Hitchcock's Heroines

Book excerpt: Explore the legacy of Alfred Hitchcock’s leading ladies—their iconic roles, unforgettable costumes, and complicated relationships with the man behind the camera. Whether she is played by Tippi Hedren, Grace Kelly, or Ingrid Bergman, the heroine of an Alfred Hitchcock picture is always the same: stylish, regal, with an elegant yet icy demeanor that masks a fire inside. From his early days as a director in the 1920s to his heyday as the Master of Suspense in the 1960s, Hitchcock had a complicated and controversial relationship with his leading ladies. He supervised their hair, their makeup, their wardrobe, pushing them to create his perfect vision onscreen. Yet these women were also style icons in their own right, and the clothes they wore imbued the films with contemporary glamour. From Kim Novak’s gray suit in Vertigo to Janet Leigh’s thematically symbolic lingerie in Psycho, these actresses and their clothes broke barriers, made history, and transfixed audiences around the world. In this book, Caroline Young chronicles six decades of glamorous style, exploring the fashion legacy of these amazing women and their experiences working with Hitchcock. Meticulously researched and beautifully illustrated with studio pictures, film stills, and original drawings of the costume designs, this book offers revealing insight into a fascinating period of movie history and the relationships between one of its leading directors and his female stars.