And the envelope will soon go to....

The 2013 Academy Award nominations were announced this  morning and two of my favorite style categories are always of interest. Here are the nominees for  Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design -- congrats to all!

Best Costume Design

Anna Karenina

Jacqueline Durran

Lincoln

Joanna Johnston

Mirror Mirror

Eiko Ishioka

Les Miserables

Paco Delgado

Snow White and the Huntsman

Colleen Atwood

Best Art Direction

Anna Karenina

Sarah Greenwood, Production Designer

Katie Spencer, Set Decoration

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Dan Hennah, Production Design

Ra Vincent and Simon Bright, Set Decoration

Les Miserables

Eve Stewart, Production Design

Anna Lynch-Robinson

Life Of Pi

David Gropman, Production Design

Anna Pinnock, Set Decoration

Lincoln

Rick Carter, Production Design

Jim Erickson, Set Decoration

The Academy Awards will air Sunday, February 24th. Until then, get your awards and red carpet fix this Sunday, January 13th and watch the Golden Globes.

Photo Credits: Universal, Twentieth Century Fox, Focus Features, Warner Brothers, Disney

Russian Imperial Style: Anna K

The romantic saga of the ill fated Anna Karenina has played out on film, television and even operas --- this time around director Joe Wright envisioned a different twist and portrayed the epic on a "beautiful decaying theatre" in 1870's Russia via a soundstage at London's Shepperton Studios.

Wright teamed once again with production designer Sarah Greenwood and set decorator Katie Spencer (the trio worked on the period dramas Atonement and Pride & Prejudice) who created the social worlds of St. Petersburg and Moscow in the late 1800s to period perfection in an exhausting 12 week timeframe.

The love affair hits theaters Friday, November 16th. Read more in my piece for The Hollywood Reporter, "$50 Million, 100 Sets and One Stage: The Visual Splendor of Anna Karenina."

Greenwood was influenced by the popular 1935 Anna K version starring Greta Garbo

Anna K's Vivien Leigh in 1948

Keira Knightley in the 2012 version

Shepperton studio set with copy of heaven room mural at UK's Burghley House

Russian Imperial furnishings for the master bedroom on the theatre stage set

Ice skating rink was one of the many different types of staged sets that included horse races, opera houses, ballrooms and train stations 

God is in the Details:  Period Perfect Accessories

Leo Tolstoy's novel of society and adultery also influenced Banana Republic's fall collection for 2012 Inspired by the work of costume designer Jacqueline Durran, the collection's key fashion notes are faux fur, lace, brocade and velvet in rich burgandy, merlot and black. The Holiday 76 piece line is available for both men and women.

Banana Republic's Anna K Fall collection above and below

Photo Credits: Focus Features, Banana Republic

On My Radar for Fall

Fall is absolutely the best time of year as it signifies a new season of movie releases, Broadway plays, football, television series premieres and of course, Vogue's September issue:)

I will be covering many if these in articles and blog posts in the upcoming weeks...until then, mark your calendars and set your Tivos for a few things on my radar.....

The Good Wife

Diane Lockhart and Alicia Florrick's wardrobes are starting to rival the sets for my attention on his highly addictive legal drama. Season Four premieres Sunday, September 30th and 11 million viewers will be glued to their sets. And speaking of sets, look for the new launch of The Good Wife home furnishings and accessories line with Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams and Interlude Home (which will be available on Horchow). Designed in conjunction with set decorator Beth Kushnick, your home or office can have a piece of the show (love the Diane chair!). Now if CBS will just come out with a line of Lockhart Couture I will be very  happy.

Nashville

Sex, power, love, family, betrayal, music and all in my hometown. They have been filming everywhere from my mother's neighborhood to downtown and in between and the Music City is certainly enjoying it's time in the spotlight. Early buzz is the show will be a huge hit. The series stars Connie Brittain, Hayden Panettiere and Powers Boothe. Catch the All About Eve country style saga on ABC on Wednesday,  October 10th.

666 Park Avenue

Also premiering on Sunday, September 30th (hope my Tivo doesn't overheat) is ABC's 666 Park Avenue which is touted as Rosemary's Baby meets The Shining. A young couple move into the coveted address and mystery ensues as the residents make a deal with the devil to get what they want? Sound familiar?  The series stars Vanessa Williams. Terry O'Quinn and Dave Annable from Brothers and Sisters. My friend Andy Baseman who did the fabulous Park Avenue sets for The Nanny Diaries  decorated the show so you know it will be good. No word yet if Mia Farrow makes an appearance...

Anna Karenina

Keira Knightley stars as Anna K in the age old story of a Russian aristocrat who has an affair with a count (played by Jude Law).  The epic film is slated for November 16th release and look for lots of period eye candy. From the sneak peak I have seen so far, the sets and costumes are nothing short of magnificent and designed by Academy Award winning production designer Sarah Greenwood and set decorator Katie Spencer (Pride and Prejudice) and costume designer Jacqueline Dorran. Film design and commerce collide once again as Dorran inked a deal with retailer Banana Republic for a 19th Century Russia line (just in time for the holidays).

The Girl

Well you know this is going to be good -- HBO's biopic on director Alfred Hitchcock and his strange fixation on actress Tippi Hedren and their collaboration on the films The Birds and Marnie. Starring Toby Jones as the famed director and Sienna Miller as his muse, The Girl debuts October 20th. 

And a quick note, if you are in the San Francisco area on Wednesday, September 19th, I will be lecturing on the subject of interior design on film at the Lee Jofa showroom at the San Francisco Design Center at 11 a.m. followed by a book signing of Designs on Film. Look forward to seeing you there!


Photo Credits: HBO, CBS, Banana Republic, Focus Features, ABC