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Quiz about Edith Head  Little Lady Behind the Big Glasses
Quiz about Edith Head  Little Lady Behind the Big Glasses

Edith Head: Little Lady Behind the Big Glasses Quiz


Edith Head is iconic in cinema history. Her genius and talent epitomize the Golden Age of Hollywood. Edith has been immortalized in movies, theater, literature, a Barbie Collector's Edition and she's even mentioned in an alternative rock song!

A multiple-choice quiz by sally0malley. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
sally0malley
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
367,101
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
498
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. Which character in the 2004 Disney/Pixar film "The Incredibles" was inspired by Edith? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Reluctant to discuss her childhood, in her autobiography "Dress Doctor" she revealed her father's failed business attempt. Ironically, what type of business was it? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Edith recognized that Alfred Hitchcock was an artist who painted pictures in his films, and color was just as important to him as any other artist. In the 1958 film "Vertigo", Kim Novak's characters Judy/Madeleine underwent a psychological change dramatically shown in Edith's creations. What design did Novak initially refuse to wear because she thought it made her appear "washed out and tired", but later agreed to after Edith's clever convincing? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. In Chapter Two of "How to Dress for Success", Edith offered advice on how to use fashion to attract a man. Which of these statements was NOT included in her "formula" for success? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Edith's personal style was thought to be a bit eccentric. Which of her "trademarks" actually had a practical purpose? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Edith often kept the lines simple in her 1950s and 1960s creations to insure that her designs would "stand the test of time". What classic look did Edith create for Grace Kelly in 1954 and redesign for Tippi Hedren in 1963? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Edith Head worked outside of Hollywood, designing uniforms for international airlines, creating "Vogue" patterns that rivaled Paris fashions, appeared on television to give hints to American housewives, and wrote columns in many of the day's top fashion magazines.


Question 8 of 10
8. Who wrote the foreword to Edith Head's autobiography "Edith Head's Hollywood"? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. Edith often quipped that her job was "a cross between camouflage and magic". What two creations for Audrey Hepburn and Dorothy Lamour not only became signature looks but also groundbreaking fashion trends? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Edith had a unique talent for translating personalities into creations. Which character, famous for her leopard lounge-wear and matching turban, did she admit was the most challenging of her career? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 09 2024 : Guest 172: 7/10
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quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Which character in the 2004 Disney/Pixar film "The Incredibles" was inspired by Edith?

Answer: Edna Mode

Edna Mode (voiced by Brad Bird) was half-Japanese and half-German. She was energetic, talented and demanding, with big glasses and a severe boyish hairstyle complete with bangs (fringe). The character was quite reminiscent of Edith! Edna felt superior to all other designers.

She had little use for runway boutiques and modern fashion models, saying supermodels were "spoiled, stupid little stick-figures with poofy lips who think only about themselves". For safety reasons, she was against capes in her new designs for the Parr family because any superhero who had a cape got killed or trapped.
2. Reluctant to discuss her childhood, in her autobiography "Dress Doctor" she revealed her father's failed business attempt. Ironically, what type of business was it?

Answer: haberdashery

Max Posener took out a $1,500 promissory note from the San Bernardino National Bank to set up a haberdashery. It failed within a year. When the bank sued, Max's stock and fixtures were sold for a fraction of their worth. He later left town. Jane Kesner Ardmore, who co-wrote Head's autobiography said, "Edith was strictly today and tomorrow.

She didn't like thinking about yesterday". Edith found it very painful to admit her mother had remarried.
3. Edith recognized that Alfred Hitchcock was an artist who painted pictures in his films, and color was just as important to him as any other artist. In the 1958 film "Vertigo", Kim Novak's characters Judy/Madeleine underwent a psychological change dramatically shown in Edith's creations. What design did Novak initially refuse to wear because she thought it made her appear "washed out and tired", but later agreed to after Edith's clever convincing?

