Ellen Mirojnick
Ellen Mirojnick has enjoyed a career that has so far spanned over thirty years designing costumes for a whole host of movies such as Wall Street, Basic Instinct and Face/Off.
She reunites with director Oliver Stone and leading man Michael Douglas for the sequel Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps. I caught up with her to talk about working on the movie and what lies ahead.
- You have worked with director Oliver Stone in the past, designing for Wall Street back in 1987, so how did you two get together?
I interviewed with Oliver in 1987 . We were introduced by his producer, Alex Ho and the production designer, Mel Bourne.
After reading a partial script, we had another meeting where he offered me the job. It was at the beginning of my costume design career and he was coming off of great success with Platoon
- What is your working relationship like with him? How closely do you work together is he very hands on in bringing ideas to the table?
Our working relationship is solid. As the costume designer, I translate the story and characters to a visual landscape.
That imagery is essential to our story telling reality.Oliver and I review and discuss the character choices continually.Our working relationship is built on a history of trust.
It is a given, that I will give Oliver what he needs to fully actualize the film.
- How has Wall Street trader attire evolved since the first film?
I found that the change became “Stealth Wealth”. Men were now accustomed to spending lots and lots of MONEY… Individual Satorical Style was bespoke, polished, muscular and RICH.
A man’s attire was individualized with fine, expensive accessories, especially the watch. It could be Big, or Wafer Thin, Gold, Platnium, or Diamonds . At the end of the day, It’s about POWER, who has it .. and how to get it..
- The movie is set in the summer of 2008, the beginning of the crash, so were there any ideas to have costumes that reflected the economic climate?
The film begins in the spring 2008, before the crash . The costumes didn’t reflect the economic climate ,because we weren’t there yet.
The costumes only begin to adjustment based on the story. The film’s timeline does not delve into the recession. In retrospect , no one could have really predicted what the economic climate was to become.
- Michael Gekko is back so how did you go about designing his look this time around?
My interpretation of Gordon Gekko in Wall Street 2 is that of an outsider and a shark swimming around the emotional content of the story.
Continually circling the story, drawing us in, until he has an opportunity to attack and feed.
Thus, the next incarnation of Gordon Gekko, the machavillain trickster emerges, reclaiming his signature style, while reclaiming his title as the King of Sharkdom.
- You have obviously worked with Michael Douglas before so what is he like to dress as is he collaborative - does he come with ideas of his own?
I have worked with Michael Douglas on many films. When people work together over a long period of time, you develop a trust and a short hand.
That being said, each time, is a new story, character and experience that requires different solutions.
Michael, always brings his thoughts to the table .He is an open and generous actor. But ,he expects you to be at the top of your game.
- And what about the look of Shia LaBeouf - there’s a lot of bespoke clothing?
Shia LaBoeuf’s clothing is all bespoke. Jacob is hip, he is rich, and he wants it all, he is a Man on a Mission.
The cut of his suits have a purposeful sharp silhouette. Every decision about the proportion and perception was made to serve the character, the story and ultimately the actor.
- Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps has a huge male cast so how exciting was it to get your hands on Carey Mulligan, who plays Winnie? And what was you idea for her look in the movie?
Everything is exciting ,the whole cast was great and I love designing menswear.
When it came to Winnie, she was a challenge as a character. She was brought up in a wealthy enviorment,she had everything money could buy.
Presently, she disowns it all. She was almost anti money, anti fashion. She had taste and opinions ,but fashion was never important.
She was more interested in uncovering the truth and reporting it than being on the cover of Vogue.
For her character,we made choices that were stylish ,classical and had a modern twist The combinations were designed to create a cool urban casualness.
We chose a vintage Oscar De La Renta , for the Bull and Bears Met Ball. It was glorious on Carey. It was the only choice she would make in that setting, because it would have been her mother’s.
- You have worked on a whole host of movies of the years so what do you look for in a project?
A great story, great characters, and a director who has a vision.
