Cutting-Edge Looks

The Title: “Edward Scissorhands”

The Script: A wistful fairy tale about young Scissorhands (Johnny Depp, pictured here), a fantasy man created by a dotty old “Inventor” (Vincent Price). Kind-hearted Avon Lady, Peg Boggs (Dianne Wiest) takes him home to pastel-painted, super-suburbia. Edward--with razor-sharp scissors for hands--snips, clips and pricks the sensibilities of neighbors, and the heart of Boggs’ daughter Kim (Winona Ryder).

The Look: An inspired if exaggerated ‘60s-mixed-with-’70s look by costume designer Colleen Atwood. Wiest wears boxy suits, low-heel pumps and pill box hats in First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy vein. Edward’s patchwork body suit is made of vinyl, rubber sheeting and patent leather, accented by ornate buckles from the Victorian era. “Like in children’s fairy-tale illustrations,” Atwood explains. She accentuated outfits using sequins as well as over-scaled ribbons and bows. Polyester waffle-weave leisure suits dress most of the male characters. Female characters wear a riot of thrift-shop reject look-alikes, all designed by Atwood.