Behind the scenes: playing dress up to the stars



By Amy Hoban and Danica Tutush

Salma Hayek as Rita Escobar in the Wild Wild West Timothy White/Warner Bros.

When the nasty Dr. Arliss Loveless from this year's Wild Wild West wheels his evil way toward cinemaplex audiences, he'll do it in devilishly wonderful haute couture, thanks to the imagination of one woman, Deborah L. Scott. Winner of the 1998 Academy Award in costume design for Titanic and a 17-year Hollywood veteran, Scott has designed costumes for many popular movies, including E.T, Back to the Future, and Legends of the Fall. Her work will appear next in Patriot (Columbia Pictures), due out in 2000.

To capture the Wild Wild West look, Scott focused on Victorian style for Salma Hayek's role as the mysterious Rita Escobar, whose costumes were dictated by the different roles she took on in different scenes. Using frilly bustiers, she gave Hayek a saloon girl appearance at the beginning of the movie, then by the end, put her in a smart, pink ladies' suit, a period piece modeled after ladies' attire from the 1880s. Kevin Kline, who played the chameleon-like Artemus Gordon, was a fun challenge for Scott, as he sported both ladies' and men's fashions as the film's master of gadgets and disguises. This included a Russian trapper's costume, a gown and wig, and beautiful suits, which Scott says were most true to the period of the film (circa 1869).

Kevin Kline as Artemus Gordon in the Wild Wild West Murray Close/Warner Bros.

Imitating Robert Conrad, who often appeared bare chested as the dashing Jim West in the TV series, Will Smith's costume for his first scene was similar in nature. After narrowly surviving the first of many scraps in the film, Smith grabs a stylish bolero jacket, sans shirt, to make a quick getaway. Scott's favorite look for Smith in the Wild Wild West is a tailored long frockcoat coupled with a tipped black hat and dark sunglasses with rounded lenses.

Kenneth Branagh's wardrobe reflected his character's over-the-top quality as the sinuously southern and spurned Dr. Arliss Loveless. Branagh and his chic lady accomplices -- Miss East, Amazonia, Munitia, and Miss Lippenreider -- mimicked a spider's lair with other worldly touches such as shiny dark fabrics and slick textures. "Each woman's costume was intended to reflect a different culture," explains Scott.

To create the overall feel for the West in 1869, Scott did extensive research on clothing from the period and paired whimsical touches as well as vintage fabrics when possible.

Will Smith as Jim West in the Wild Wild West Timothy White/Warner Bros.

"Everybody loves those two hours in the theater where you can just imagine being there yourself and playing dress up," says Scott. The funny thing, adds Scott, is often times popular fashion reaches back to period costuming for inspiration after the rise of a hit film like the Wild Wild West. So, don't be surprised if you see fashion traces of a modern Jim West or Rita Escobar sometime soon in a store near you.


Copyright ©1999 Cowboys & Indians


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