Bill Hargate Explained

Bill Hargate (1935–2003) was an American costume designer, known for his work on stage and screen. He won four Emmy Awards, including one for his work on the series Murphy Brown.[1] Hargate was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1935.[2] He attended the Goodman School of Drama in Chicago, Illinois from 1953 to 1958. Hargate died from leukemia in Los Angeles on September 12, 2003.

Career

Hargate began his career in St. Louis, where he did costume design, particularly for productions by the St. Louis Municipal Opera in the early 1960s. Then, Hargate worked with Theoni V. Aldredge and Donald Brooks on Broadway. In the late 1960s, Hargate went to Hollywood to work on Star! (1968) with Brooks. In the 1970s, Hargate transitioned to working on television, starting at NBC's Burbank Studios where he worked on hundreds of costumes each week for NBC's programs. Next, he moved on to costuming for Universal Studios.[3] In 1979, Hargate designed costumes for the Broadway revivals of Peter Pan and Oklahoma!.[4]

Starting in the 1980s, Hargate worked as a freelance designer for television shows and specials. For his costume design, he was nominated for twelve and won four Emmys. In 1985, Hargate opened Bill Hargate Costumes, a business which makes and rents costumes for film, television, stage productions, and awards shows.[5]

Best-known work

With his work for Murphy Brown, Hargate created an iconic look. He dressed actress Candice Bergen in trendsetting, modern career looks, using colorful blazers, short skirts, and high heels. This look, especially the red silk blazer in the first episode, was emulated by New York fashion collections for years. He modeled the costumes of Bergen's co-star, Faith Ford, off the dress code of Miss America pageant winners. In 1997, Hargate began costuming the Miss America pageant itself.

Later in his career, Hargate also dressed celebrities for special events. He dressed Annie Potts, Kim Basinger, Barbara Mandrell, Ethel Merman and Mary Tyler Moore for various awards shows. For the 1992 Academy Awards, his dress for Geena Davis was widely commented upon (and criticized).[6] [7]

Hargate received the Aldo Award from the Menswear Association of America in 1995 and the Costume Designers Guild's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001.

Television work

Bill Hargate costumed the following productions:[8] [9]

Notes and References

  1. http://libguides.depaul.edu/ld.php?content_id=14883482 Bill Hargate Papers
  2. News: TV TRENDSETTERS: TOP PERSONALITIES GIVE FASHION A BOOST. White. Jackie. July 14, 1994. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. LexisNexis.
  3. News: Bill Hargate (Obituary). October 9, 2003. LexisNexis. Variety.
  4. News: B. Hargate, 68; Costume Designer for 'Murphy Brown' Won 4 Emmys. Rourke. Mary. 2003-09-19. 2017-02-27. en-US. 0458-3035. Los Angeles Times.
  5. News: Costume Guild lauds Hargate. McNary. Dave. February 2, 2001. Variety. LexisNexis.
  6. News: Picks and pans of Oscar night style statements. SFGate. 2017-02-28.
  7. Web site: Oscars' Worst Dressed of All Time!. Us Weekly. 5 March 2010 . 2017-02-28.
  8. News: Bill Hargate Biography and Filmography. Staff. Hollywood.com. 2014-06-11. Hollywood.com. 2017-02-27. en-US.
  9. News: Bill Hargate Television Academy. Television Academy. 2017-02-28. en.
  10. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0362903/awards?ref_=nm_awd Bill Hargate Awards at IMDb

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