THE ART OF BECOMING A FANTASY: TRISHA BIGGAR
HOMAGE TO A MASQUERADE BEAUTY
The impressions made by things of exceptional beauty live on even after their original life or purpose is over. As we approach Halloween, focused on the beauty of masks and costumes, we simply can’t get the ones we saw in Emerald City out of our minds.
Elaborate, fantastical and like nothing we’ve seen before we were instantly captivated by costume designer Trisha Biggar’s incredible creations for the short-lived fantasy television series.
Developed by Matthew Arnold and Josh Friedman, Emerald City was based on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and subsequent Oz books by L. Frank Baum. Directed by Tarsem Singh and starring Adria Arjona, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Ana Ularu and Vincent D'Onofrio, the modern tv extrapolation of this classic tale fuses a contemporary Dorothy, carried by a contemporary tornado, from the small town of Lucas, Kansas to a mystical new world.
Like it’s predecessor tale, Emerald City is the story of a young woman finding her true strength and identity while she navigates the forces of good and evil.
Rich fantasy, classic rivalries, epic journeys, and romance were illustrated at least as much by what the characters wore as by anything else. Many feel that Biggar was the real star of the show.
Epic, romantic and fantastical, "Emerald City" is an empowering tale of a young woman finding her true strength and identity even as she battles to bring a divided world together.
Before Emerald City, Scottish-born Biggar was best known for her magnificent Star Wars costumes. She was the former Head of Costume Design at Lucasfilm.
All of the costumes in Emerald City were visually powerful, with striking use of color, bold shapes, and extravagant detail. Her masks, however, were beyond outstanding.
Lady Ev, one of the main Emerald City characters, wore most of the masks in the show. Her face is always hidden from view -- the mystery as to why is only revealed at the end of the series.
Biggar designed 12 masks, in all, for Lady Ev, each with intricate detail, unparalleled craftsmanship, and innovative design.
Beginning with a scan of the Lady Ev’s head and shoulders to make a high density foam replica, Biggar and her team were able to design and craft each mask with a perfect comfortable fit while taking liberty with the look.
It took a team of 10 artisans, working around the world, in Budapest, Spain and other European countries to make Biggar’s vision come alive with metalwork, 3-D printing, millinery, leathercraft, embroidery, and bead work.
Working with intricate filigree metal, feathers, Swarovski gems, vintage lace, beads, felt, leather, shells, and other findings, the team created works of wonder.
In one episode, Lady Ev attended an event where hundreds of people work masks -- each hand-painted.
While Biggar’s Star Wars costumes are on display at the Smithsonian, and other institutions around the world, her Emerald City costumes now sit in storage in Budapest.
Check out Biggar’s book, “Dressing a Galaxy: The Costumes of Star Wars,” which shows the glory and ornate detail of her sci-fi costume legacy. We can’t wait to see what Biggar is designing next.
Read more about Beautiful Masquerades in The Most Beautiful Costume Game, Costume Envy: Princess Lockerooo, and These Sweet Halloween Treats Last a Lifetime.
And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Mind/Body, Soul/Impact, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Arts/Design, and Place/Time, Daily Fix posts.
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IMAGE CREDITS:
- Image: Lady Ev (Stefanie Martini) and the Wizard (Vincent D'Onofrio) in a scene from “Emerald City.” Costumes designed by Trisha Biggar. Courtesy of NBC.
- Image: Lady Ev (Stefanie Martini) in a scene from “Emerald City.” Costume designed by Trisha Biggar. Courtesy of NBC.
- Image: East (Florence Kasumba) in a scene from “Emerald City.” Costume designed by Trisha Biggar. Courtesy of NBC.
- Image: Lady Ev (Stefanie Martini) in a scene from “Emerald City.” Mask designed by Trisha Biggar. Courtesy of NBC.
- Image: Lady Ev (Stefanie Martini) in a scene from “Emerald City.” Mask designed by Trisha Biggar. Courtesy of NBC.
- Image: Lady Ev (Stefanie Martini) in a scene from “Emerald City.” Mask designed by Trisha Biggar. Courtesy of NBC.
- Image: The cast of “Emerald City” wearing costumes designed by Trisha Biggar. Courtesy of NBC.
- Image: Lady Ev (Stefanie Martini) in a scene from “Emerald City.” Mask designed by Trisha Biggar. Courtesy of NBC.
- Image: Lady Ev (Stefanie Martini) with a guard in a scene from “Emerald City.” Costumes designed by Trisha Biggar. Courtesy of NBC.
- Image: East (Florence Kasumba), Glinda (Joely Richardson) and West (Ana Ularu) in a scene from “Emerald City.” Costumes designed by Trisha Biggar. Courtesy of NBC.
- Image: Eamonn (Mido Hamada) in a scene from “Emerald City.” Costume designed by Trisha Biggar. Courtesy of NBC.
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- Image: Glinda (Joely Richardson), the Wizard (Vincent D'Onofrio), Dorothy Gale (Adria Arjona) and Lucas (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) in a scene from “Emerald City.” Costumes designed by Trisha Biggar. Courtesy of NBC.