Cate Blanchett's favorite designer Romance Was Born (seen in photos on this page modeling their designs), comprised of the Sydney duo Luke Sales and Anna Plunkett, entered the world of costume design last spring. Blanchett and husband Andrew Upton, the co-artistic directors of Sydney Theatre Company, invited Romance Was Born to design costumes for their production of Edward Gant's Amazing Feats of Lonliness, written by award-winning Scottish playwright Anthony Neilson, that played at La Boite theatre in Brisbane in May 2011 and again at STC’s Wharf Theatre in June 2011. As an article in Bazaar magazine last April points out: "Leading fashion designers have long been associated with the performing arts. Last year in Rome, the Museo della Fondazione hosted an exhibition featuring costumes and sketches by designers including those of Coco Chanel for Diaghilev’s 1924 ballet Le Train Bleu, and
several creations made for opera: Gianni Versace’s costumes for Salome and Capriccio; Missoni’s designs for Lucia di Lammermoor; Giorgio Armani’s for Cosi Fan Tutte, and Romeo Gigli’s costumes for Mozart’s The Magic Flute. In New York last year, Verdi’s dark opera Attila featured costumes by Prada. Tom Ford, Christian Lacroix, Isaac Mizrahi, Manolo Blahnik, Valentino and Alexander McQueen have all designed for ballet, opera, film and stage. Karl Lagerfeld, Giles Deacon, Toni Maticevski, Narciso Rodriguez and Marc Jacobs have all designed for dance." See for yourself here. [Source] More about Romance Was Born after the jump.
"Founded in 2005, Romance Was Born has been lauded as one of the brightest, most visionary labels set to shape Australia’s fashion future. Australian design duo Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales created the label Romance Was Born 5 years ago after becoming friends studying fashion together at East Sydney Technical College. Their RAFW show for Spring Summer 2009-10, 'Doilies and Pearls, Oysters and Shells', Romance Was Born created an ode to grannies in an underwater wonderland at The Sydney Theatre Company. The attention to detail have enabled them to develop a truly unique brand with an unmistakable aesthetic. Fresh inspiration abounds from collaborations with a network of Australian artists and their community of treasured creatives, including Archibald winner Del Kathryn Barton from 2005-2008 to create their signature prints and most recently for Spring Summer 2009-10 with Perth artist Patrick Doherty and indigenous artist Esme Timbery. Their witty, imaginative style and handcrafted aesthetic have found them a stellar following, with Cate Blanchett naming Romance Was Born as one of her favourite labels, and rock royalty Deborah Harry, Cyndi Lauper, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Bat for Lashes and M.I.A. among those to sport their one-off ensembles on international stages. Romance was born took out this year’s L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival Designer Award presented by Woolmark. As winners of this prestigious award. Most recently Romance was born won the SOYA award in the fashion category along with the recognition the award came with a valued mentorship with The Zimmerman sisters." [Source]
"Founded in 2005, Romance Was Born has been lauded as one of the brightest, most visionary labels set to shape Australia’s fashion future. Australian design duo Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales created the label Romance Was Born 5 years ago after becoming friends studying fashion together at East Sydney Technical College. Their RAFW show for Spring Summer 2009-10, 'Doilies and Pearls, Oysters and Shells', Romance Was Born created an ode to grannies in an underwater wonderland at The Sydney Theatre Company. The attention to detail have enabled them to develop a truly unique brand with an unmistakable aesthetic. Fresh inspiration abounds from collaborations with a network of Australian artists and their community of treasured creatives, including Archibald winner Del Kathryn Barton from 2005-2008 to create their signature prints and most recently for Spring Summer 2009-10 with Perth artist Patrick Doherty and indigenous artist Esme Timbery. Their witty, imaginative style and handcrafted aesthetic have found them a stellar following, with Cate Blanchett naming Romance Was Born as one of her favourite labels, and rock royalty Deborah Harry, Cyndi Lauper, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Bat for Lashes and M.I.A. among those to sport their one-off ensembles on international stages. Romance was born took out this year’s L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival Designer Award presented by Woolmark. As winners of this prestigious award. Most recently Romance was born won the SOYA award in the fashion category along with the recognition the award came with a valued mentorship with The Zimmerman sisters." [Source]
