Quotes

On being a costume designer: A strange happened. I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the flowing garments worn by Vivien Leigh. People can look so beautiful in clothes. 'I said to myself.' 'There is a mystery to costume.' And that's when it started.'

On being a costume designer for Geraldine Page: I made three outfits for Gerry-a negligee, a robe and a beaded navy blue evening dress with a lighter front because a bird's stomach is always lighter than it's back. So there you had Tennessee Williams writing, Geraldine Page and Paul Newman acting, and I thought 'Where do I go from here?'

On being a Broadway costume designer: You don't take over a show. What you do is enhance it, because the costumes are there to serve a producer's vision, director's viewpoint and, most importantly, an actor's comfort. To me, good design is design you're not aware of.

On "A Chorus Line:" I just borrowed from what they brought. I took it as a compliment if people thought, 'Well, they're wearing their own clothes.'

Once an actress went overboard with notes to me about how she doesn't wear pink. I told her, Well don't wear it home then, sweetie. This is the theater.' You kind of have to humor them. If you can't love actors, you shouldn't be a costume designer.