With the 82^nd Annual Academy Awards quickly approaching, movie aficionados will tune in to see who wins what in the year’s best movies. This got me thinking about what makes a truly memorable movie. Of course, the talent of actors portraying various characters pulls the audience into the story, but so does the cinematography, the musical score and the high-tech special effects. But, all these things aside, one of my favorite parts of the movie watching experience is admiring the costumes created and styled by talented costume designers. Some movie costumes are based in history, transporting us seamlessly to a time gone by – or to a reality we haven’t yet imaged. Other costumes are fantastical, over-the-top and beyond anyone’s wildest dreams, until we see them on the big screen. If you are movie fan like me, you’ll enjoy dressing up like characters from some of these past films that have received an Oscar for “Best Picture”.  

Scarlet O’Hara: A true steel magnolia, the pretty protagonist from the 1939 Best Film winner Gone With The Wind wears the stereotypical Southern Belle costume. From the heavy velvet gown made from Ms. Ellen’s drapes to the delicate, tiered white dress and big sun hat worn at the barbeque, a Scarlet O’Hara costume is definitely for the sassy gal that does give a dang!

 Rocky Balboa: Go the distance this underdog prize fighter from the 1976 Best Film winner, Rocky. Grab a Halloween costume of a boxer complete with silk shorts, a hooded robe (your name spelled out on back) and a pair of red boxing gloves.

 Mozart: The historical biopic, Amadeus, won the 1984 Best Film Oscar and left us with an impression of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart not to be forgotten. Recreate the music, the magic and the madness with a 17^th century aristocratic costume and powdered white wig that transforms you into this famous musical genius.

 Frodo Baggins: In the 2003 Oscar winning movie, Lord of the Rings (Return of the King), hobbit Frodo prepares for the final battle in Middle Earth on his journey to Mt. Doom. Dress in a Frodo Lord of the Rings costume made of cropped brown pants, a hooded cloak, sword and hairy feet!