How Elvira Inspired Winona Ryder’s ‘Ghost House’ Costume in ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’

As a longtime admirer and follower of Colleen Atwood’s exceptional work, it is truly inspiring to witness her continued collaboration with Tim Burton and her unparalleled talent in bringing his unique visions to life. Her ability to breathe new life into iconic characters, such as Lydia Deetz and Beetlejuice, while simultaneously creating fresh, captivating designs for the afterlife inhabitants of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” is nothing short of awe-inspiring.

35 years later, viewers encounter Winona Ryder’s character, Lydia Deetz, at the start of “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

Currently, Lydia is the presenter for the spooky reality series called “Ghost House,” where she frequently encounters the crude spirit Beetlejuice in her live audience. As revealed by costume designer Colleen Atwood, Lydia’s on-screen attire was designed to embody none other than Elvira, the mistress of the macabre. Atwood explained, “We aimed to evoke that particular character for Lydia’s television show. I discovered that dress at a second-hand store. It was a simple jersey dress, and I made adjustments to it by enhancing the cleavage and giving it a unique twist.

As a movie enthusiast, I was thrilled to receive the Creative Impact award in costume design from EbMaster at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival. In my conversation with EbMaster, I expressed that I never take my success for granted and always remain humble, knowing that a call from director Tim Burton is never guaranteed.

“You never know what can happen,” she told the audience of aspiring storytellers. But having worked together on over a dozen projects, Burton almost always turns to her when assembling his team of artisans. Atwood has worked as his go-to costume designer on over a dozen projects including “Edward Scissorhands,” “Mars Attack” and Netflix’s “Wednesday.” Burton invited her to his London home and informed her he was going to be working on the sequel to 1988’s “Beetlejuice,” “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.”

Besides Ryder and Keaton, original cast member Catherine O’Hara joins once more in the wacky supernatural sequel. Atwood’s costume design for these characters was straightforward. “It was about who they had evolved into,” she explained. “It’s like peering at your family, those peculiar relatives of yours,” she added.

In the 1988 film Beetlejuice, it wasn’t Atwood who created the initial costumes; instead, Aggie Guerard Rodgers was responsible for that. However, when it came to designing the iconic striped white and black outfit for Beetlejuice, Atwood crafted a new version. She deliberately made it appear moldy to represent his time in the Afterlife and gave it an aged look. Atwood explained, “Beetlejuice is a bit seedy and he’s gotten older. When I first met Michael, he was in excellent physical condition, so I decided, ‘We’re giving him a stomach.'” She added that the character had likely been idle for quite some time prior to this point.

In their partnership, Atwood discussed Burton’s approach towards costumes: “He has a deep appreciation for materials, many of which he personally endorses,” she explained. “I observe his response to these, and then I create pieces that reflect his favorable reactions.

Collaborating with Burton on the afterlife character costumes involved brainstorming unique ways each character met their demise and visualizing those scenarios. The appearances ranged from replicating Houdini’s water torture trick while drowning, to being hit by a car, or even being devoured by a shark. As Atwood explained, it was crucial to depict the method of death clearly and immediately.

How Elvira Inspired Winona Ryder’s ‘Ghost House’ Costume in ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’

2024-11-05 00:46

How Elvira Inspired Winona Ryder’s ‘Ghost House’ Costume in ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’

Read More

Minority Mindset