That’s Not My Age Podcast: Award-Winning Costume Designer Sandy Powell
Sandy Powell photo: BAFTA
After a longer than intended hiatus (it was meant to be a ‘slow’ podcast, but not this slow…), the That’s Not My Age podcast is back with a magnificent guest. One of my Style Heroines, the Academy-Award-winning costume designer Sandy Powell. With three Oscars on her South London mantlepiece, for: Shakespeare in Love (1999), The Aviator (2005) and The Young Victoria (2010), Powell’s creative talent is undoubtable. Beginning in 1992 with a nomination for Orlando, directed by Sally Potter and starring Tilda Swinton, she has been nominated for 15 Academy Awards and 16 Baftas, across her career. The 60-year-old costume designer has worked on over 40 films including five Martin Scorsese flicks, probably because, ‘Scorsese is a shoe man. He always gets in a good shot of the shoes.’ As well as behind the scenes on iconic fashion movies such as Todd Haynes’ Far From Heaven, Velvet Goldmine and Carol; and The Favourite by Yorgos Latimos (Olivia Coleman won an Oscar for her performance as Queen Anne).
Sandy Powell earlier this year in her signed suit
Earlier this year, Powell was nominated for her work on Scorsese’s The Irishman. Following Bafta’s ‘sustainable ceremony 2020’ suggestion, she uncovered the toile made for a trouser suit for the 2019 Oscars and armed with a Sharpie, wore the calico two-piece to this year’s awards ceremonies where she asked the great and the good of the film industry to sign the suit to raise money for Derek Jarman’s Prospect Cottage. Continuing her philanthropic work, Powell is now raising funds for the charity Refuge with the help of Chiara Menage founder of the website Menage Modern Vintage.
Like many of us during lockdown, the award-winning costume designer had time to sort out her old clothes, ‘My work takes me away on location for months at a time. Lockdown forced me to spend time at home and gave me the opportunity to breathe, think and catch up with my life,’ Powell says, ‘I realised I was fortunate to be in a secure position during lockdown, but at the same time I was becoming aware of the rise in cases of domestic abuse and how awful it must be for some people to be trapped at home. We chose Refuge as the best way to help people in these terrifying situations, to overcome abuse and rebuild their lives.’
The Sandy Powell Collection featuring red carpet dresses, vintage pieces, designer shoes and a couple of her trademark jackets is available online at Menage Modern Vintage from today. Prices start at £55. All the proceeds go to Refuge.
The That’s Not My Age podcast is now recorded using a web-based application on my computer. This is our first remote recording, and it is odd not being in a room with someone, not seeing a person’s facial expression or knowing if they’re about to continue talking…But it also means we can go global. Stay tuned!
PODCAST LINKS
Listen to the podcast on Spotify HERE
Listen to Apple Podcasts HERE
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We’re also on Stitcher, Podtail, Poddtoppen, and Google Podcasts.
PODCAST CREDITS
Producer and audio engineer: Linda Ara-Tebaldi
Host: Alyson Walsh
Guest: Sandy Powell
Music: David Schweitzer
Artwork: Ayumi Takahashi
Coordinator: Helen Johnson
Discussion (7 Comments)
Now that would be fantastic. She’s very busy and filming non-stop at the minute but maybe one day….
Jean Shaw says:
This was great. She is amazing–and how wonderful that costume designers don’t get shown the door when they reach 65.
I enjoyed this conversation with Sandy, such a fashion professional. I am listening to podcasts for enjoyment and education. I also listen to Suzy Menkes, Creative Conversations. Thanks for doing this Alyson. It’s a welcome break from the news.
Mrs Tonia says:
Glad that the podcasts have returned and feature someone like Sandy Powell. I admire her work and also the idea of her new donation project to help women.
Good costume designers can keep working. My sister is in this group and in demand. Though the film and television industries have been stricken because of Coronavirus and difficulties of working on huge group projects with necessary social distancing.
But there are glimmers of hope.I’m late to the party as far as podcasts go and yours is my first. We’ve managed to get away for a week, so I’m binge listening, while I can!. I’m loving the mixture of topics, I’m finding them both inspiring and educational. I particularly loved Michelle Ogundehin’s great advice regarding colour schemes and how important it is to invest in a quality flooring – so very true. I’m also going to check Debbie Bliss’s yarns and patterns. I used to knit years ago, very basic stuff, but I enjoyed it, so, this has given me the initiative to pick it up again. I’m a massive Martin Scorsese fan so have followed Sandy Powell’s career as a costume designer. for a good while – such a talented lady. It was great hearing what she’s been up to, and giving us an insight into her world. This is such a thankful break from what’s happening right now. I can’t wait to listen to the rest. Many thanks to you.
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I remember watching an Oscars ceremony some years back and a woman came forward to get her award – she looked like a million dollars and had stand-out style among the vanilla wear of the night’s stars. I kept wondering who she was and what she was wearing – this is her! Could we please have a wardrobe visit with Sandy at some point when restrictions permit?