'Sweeney' Costumes on Display

According to L.A. Downtown News, costumes worn by Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter in the Sweeney Todd film are part of a display of movie costumes hosted by the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandise.

Turning the first corner, all eyes go to the emerald green silk charmeuse (a satin-like fabric) dress from Atonement earning raves for Oscar nominee Jacqueline Durran. Across from that are mannequins dressed in black and gray period costumes that Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter wore in Sweeney Todd.

What's surprising are some of the other outfits with bold candy stripes, bright pink and royal blue. Where were those in Tim Burton's dark film?

"The costumes were used for a fantasy sequence: Mrs. Lovitt's escape world," said Colleen Atwood, a two-time Academy Award winner for Chicago and Memoirs of a Geisha, by email from Chicago where she is on location for Public Enemies.Atwood obviously enjoys working with Burton; she's joined him on six other films. "Tim is an artist and has a great eye," she said. "He enjoys seeing what all of us come up with. His movies always have a great sense of play."

Depp, like many top actors, has a provision in his contract that permits him to keep his costumes. He agreed to loan FIDM his Sweeney Todd outfit, which Atwood brought to the museum just in time for the Jan. 28 opening.

The Art of Motion Picture Costume Design exhibit runs through April 12 at the FIDM Museum and Gallery on Grand Avenue in Los Angeles. Visit the museum's web site for more information.