Eric Richardson

Costumes from "Alice in Wonderland," by designer Colleen Atwood

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — The public will have their first chance to get up close and personal with costumes from some of the year's biggest films on Tuesday as the 19th annual "Art of Motion Picture Costume Design" exhibition opens at the FIDM Museum & Galleries.

The show is the only one of its kind in the world, and FIDM spokesman Nick Verreos thinks that more people need to know about it. At a media preview on Monday, he implored those in Hollywood and on the Westside to come Downtown to visit the show.

"It's not just for fashionistas," the Project Runway star continued. "Straight boys can come here too."

The show includes work from four of the five Academy Award Costume Design Nominees—"Alice in Wonderland," "The King's Speech," "The Tempest," and "True Grit"—as well as four of the films nominated for Best Picture—"Inception," "The Kids Are All Right," "The King's Speech" and "True Grit."

The pieces on display are the actual ones used in the films. The mannequins used in the displays are shaped to match each actor's figure.

While the work of a costume designer is easy to see in a fanciful film like "Alice in Wonderland," Verreos noted that the work of a designer like FIDM-grad Mary Claire Hannan of "The Kids Are All Right" is best if it is never noticed. "If it looks seamless, she's done her job," he said.

So who will get the Oscar for Costume Design? Verreos believes it will be between Colleen Atwood's work on "Alice in Wonderland" and Sandy Powell's for "The Tempest." Each has nine nominations in her career. Atwood has two Oscar wins, while Powell has taken home the trophy three times.

The show is free to visit and runs through April 30, 2011. It is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm. FIDM is located at 919 S. Grand, and the Museum & Galleries are accessed off of Grand Hope Park.