery Glass Onion. The Western Costume Millinery Shop helped bring designer Jenny Eagan’s designs to life, creating custom headwear for Kate Hudson, Leslie Odom, Jr., and Daniel Craig.

11/10/2022

Check out the newest section of our website: the Video Vault. Tour our old Melrose building, see the workrooms, and meet the staff in this archive of company videos from the 1950s to the 2010s—maybe you’ll even spot a few familiar faces!
www.WesternCostume.com/video-vault

09/22/2022

Western is open! Thank you for all the support! 💖

09/20/2022

Thank you!!!

09/20/2022

Western Costume was affected by a small fire early this morning. We’re happy to say nobody was injured and the quick response by the LAFD contained it. With that said, access to Western is currently limited while we assess damage. Our clients have access to offices through the front of the building and still have access to their bungalows in the back. Please contact Kristin Holbak at 1-818-631-8788 with questions about accessing your rental space. Thank you!

08/26/2022

Have you visited our new website yet? Check out the updated www.westerncostume.com to view our policies, open accounts, learn our history, shop our Supply Store online, and more!

07/01/2022

Western Costume Co. will be closed on Monday, July 4th. Have a wonderful 3 day weekend!

These dresses were made for FOR THE BOYS (1991) and supposedly contain 100 yards of fabric each! Costumes designed by Wayne Finkelman.

06/06/2022

Remembering the incredible Costume Designer and Illustrator May Routh, who passed away last week. Routh was born in India, where she was raised until age twelve, when her family returned to England. Routh graduated from St. Martin’s in London where she studied fashion design. After graduation, Routh started modeling and through her fashion connections and art background, became a fashion illustrator. Her first job in costumes was assisting Anthony Mendleson on OH! WHAT A LOVELY WAR (1969). Mendleson then recommended Routh to Costume Designer Yvonne Blake, who brought her on as a costume illustrator for THE THREE MUSKETEERS (1973) and THE FOUR MUSKETEERS (1974). While working with Blake, Routh met production designer Brian Eatwell, and the pair married. Eatwell and Routh moved to California, where Routh’s first credit as Costume Designer was THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH (1976) starring the ethereal David Bowie. She went on to design many films, including BEING THERE (1979), SPLASH (1984), and RONIN (1998). Routh spent her later years as an educator. She taught Costume Design at Woodbury University, mentored at Otis College of Art and Design, and volunteered at the Woman’s Club of Hollywood. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Jack Kelly (Christian Bale)
NEWSIES (1992)
Costume design and illustration by May Routh

05/31/2022

"Comedy meets Costume” opens tomorrow! Visit Goldie Hawn’s dress worn in OVERBOARD (1987) along with other costumes and sketches from the film at the Hollywood Heritage Museum. Costume Designer Wayne Finkelman’s designs will be on display June 1st through July 3rd. For more information visit www.hollywoodheritage.org!

Joanna Stayton (Goldie Hawn)
OVERBOARD (1987)
Costume designed by Wayne Winkelman

05/27/2022

Western Costume will be closed Monday in observance of Memorial Day. Have a safe three day weekend!
[Los Angeles Junior Army members collect scrap metal for the war efforts, 1942. Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Times.]

05/16/2022

The Western Costume Supply Store has moved! Now located in a larger space in the back of Western Costume, the Supply Store has the same great products but with more convenient parking and room to browse. Visit the new Supply Store to shop in person or order online at www.wccsupplystore.com. We look forward to seeing you!