Originally born in Australia, John Orry-Kelly moved to New York and went from being Cary Grant's room mate to three-time Academy Award-winning costume designer during his 40 year career in Hollywood.
Having amassed a resume of over 290 films, this former actor found his passion in design and costuming in the 1930's. Working for all the major studios, he contributed to some of the most iconic films in history (42nd Street, The Maltese Falcon, Casablanca, An American in Paris and Sweet Bird of Youth - just to name a few).
Some of Hollywood's most famous women have dawned his fashions.
Having amassed a resume of over 290 films, this former actor found his passion in design and costuming in the 1930's. Working for all the major studios, he contributed to some of the most iconic films in history (42nd Street, The Maltese Falcon, Casablanca, An American in Paris and Sweet Bird of Youth - just to name a few).
Some of Hollywood's most famous women have dawned his fashions.
Mitzi Gaynor - in Les Girlsgown designed by Orry-Kelly
Barbara Stanwyck
Bette Davis
One of the more memorable films early in his career was Fashions of 1934 - now commonly referred to as Fashions. The film starred William Powell as a swindler who bootlegged fashions from Paris and sold them in the United States to the highest bidder. His on-screen costar (once considered to be Orry-Kelly's muse) was Bette Davis who often recreated and sketched the Parisian runway styles from memory.
Keeping company with Travis Banton, Gilbert Adrian, and Edith Head, Orry-Kelly's immense contribution to fashion and film showed a uncompromising vision and true passion for couture.
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