Carole Lombard .org

The following article gives some insight into Carole’s daily life while preparing for the screen. Hope you find it worth your reading.

There are ten steps in the creation of every costume that appears on the screen, it was revealed recently in an interview granted by Travis Banton, studio gown designer.

Take as an example, the satin and sequin evening ensemble in which Carole Lombard appears in one of the scenes of Paramount’s “Sinners in the Sun” which is being shown at the Rite theater for two days, beginning today.

This gown was created by Banton especially for the scene in which it is worn by Miss Lombard and the interviewer induced Designer Banton to outline the elaborate and circuitous details in the creation of this particular gown as an illustration of the care taken by Paramount to have the gowns worn by their stars correct in every detail. The ten steps are as follows:

1. Banton receives the final script on “Sinners in the Sun.” He reads carefully and compiles a list of the number and type of costumes required by the script.

2. He holds a conference with Miss Lombard, the director, and the cameraman as to the type of costumes they prefer. Special attention is given to the outfit to be worn in the climactic scenes of the picture.

3. A sketch in water colors of the most important costume is made by Banton. Complete details of colors, lines and accents are shown in this sketch.

4. The sketch is submitted to the director and Miss Lombard for a final okay.

5. After - the okay is received, Banton instructs the studio shopper to purchase ten yards of pearl white satin, six yards of black satin and twenty yards of massed silver sequins.

6. When material is delivered, Banton holds a conference with the head fitter, who supervises all the seamstress work on the costume.

7. Next day, Miss Lombard arrives for the first fitting. The gown of white satin and scarf of sequins is basted and pinned carefully to the lines of her figure. The wrap of sequins, lined with black satin, is fitted for length and drapery. Banton closely supervises all fittings.

8. Another conference is held with the fitter if any small changes have been decided -upon during the first fitting.

9. The second and final fitting is held the following day.

10. The gown is worn by Miss Lombard on the set where the cameraman takes a careful look at it under the various lights to ascertain the best illumination and angles.

(Travis Banton, Gown Designer, Describes Ten Steps Taken In Creation Of Screen Costumes, The Big Spring, Texas Daily Herald, June 19, 1933)

The gown Lombard is wearing in the photo above was designed by Banton but do you think it is the one referred to in the article? It seems to fit the description.

It should also be noted that in later years Lombard wouldn’t approve Banton’s sketches. Whatever he came up with was good enough for her.