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. This costume for the Unconscious Argentinian was worn by Jacek Koman.

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.

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.

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

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

The Unconscious Argentinian, Roxanne Tango Outfit, worn by Jacek Koman, consisting of short jacket, waistcoat, trousers, string vest, two earrings, bronze cross, two leather cuffs and a pair of boots.

Short black wool Spanish matador style jacket. The jacket is waist length with a slight point at the centre back waist. There are 2 pockets at the front. The lapels are long and curved and lined with ribbed silk. The sleeves, lapels and centre front corners are all edged with black braid and buttons in scalloped patterns. Some of the braid is stuck onto panels and then attached to the jacket; the reverse of the jacket also has a large braided motif on the centre back, near the base.
The jacket is lined with black polyester and has no fastenings.

A waistcoat of red laser-cut suede, with a rounded, low-cut front and stand-up collar. The front base hem is rounded and the back reaches a shallow point. Around the whole neckline and covering the front panels the red suede is cut so that the black suede below is revealed, thin strips of pink suede have then been stitched onto the black suede. These patterns are all edged with a line of black stitching. The waistcoat fastens with 3 black frogged toggles. All the edges are finished with black braid. The waistcoat is lined with black polyester.

Black wool high waisted, slightly flared trousers in a Spanish style. The trousers have a false vent from just below the knee, which is edged with matching braid to the jacket. Fly buttons with 5 black plastic buttons and one black hook and eye. There are 2 tabs and a buckle at the back, to bring in the waist. The waistband is lined with black cotton and the top of the trousers are lined with black polyester. There are 6 black plastic buttons for the braces - 2 at centre back and 2 at each side of the front. There are 2 small black plastic buttons inside the centre front to button the trousers onto the shirt to prevent it riding up.

Black cotton string vest, with low cut neckline and very wide armholes.

A pair of small bronze coloured metal plain hoops for pierced ears.

Bronze cross on a short plain looped bronze chain, which fastens with a simple bronze clasp. The cross has a narrow line engraved around the edge of the front side.

A matching pair of black leather cuffs. They are shaped to fit the arm and so are wider at the top. They fasten with lacing down one side, through brass eyelets.

Black leather ankle boots, with a cut-work design applied around the foot and heel in a more highly polished leather than the rest of the boot. There is a black elasticated insert at both ankles and tabs at the top of the boot and the back and front. There is a 1½"/4cm heel.

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: Koman, Jacek; Sydney, New South Wales; 2000

Owned: Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation;

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2008/199/11

2000