Moulin Rouge was a high budget movie directed by Baz Luhrmann and released globally in 2001. Set in the 1890s in the Moulin Rouge in Paris, the film is a 'red carpet' theatrical production starrring Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor. Luhrmann and his partner Catherine Martin were first inspired by Bollywood movies when they conceived the project.

The fourteen key Moulin Rouge costumes, props and continuity books, are a magnificent example of the work of a talented team of Australian designers and costumiers working under director, Baz Luhrmann, with his partner Catherine Martin and costume designer Angus Strathie. In all 450 costumes were designed and made for the production and another 350 costumes were hired or 'found' for the eighteen principals and seventy dancers. The film involved many levels of complexity in its development and a large number of talented people in all areas of cinematography, choreography, musical composition, sets, props and costumes. The movie was heavily promoted online, in magazines and publications. The characters represented in this costume selection are Satine played by Nicole Kidman, Christian played by Ewan McGregor, the Unconscious Argentinian played by Jacek Koman, Harold Zidler played by Jim Broadbent, Toulouse Lautrec played by John Leguizamo and five can can dancers.

Black Diamonds is a beaded corselet costume worn by Satine, played by Nicole Kidman whilst singing 'Diamonds are a girl's best friend', on the trapeze. The original design for this costume was a full length skirt, but the beading proved too heavy, so the costume was reduced. Originally a crystal and wire top hat was created, which took a whole week, but was not used after screen tests (can be seen in some of the DVD extras).

The Moulin Rouge costumes are the second group of Luhrmann's film costumes represented in the Museum's collection. The complete set from Luhrmann's first movie 'Strictly Ballroom' was featured in a Powerhouse Museum exhibition in 1991. The exhibition of these costumes, 'Spectacular! Spectacular! On the set of Moulin Rouge', held in 2001 was an enormous success with 10,000 people visiting during the first weekend. The costumes are extravagant and beautifully made and they admirably represent the skills and talents of the many Australians involved.

Black Diamonds is a beaded corselet costume worn by Satine, played by Nicole Kidman whilst singing 'Diamonds are a girl's best friend', on the trapeze. The original design for this costume was a full length skirt, but the beading proved too heavy, so the costume was reduced. Originally a crystal and wire top hat was created, which took a whole week, but was not used after screen tests (can be seen in some of the DVD extras). The beading was worked in India.

450 new costumes were designed by Catherine Martin and Angus Strathie. Catherine Martin came up with a conceptual idea of each character which was then interpreted and developed by Angus Strathie. Martin referred to long term fashion forecasting to decide on themes and colours. Costumes combine a professional theatrical approach to quality and historical silhouette juxtaposed with contemporary fashions and colours. The costumes were not designed to be reproductions of costumes from 1899, but to give enough flavour of contemporary western trends to capture interest and entice us into the past at the Moulin Rouge. Eliza Godman co-ordinated the project, supervising a Sydney team of 40 costumiers, cutters, shoemakers and milliners. Millinery was organised by Rosie Boylan, with Rick McGill and seven milliners. The hair and 85 wigs were designed by Aldo Signoretti. All the main characters wore wigs except Ewan McGregor and John Leguizamo. Make-up was by Maurizio Silvi, costume art finishing by Jason Gibaud, shoes by Jodie Morrison and Donna-May Bolinger.

Black Diamonds is a beaded corselet costume worn by Nicole Kidman as Satine whilst singing 'Diamonds are a girl's best friend', on the trapeze. Satine was the beautiful lead courtesan employed at the Moulin Rouge who was to star in their new show 'Spectacular! Spectacular!' In the 1890s Paris courtesans like Satine were avidly watched by the press and public for their extravagant fashions and flamboyant affairs. The original design for this costume was a full length skirt, but the beading proved too heavy, so the costume was reduced. Originally a crystal and wire top hat was created, which took a whole week, but was not used after screen tests (can be seen in some of the DVD extras).

The costumes, though made in Australia, were owned by Fox Studios who funded the film.

Film costume, Black Diamonds, from the movie, 'Moulin Rouge', various materials, designed by Baz Luhrmann / Catherine Martin / Angus Strathie, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2000

Black Diamonds costume worn by Nicole Kidman, consisting of beaded & sequined corselet, top hat, gloves, panties, shoes and trapeze.

Tailed corselet of black cotton, covered with heavily jewelled net. The corset has 24 bones, fastening with 14 metal eyelets, with 2 black cotton laces, one above and one below the waist. Insert at hips of quilted black satin. There are 2 padded inserts at each breast. There is a wide black satin panel tacked behind the lacing. The neckline at the front and under the arms is edged with black velvet to protect the wearer from the beads. The corset covered with black net, which fastens over lacing with black hook and eyes. Net heavily covered with sequins, bugle beads and paste diamonds of varying sizes in a fish scale pattern - the beading was carried out by workshops in India. Shoulder straps of black fabric covered with paste diamonds. Neckline at front a shallow 'V' created by the neckline being folded out to create pointed lapels of black velvet edged with diamantes. The black velvet is covered with silver sequins, diamantes, beads and jewels forming star-shaped patterns. The back neckline is straight. The base of corset is scalloped forming a gentle point at centre front, with a large number of strings of silver bugle beads hanging in front of the stomach.

The garment has split tails over the hips of black satin covered with black net which is heavily covered with sequins and 4 rows of large scallops of paste diamantes, under each of which is a fringe of strings of silver bugle beads. Edging the front and base of the tails is a black velvet strip, edged with diamantes and covered with jewels in star-shaped patterns to match the lapels. The tails are lined with black satin and fasten together at the top with 2 large hook and eyes and a large press stud.

Top hat of black beaver skin, edged around the brim with ribbed black braid, made by Rosie Boylan. All around the brim runs 3 lines of diamantes in silver settings. The hat is lined with white polyester and there are small tabs of pink woven horsehair protruding from under the lining.

A pair of full arm-length gloves in soft black kid leather. There is an opening at the wrist which fastens with 4 small round black buttons, made by Chester Jefferies.

Pair of black Lycra support panties with high cut leg.

Pair of black suede healed shoes, with pointed toes, decorated with diamantes. The 4"/10cm stiletto heal is also covered in black suede, around the top of the heel is a ring of rectangular cut diamantes set in silver coloured metal. A narrow black suede strap, which fastens with a small silver buckle, runs all the way round the shoe and is fixed on by a piece of leather stuck over it on the sole. There is a border which runs from half way down the outside edge of the shoe, to cross over the upper, which is decorated with silver diamantes of different sizes and 3 star-shaped jewels set with diamantes.

Black trapeze swing used by Satine in Black Diamonds scene. The large black metal bar has black fabric covered rope suspended from each end by a large bolt fastening. Lower down the ropes are covered with padded black velvet which is dotted with large diamantes and clear paste jewels. Tied around this are two large black tassels and two large metallic silver tassels on black twisted cord. At the base of the black ropes is a cross-bar of metal covered in black velvet, which has a diamante pattern and a large metallic silver tassel suspended from a black wooden ball on each end.

Designed: Luhrmann, Baz; Sydney, New South Wales; 2000

Designed: Martin, Catherine; Sydney, New South Wales; 2000

Designed: Strathie, Angus; Sydney, New South Wales; 2000

Used: Kidman, Nicole; Sydney, New South Wales; 2000

Owned: Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation; ; 2000

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2000