[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"content_original","fid":"107901","attributes":{"class":"media-image"}}]]
I was given a lot of free reign in creating the costumes for this third outing for The Good Italian. At Caruso, I worked with their wonderful design team to choose the fabrics and pick the styles. We then had fittings where the clothes were tried on everybody also making sure things looked like they were worn, rather than pieces of fashion, so they had a bit of a patina. It was just like working on a normal film except smaller scale, and I was happy to pop in and see them and look through the different fabrics and styles.
The feel I was aiming to evoke is what I call a "remembered past" – not aggressively modern, not too historic, but a fond memory of how things were. It's almost a little bit of a caricature. People watching a film can understand stereotypes and if you can find modern ways of representing these then people can relate to them. In The Good Italian, the hero's hat and his linen jacket are a version of clothing that could be from another time or place. As long as you break it down and make it look worn and as though it fits the person, then it works.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
I think if you're telling a story, which you are, then it's really important for the actors to have real characters, and that you're not doing it just to show the clothes. That's why these little films work so well, because it's not improbable, he [the actor Giancarlo Giannini] really could be the prince of Soragna. When he walks down the street in his glowing white cardigan, I just love how they lit it so he had this glowing white aura.
LINDY HEMMING is an Oscar-winning costume designer who has worked on such films as The Dark Knight, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and multiple James Bond titles. She recently designed the costumes for The Good Italian III – The Magic of Naples, a short film created by Italian menswear brand Caruso; thegooditalian.it
-
Why more men are wearing jewelleryIn Depth Pop culture is boosting interest in earrings and necklaces, alongside classic tie pins and lapel pins
-
Ballet flats: the new men's fashion must-have?Talking point 'Sleek, barely there footwear' is blurring traditional gender divisions
-
Last minute Christmas gifts for menswear loversIn Depth The best holiday season presents for the gentleman in your life
-
Fashion designer Kim Jones: Transforming DiorIn Depth English fashion designer Jones has applied his Midas touch to Dior menswear
-
The history of an icon: The Gant shirtIn Depth Built from one Ukrainian immigrant’s American dream, these shirtmakers soon became pioneers in fit, form, function and print
-
Best foot forward: men’s winter footwear round-upSpeed Read For guaranteed style in the colder months and beyond, choose one, or perhaps two, pairs of these elegant, practical shoes
-
Top form: Polo Ralph LaurenSpeed Read The American fashion designer's most famous garment conveys an air of casual sophistication that stands the test of time
-
Peacocks of Jermyn Street: Turnbull & AsserSpeed Read As tailors to royalty, artists and spies alike, shirts from this British institution make for elegant workwear and stylish weekends
