Year of Jane Russell: Day 198

Here’s a costume test dated 10/31/1952 of an outfit designed by Travilla for the scene when Jane and Marilyn first arrive on the ship. By the time of filming, the costume would be completely changed. 

Year of Jane Russell: Day 197

This photo of Jane’s costume #2 in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is a simple brown slip, which she is never shown wearing in the film.  The accompanying paperwork states that the slip is laying on a chair with the shoes on the ground, which is reflected in the final film and shows just how much attention to detail goes into productions. 

In the film, Jane grabs the slip off the chair reaches into the slip to pull out the straps. When she does this, the slip does appear to have boning, so even though Jane is not wearing the straps in the photo, I do think it’s the same slip that’s in the film. 

Also visible hanging from Jane’s truck is a brown crepe dress that we’ll see a few scenes later. 

I love how she ends the scene by casually throwing it over her shoulder. 

Year of Jane Russell: Day 196

For the next couple of weeks, I’ll be highlighting many of Jane’s costumes from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, designed by William Travillia. I was fortunate enough to obtain many of Jane’s costume test photos and while I don’t have the pic from the “Little Rock” number, I do have this studio sheet describing it. 

Year of Jane Russell: Day 193

One of my favorite discoveries that did not make it into the book was the Lohmuller Co. threatening to sue 20th Century Fox for infringing on their patent for multiple panel, mechanically operated, electric automatic controlled, contour theatre curtains in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. The threats do not appear to have been successful.