Marit Allen | |
|---|---|
| Born | 17 September 1941 Cheshire, England |
| Died | 26 November 2007(2007-11-26) (aged 66) Sydney, Australia |
| Alma mater | University of Grenoble |
| Occupation(s) | fashion journalist costume designer |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
Marit Allen (17 September 1941 – 26 November 2007) was an English fashion journalist andcostume designer. In a career spanning over three decades, she is recognized for her prolific work across film and television. She was nominated for anAcademy Award in the categoryBest Costume Design for the film La Vie en Rose (2007). Her work appears in such notable films asDirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988),The Witches(1990),Mrs. Doubtfire (1993),Eyes Wide Shut (1999), andBrokeback Mountain (2005).[1]
Allen was born on September 17, 1941, inCheshire, England, to a Norwegian mother and an English father. She was a pupil atAdcote School, an independent girls' boarding school in Shropshire between 1951 and 1959. She then graduated from theUniversity of Grenoble in France.[1]
Allen's career in fashion began in 1961 when she took a job as a trainee atQueen Magazine.[1] She quickly became editor and writer for the 'About 20' young fashion section of the magazine, which she used to showcase young design talent and innovative photography.[2] In 1964, when the editor ofQueen,Beatrix Miller, went to editBritish Vogue, she took Allen with her. ForVogue, Allen founded the 'Young Idea' pages which continued to champion up-and-coming innovative young designers such asJohn Bates andFoale and Tuffin.[3] Allen's layouts were also original, including a spread based on theBatman comic strip in June 1966.[4] She occasionally modeled for her own articles, and wore the designs she featured.[3][4] For her 1966 wedding to the film producerSandy Lieberson, Allen wore an ultra-modern mini-dress and coat trimmed with silver vinyl designed by John Bates.[5] Allen remained atVogue until 1973.[1] She also helped to establish the bachelor's degree program in journalism atCentral St. Martin's Art College in 1973.[1]
Allen was persuaded to enter the costume-designing business for film by directorNicolas Roeg after her successful career in fashion journalism.[1] Following her entry into costume design, Allen worked on the costumes for a number of Roeg's movies,includingDon't Look Now,The Witches andEureka.[1]
Allen also developed a working relationship with Taiwanese film director,Ang Lee. The two collaborated to create the costumes for a number of Ang's major films, includingHulk,Brokeback Mountain andRide with the Devil.[1]
Allen's other noted films includedLa Vie En Rose (2007), for which she received her soleOscar nomination,Love in the Time of Cholera (2007),Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988),Dead Man (1995), andLittle Shop of Horrors (1986).[1]
In addition to her Oscar nomination, Allen was honoured for her work with twoEmmy nominations, as well as aCostume Designers Guild award and aBAFTA for her work onLa Vie En Rose.[1]
Allen died of abrain aneurysm inSydney, Australia, on 26 November 2007, at the age of 66.[1] She had three children: Lucy, Ben, and Holly.
At the time of her death, she worked with Australian filmmakerGeorge Miller on pre-production of his never-made filmJustice League: Mortal.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
| Other | |
