"Water for Elephants" costume designer Jacqueline West talks to Vogue (Rob Mention)

Where did you look for inspiration for the costumes in Water for Elephants?

I looked in many places: I watched so many 1930s films like Polly of the Circus, Dinner at Eight and Red Dust. There was also a fabulous book by [Edward J] Kelty, called Step Right This Way, in which he documented 1920s and 30s circus life at rest and at play. Depression photographer [Mike] Disfarmer was also a wonderful inspiration for the 1930s circus ‘rubes’ or circus-goers. And Sara Gruen’s book [on which the film is based], of course, with her vivid descriptions of a romantic but difficult life in a Depression-era circus.

How closely do you work with actors?

Reese was very involved with creating a look for Marlena with [director] Francis [Lawrence] and me. We watched 30s films together and pored over hundreds of stills. She studied women’s postures, stances, body language. They even smoked differently. Rob [Pattinson] was wonderful in that way too.

Which of Reese Witherspoon’s glamorous looks is your favourite, and why?

I think it was the red dress. Those bias-cut evening gowns from this period are one of my favourite fashion looks of all time. They are constructed from one point on a woman’s body and the front and back must be in perfect balance from there. They are so slinky and must be worn without undergarments. To be perfect they must reveal all the most beautiful parts of the feminine form without really revealing anything at all. The fabric was silk satin from France with the perfect drape, and it had to be just the right red.

Read More: vogue.com.au

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