Susan Claassen as Edith Head. Photos courtesy of Susan Claassen.
(Not Quite) In Her Own Words
Edith Head died in 1981 at the age of 83. Her legacy lives on through her work, and her attitude lives on thanks, in part, to Susan Claassen.
Claassen is a longtime actor who parlayed her resemblance to Head into a recurring gig portraying the Hollywood designer, with help from Head biographer Paddy Calistro. She visited the Decorative Arts Center in character in May for a Q&A and curator tour just prior to the exhibition’s opening.
Some of Claassen-as-Head’s wisdom includes:
“I tell them, ‘I’m not different; I’m just the best.’”
–On questions about what made her design style different from others’
“I have a theory that once you have taught, you can do anything.”
–On her history as a teacher prior to making it big in Hollywood
“Mr. Greer said he had never seen so much talent in one portfolio.”
–On an interview with costume designer Howard Greer, who didn’t know Head had “borrowed” much of the material in her portfolio
“I think it was the first time a star loved their costume so much, they ate it.”
–On her first gig designing floral attire for an elephant in The Wanderer
“There was not a costume in which she could lie, bend or sit.”
–On the signature style of Mae West
“All eight of them are named ‘Oscar.’”
–On the most important men in her life