Answer: a dove gray tailored suit

During her meeting with Edith she announced, "I don't wear suits and I don't wear gray". In addition, she disliked wearing a bra and thought the suit was "too restrictive". Edith knew the simple gray suit was integral because it represented the character's view of herself in the first half of the film.

After going through a psychological change in the second half of the film, she wore more colorful clothes to reflect the change. Hitchcock also wanted the character to look as though she emerged from the San Francisco fog so the color was a must! Edith cleverly selected samples of fabrics and textures (all gray) knowing the suit could be made of any of them and suggested Novak pick the fabric.

She made the star feel as though they were "designing" together.
4. In Chapter Two of "How to Dress for Success", Edith offered advice on how to use fashion to attract a man. Which of these statements was NOT included in her "formula" for success?

Answer: Choose a wardrobe that pleases you--if you like it he will too!

She advised, "Choose your wardrobe to please him and suit his way of life". Edith believed men married covered girls, not Cover Girls, and urged women to maintain a bit of mystery while dating. Edith advised ladies to discover a potential partner's interests, idiosyncrasies, likes and dislikes, and shop for new clothes with him in mind.

She cautioned ladies to be sure deep down about the kind of man they wanted, and if one didn't fit the bill, find another man!
5. Edith's personal style was thought to be a bit eccentric. Which of her "trademarks" actually had a practical purpose?

Answer: oversized blue tinted glasses

Looking through a blue glass was a common trick of costumers in the days of black and white film; it helped them to get a sense of how a color would photograph. Edith had a pair of glasses made out of the proper shade of blue glass to save herself from looking through a single lens.
6. Edith often kept the lines simple in her 1950s and 1960s creations to insure that her designs would "stand the test of time". What classic look did Edith create for Grace Kelly in 1954 and redesign for Tippi Hedren in 1963?

Answer: eau de nil green city suit

The eau de nil (water of the Nile) green suit worn by Grace Kelly in "Rear Window" was the forerunner of Tippi's green suit worn in "The Birds". Tippi's had a more structured look.
7. Edith Head worked outside of Hollywood, designing uniforms for international airlines, creating "Vogue" patterns that rivaled Paris fashions, appeared on television to give hints to American housewives, and wrote columns in many of the day's top fashion magazines.

Answer: True

With so many book deals and TV appearances, many studio executives felt she was "hogging the spotlight". In 1967, Paramount allowed her contract to expire without offering a renewal. At her departure, she had been a Paramount employee longer than anyone else in the studio's history except its founder, Adolph Zukor.
8. Who wrote the foreword to Edith Head's autobiography "Edith Head's Hollywood"?

Answer: Bette Davis

"Edith Head's Hollywood" was published two years after her death in 1981. In the foreword, Bette Davis praised her for making clothes to suit a character instead of just showcasing designs. Bette said, "For her the character always came first".
9. Edith often quipped that her job was "a cross between camouflage and magic". What two creations for Audrey Hepburn and Dorothy Lamour not only became signature looks but also groundbreaking fashion trends?

Answer: toreador pants and sarong

Edith said when Lamour became a star so did the sarong. The public wanted the new fashion, and swimsuit companies created knock-offs. The sarong Edith Head designed impacted the swimsuit fashion of the 1930s, and the sarong has remained in style ever since. Audrey Hepburn's figure was seen by some as "boyish" and "gangly" with her long neck, broad shoulders and slim hips.

Instead of padding, Edith created pants that would flatter and be fun. Nowadays we may call them capri pants, but they are just as popular.
10. Edith had a unique talent for translating personalities into creations. Which character, famous for her leopard lounge-wear and matching turban, did she admit was the most challenging of her career?

Answer: Norma Desmond

Norma Desmond, portrayed by Gloria Swanson in "Sunset Boulevard", was an aging silent film star whose career had faded and was forgotten by her fans, but she still had illusions of a comeback. Edith said, "Because Norma Desmond was an actress who had become lost in her own imagination, I tried to make her look like she was always impersonating someone".
Source: Author sally0malley

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Pagiedamon before going online.
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