A costume job well done

When I think of great Hollywood costume designers, I immediately think of famous designers like Edith Head or Adrian. William Travilla is a name I had not heard of before, but of course I know his designs. Travilla is probably best known for his work in the 1950s when he was under contract to Twentieth Century-Fox. He is mainly associated with Marilyn Monroe, having dressed her in eight of her films (best remembered are his iconic dresses from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) and The Seven Year Itch (1955)).

Prior to working for Twentieth Century-Fox, Travilla had worked at Warner Bros. for three years. One of the films he did at Warner Bros. was the swashbuckler Adventures of Don Juan (1949), starring Errol Flynn. On 4 May 1948, while Don Juan was still in production, Errol Flynn sent a telegram to Travilla regarding his work on the film. Flynn couldn't have known then that two years later, on 23 March 1950, his pal would be awarded the Oscar for Best Costume Design (along with colleagues Leah Rhodes and Marjorie Best). It would be the only Oscar of Travilla's career.

Via: glamamor

Transcript: 

LOSANGELES CALIF MAY 4 1948

BILLIE TRAVILLA
WARNER BROS WARDROBE DEPT=

DEAR BILL YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY HAPPY TO HAVE HEARD THE PRAISES FOR YOUR DON JUAN JOB NO COSTUME TO EQUAL HAS EVER BEEN SEEN ETC YOU NOW HAVE OTHER FANATIC BOOSTERS BESIDES YOUR PAL=

FLYNN.