HELEN ROSE, 1904 - 1985. Helen Rose studied in Chicago before journeying to Los Angeles in 1929. She started with Ice Follies costumes and designed musical sequences for Fox under the direction of Fanchon and Marco. She went to Twentieth Century Fox in 1943 and signed with MGM in 1944. Rose stayed with MGM until the 1960s. She was much admired by the stars of the 1950s, especially the younger women she dressed while Irene tended to the more established players. She was considered a strong designer for musicals which had become MGM's focus. Rose's best film work was fashion oriented rather than historically accurate. As a film designer and a fashion designer, she often used the same fabrics for both, despite the fabric being incorrect for period films. Rose’s wedding dresses became a must for the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Ann Blyth, Jane Powell, Debbie Reynolds, and Pier Angeli among others.

1960s Green Chiffon Evening Gown 1950s, Photo Courtesy www.fuzzylizzie.com  

1950s Tweed Suit, Photo courtesy of www.designertrend.com 

Gold Silk Matelesse Beaded Gown with Matching Evening Coat, Photo Courtesy of CoutureAllure 

Just Make Them Beautiful. 

Ca. 1960 Orange Beaded Gown, with Carwash Skirt,Photo courtesy of Deborah Burke, www.antiquedress.com

Academy Award Nominations: 1951: The Great Caruso, 1952 The Merry Widow, 1953 Dream Wife, 1954 Executive Suite , 1955 Interrupted Melody, 1956 The Power and the Prize, 1959 The Gazebo, 1966 Mr. Buddwing.
Academy Awards: 1952: The Bad and the Beautiful, 1955 I'll Cry Tomorrow

Representative Films, 1943 - 1967 : Hello Frisco, Hello, Stormy Weather, Ziegfield Follies ( w/ Irene and Irene Sharaff) , The Harvey Girls ( w/ Irene) , Till the Clouds Roll By, Merton of the Movies, Take Me Out to the Ballgame, The Stratton Story, On the Town, Annie Get Your Gun, Father of the Bride, Summer Stock, Father's Little Dividend, The Great Caruso, The Belle of New York, The Merry Widow, The Bad and the Beautiful, The Million Dollar Mermaid, Dream Wife, Mogambo, Torch Song, The Long, Long Trailer, Rose Marie, Jupiter's Darling, Hit the Deck, Love Me or Leave Me, The Tender Trap, Forbidden Planet, The Swan, High Society, Tea and Sympathy, Designing Woman, Silk Stockings, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Mating Game, Ask Any Girl, Butterfield 8, The Courtship of Eddie's Father.

Stars she costumed: Esther Williams, Celeste Holm, Grace Kelly, Lana Turner, Elizabeth Taylor, Judy Garland, Lucille Ball, Deborah Kerr, Lauren Bacall, Cyd Charisse, Shirley MacClaine, and Susan Hayward.