- How did you get into the world of costume design in the first place, is it something that has always interested you?
I was a fashion designer first . My husband was in the film business and I was looking for something new to do.
He was working on a film in New Orleans. I went to visit, the film didn’t have a costume designer,I took on the challenge ,the rest Is history.
- You have worked on so many movies is there any one that’s your favourite or any particular costume that you are really proud of?
I am proud of everything I’ve created in every film. However, I would have to say my favorite accomplishment was creating Gordon Gekko, and the White Dress that Sharon Stone wore in Basic Instinct. The stars aligned with those creations and both became iconic.
- Finally what’s next for you?
More films, and launching a limited edition men’s made to measure shirt collection, ‘Leading Man by Mirojnick and Kurland Built by Anto”.
'Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps is out on Blu-ray Triple play and DVD on 31st January. Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment’
Ellen Mirojnick has enjoyed a career that has so far spanned over thirty years designing costumes for a whole host of movies such as Wall Street, Basic Instinct and Face/Off.
She reunites with director Oliver Stone and leading man Michael Douglas for the sequel Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps. I caught up with her to talk about working on the movie and what lies ahead.
- You have worked with director Oliver Stone in the past, designing for Wall Street back in 1987, so how did you two get together?
I interviewed with Oliver in 1987 . We were introduced by his producer, Alex Ho and the production designer, Mel Bourne.
After reading a partial script, we had another meeting where he offered me the job. It was at the beginning of my costume design career and he was coming off of great success with Platoon
- What is your working relationship like with him? How closely do you work together is he very hands on in bringing ideas to the table?
Our working relationship is solid. As the costume designer, I translate the story and characters to a visual landscape.
That imagery is essential to our story telling reality.Oliver and I review and discuss the character choices continually.Our working relationship is built on a history of trust.
It is a given, that I will give Oliver what he needs to fully actualize the film.
- How has Wall Street trader attire evolved since the first film?
I found that the change became “Stealth Wealth”. Men were now accustomed to spending lots and lots of MONEY… Individual Satorical Style was bespoke, polished, muscular and RICH.
A man’s attire was individualized with fine, expensive accessories, especially the watch. It could be Big, or Wafer Thin, Gold, Platnium, or Diamonds . At the end of the day, It’s about POWER, who has it .. and how to get it..
- The movie is set in the summer of 2008, the beginning of the crash, so were there any ideas to have costumes that reflected the economic climate?
The film begins in the spring 2008, before the crash . The costumes didn’t reflect the economic climate ,because we weren’t there yet.
The costumes only begin to adjustment based on the story. The film’s timeline does not delve into the recession. In retrospect , no one could have really predicted what the economic climate was to become.
- Michael Gekko is back so how did you go about designing his look this time around?
My interpretation of Gordon Gekko in Wall Street 2 is that of an outsider and a shark swimming around the emotional content of the story.
Continually circling the story, drawing us in, until he has an opportunity to attack and feed.
Thus, the next incarnation of Gordon Gekko, the machavillain trickster emerges, reclaiming his signature style, while reclaiming his title as the King of Sharkdom.
- You have obviously worked with Michael Douglas before so what is he like to dress as is he collaborative - does he come with ideas of his own?
I have worked with Michael Douglas on many films. When people work together over a long period of time, you develop a trust and a short hand.
That being said, each time, is a new story, character and experience that requires different solutions.
Michael, always brings his thoughts to the table .He is an open and generous actor. But ,he expects you to be at the top of your game.
- And what about the look of Shia LaBeouf - there’s a lot of bespoke clothing?
Shia LaBoeuf’s clothing is all bespoke. Jacob is hip, he is rich, and he wants it all, he is a Man on a Mission.
The cut of his suits have a purposeful sharp silhouette. Every decision about the proportion and perception was made to serve the character, the story and ultimately the actor.
- Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps has a huge male cast so how exciting was it to get your hands on Carey Mulligan, who plays Winnie? And what was you idea for her look in the movie?