Colleen Atwood (One Battle After Another), Paul Tazewell (Wicked: For Good) and Kate Hawley (Frankenstein) were the main winners at the 28th Costume Designers Guild Awards on Thursday night.
In the television category, Cameron Lennox won best picture for “The Studio,” and Michael Wilkinson won for “Andor.”
For the first time in the Guild’s history, there was a tie for the Excellence Award in the short story design category. Rafaela Rabinovich won for “Dandyland” Episode 10, and Michelle Martini CDG won for Super Bowl “Uber Eats: A Century of Craving.”
Hawley, who won an award for Excellence in Historical Drama for Frankenstein, thanked Guillermo del Toro, saying, “If it wasn’t for him, I would have given up several times… I’m so happy that he’s here to bless and support all of us and our artistic process.”
Actor Courtney Hope, who plays Sally Spectra on The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful, hosted the evening and congratulated special honorees Michelle Cole, James Cameron, Kate Hudson and Teyana Taylor.
Taylor, who won the Vanguard Spotlight Award, said, “Costume design has always been more important than fashion. In my life, it’s storytelling. Before a character speaks, what they’re wearing already tells a story about who they are, their strength, their vulnerability, and their journey. That kind of visual language has inspired me since I was a little girl.” Taylor continued, “This award represents creative freedom, the freedom to take risks, push boundaries, honor where you come from and continue to evolve into the next generation of creatives.”
Mr. Cole, a board member, thanked Terry Gordon, president of the guild, and said, “They are fighting for each and every one of you designers.”
Tazewell, who won the Excellence in Science Fiction/Fantasy award for Wicked: For Good, called her win a full-circle moment. “Experiencing the journey of creating the costumes and looks for the worlds of Wicked and Wicked has changed my life in so many profound ways.”
Hudson received the Spotlight Award, which recognizes actors whose talents and careers exemplify an enduring commitment to excellence, including special recognition of the role and importance of costume design. While accepting the award on stage, Hudson recalled his earliest memories of being “sitting on the floor of a Hollywood studio, surrounded by every scene imaginable, looking down at me, these giants, my amazing mother, and the incredible and iconic Bob Mackie who designed for her both in life and on film.” She further added, “Seeing that level of artistry as a kid, it was magic.” She added that she wanted to work with everyone there and joked, “I promise it’s really fun to work with. I’m great at collaborating and I always take notes. I don’t mind saying no, but I remain in awe of your work.”
Cole received the Career Achievement Award, which recognizes individuals whose costume design careers have left an indelible mark on film and television.
The evening’s Outstanding Collaborator Award was presented to James Cameron by Deborah L. Scott. This award recognizes individuals whose outstanding skills and contributions have significantly advanced the art and craft of costume design. We focus on the behind-the-scenes professionals whose dedication and expertise are essential to the storytelling process through costume design.
Cameron, who has worked with Scott for more than 30 years, looked back on his time making Titanic. “Deborah had to dress 2,200 extras. So you can look at it in terms of the scale of the job: costumes for first, second and third class passengers and all the crew. But especially when all the costumes came back submerged in the water. I think you can imagine the scale of that project when it was still usable. The Titanic itself sank once for the movie, so we had to soak the tuxedos and everything night after night.” ”
Prime Minister Cameron concluded his speech by saying, “In an era of the onslaught of AI, these awards and this community that celebrates the art of design are so important.” He also added, “AI doesn’t sew.”
See the complete list of winners below.
Excellence in contemporary cinema
“Bugonia” – Jennifer Johnson, CDG
“F1 The Movie” – Julian Day, CDG
“One Battle After Another” – Colleen Atwood, CDG (winner)
“Wake Up Dead Man: Knives Out Mystery” – Jenny Egan, CDG
“Weapons” – Trish Somerville, CDG
Excellence in period films
“Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” – Anna Mary Scott Robbins
“Frankenstein” – Kate Hawley, CDG (winner)
“Hamnet” – Malgosia Trzanska, CDG
“Header” – Lindsay Pugh
“Sinners” – Ruth E. Carter, CDG
Excellent works in science fiction/fantasy films
“Avatar: Fire and Ashes” – Deborah L. Scott, CDG
“How to Train Your Dragon” – Lindsay Pugh
“Thunderbolts*” – Sanja Milkovic Hayes, CDG
“Tron: Ares” – Christine Bieselin Clark, CDG & Alix Friedberg, CDG
“Wicked: For Good” – Paul Tazewell, CDG (winner)
Excellence in modern television
“Emily in Paris” – Veni, Vidi, Venice – Marilyn Fitussi
“Hax” – Heaven – Kathleen Felix Hager, CDG
“Jewel of Righteousness” – You threw me into the depths, into the very heart.
Of the Seas – Christina Flannery, CDG
“The Studio” – CinemaCon – Kameron Lennox, CDG (winner)
“Wednesday” – Woe Me The Money – Colleen Atwood, CDG & Mark Sutherland
Excellence in historical drama television
“1923” – Dreams and Memories – Janie Bryant, CDG & Gabby Acosta, CDG
“Chief of War” – City of Flowers – Caroline Ethelin Schaefer, CDG
“House of Guinness” – Episode 4 – Edward K. Gibbon
“Palm Royale” – Maxine is ready for a single mingle – Alix Friedberg, CDG &
Lee Bell, CDG (winner)
“The Gilded Age” – Marriage is a gamble – Kasia Walicka Maimone
Excellent work in science fiction/fantasy television
“Andor” – Harvest – Michael Wilkinson, CDG – (Winner)
“Black Mirror” – USS Callister: Into Infinity – Matthew Price
“Murderbot” – FreeCommerce – Carrie Grace, CDG & Laura Jean Shannon, CDG
“The Wheel of Time” – He Who Comes with the Dawn – Sharon Gilham
“The Witcher” – Baptism of Fire – Lucinda Wright
Excellence in Variety, Reality Contests, and Live Television
“Dancing with the Stars” – Premiere – Stephen Norman Lee, CDG, Daniela
Guschwendtner, CDG
“Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special” – Tom Brecker, CDG, Christina
Nativida, Ashley Dudek (winner)
“The Masked Singer” – Lucky 6: Fusion of Masks – Stephen Norman Lee
CDG & Luke D’Alessandro, CDG
“Traitors” – Until Death Do Us Part – Sam Spector, CDG, Ricky Finlay
“Wicked: One Wonderful Night” – Katja Cahill, CDG
Excellent short form design
Spike Jonze’s “Someday”: AirPods 4 – Kym Barrett, CDG
“Dandyland” Episode 10 ~Rafaela Rabinovich~ (WINNER)
“Lady Gaga: The Dead Dance” (Music Video) – Colleen Atwood, CDG
“Batman vs. Bateman: State Farm” – Anette Cseri, CDG
“Uber Eats: A Century of Cravings” – Super Bowl – Michelle Martini, CDG (winner)
Excellence in costume illustrations
“On a Fast Horse” – Eduardo Lucero, CDG Illustrator
“Palm Royale” – Oksana Nedavniaya, CDG Illustrator
“Sinners” – Felipe Sanchez, CDG Illustrator (winner)
“Weapons” – Oksana Nedavniaya, CDG Illustrator
