Celebrate PRIDE Month with these LGBTQ costumes from the big and small screen on display...

Visibility and representation matters, and in this day and age when people are trying to eliminate DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion), challenge hard-fought rights, brand our content unsafe to watch and eradicate trans people, it matters even more. For this PRIDE Month I thought I'd share some screen-used costumes from LGBTQ movies and television shows that celebrate gay, lesbian and transgender icons and queer stories.

Elton John costumes from Rocketman

First up are these movie costumes from 2019's Elton John biopic, Rocketman, which starred Taron Egerton as the out and proud music legend.

Fans of the British singer, songwriter, pianist and HIV/AIDS activist can also enjoy these other Rocketman film costumes previously temporarily on display the Downtown LA's FIDM Museum.

Billie Jean King film costume

from Battle of the Sexes

Next up is another LGBTQ icon, this time from the world of sports, tennis champ Billie Jean King's costume from the 2017 movie, Battle of the Sexes.

Emma Stone played the lesbian tennis legend and trailblazer in this retelling of the 1973 tennis match between her and male ex-champ Bobby Riggs.

You can also check out more sporty costumes from Battle of the Sexes previously on display at ArcLight Hollywood cinema and the FIDM Museum.

Carol film costume exhibit

For more lesbian fare, here's a cool costume exhibit at the ArcLight Hollywood for the 2015 historical romantic drama, Carol, which starred Cate Blanchett as the titular character and Rooney Mara as her lover, based on Patricia Highsmith's 1952 novel, The Price of Salt.

Be sure to get a closer look at these Carol film costumes designed by Sandy Powell on display.

Milk movie costume exhibit

Having just celebrated Harvey Milk Day on May 22, I'd be remiss not to share these screen-worn costumes from the 2008 biopic, Milk, the story of the murdered proud activist and first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1977.

This important and symbolic victory for the LGBT community was marred by his assassination, but his legacy and inspiration lives on.

The acclaimed film won two Oscars, Best Actor for Sean Penn for his portrayal as the gay pioneer and the other of gay writer Dustin Lance Black for Best Original Screenplay.

Be sure to check out more Milk movie costumes and props on display, in addition to these on display at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Phastos film costume from Eternals

In 2021 Brian Tyree Henry played the MCU's first openly gay superhero as 'Phastos' in Marvel Studios Eternals movie.

Not only did the genius wield the cosmic powers of technopathy and invention, but he was shown in a committed gay relationship raising a child together.

Be sure to check out more screen-worn costumes from Eternals on display at Hollywood's El Capitan Theatre.

King Valkyrie film costume

from Thor: Love and Thunder

Even though Phastos was depicted as openly gay on the big screen, Tessa Thompson's bisexual 'Valkyrie' actually made her debut in 2017's Thor: Ragnarok, reprising her powerful role in subsequent Avengers and Thor movies.

If you're a fan of the MCU character make sure you check out her other Valkyrie film costumes on display.

The Danish Girl movie costume exhibit

I know that some people criticize early LGBT films and TV shows for not casting transgender actors in trans roles, but it's true to say such films as 2015's The Danish Girl paved the way for more authentic casting on the big and small screen (and helped inform my education, exploration and understanding of the trans community).

Eddie Redmayne was nominated for Best Actor for his portrayal as 'Lili Elbe', one of the first transgender women to undergo sex reassignment surgery in the 1920s.

You can also check to more costumes designed by Paco Delgado for The Danish Girl on display.

Transparent TV costume exhibit

Amazon Prime's critically-acclaimed Transparent, although flawed, also brought the trans experience into the mainstream when it started in February 2014.

The comedy-drama starred Jeffrey Tambor (a cisgender man later to be accused of sexual harassment on set) as a trans woman called 'Maura' and revolved around the self-absorbed Los Angeles family, the 'Pfeffermans', and their reactions and lives after learning the truth about their parent and husband.

These screen-used costumes from the TV series were Emmy-nominated for the sophomore season of Transparent.

Pose TV costume exhibit

Another trailblazing television show that enjoyed great cultural success and acclaim was FX's 1980s New York City queer ball culture drama, Pose.

The ball culture scene with its 'Houses' and 'House Mothers' boasted the most transgender and gay cast members on a primetime drama (including Dominque Jackson, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Indya Moore,  Hailie Sahar, Angelica Ross and Billy Porter), plus a diverse writing, production and directing staff behind the scenes.

Pose's costumes were also Emmy-nominated for its debut season, so be sure to enjoy more of them on display at the FIDM Museum in 2019.

RuPaul's Drag Race TV costumes

And finally for this collection of LGBT wardrobes, how could I not shine a light on undoubtably the most famous drag queen of all time, RuPaul.

RuPaul's Drag Race premiered on LGBT cable channel Logo in February 2009 and has since spawned eighteen seasons of the reality competition series, plus an All Stars format and other country spin-offs, helping to make drag a part of mainstream culture and propel many Drag Race contestants to global superstardom, including Trixie Mattel, Jinkx Monsoon, Diana Del Rio, Bob the Drag Queen, Alyssa Edwards and many, many more.

This trio of main stage judging gowns were worn by RuPaul and were captured on display at the Drag Race Hollywood pop-up store in 2017.

Fans of Mama Ru and the iconic show can also check out more RuPaul's Drag Race gowns on display in West Hollywood storefront windows and at the FIDM Museum.

This PRIDE season be sure to be safe, loud and proud. Make sure you support political candidates that champion LGBTQ equality and rights, and stop buying from companies and brands and visiting countries that throw our community under the bus to curry favour from fascist regimes.

HAPPY PRIDE!

1970s-inspired movie and TV costumes on display...

I was born in the Seventies, so today I thought it would be fun to take a look at some film and television fashion that has helped transport audiences to that groovy time period. Enjoy these ten funky wardrobes from the big and small screen that have been on display at museums and cinemas in the past.

Vinyl TV costumes

First up are these costumes worn by Bobby Cannavale and Olivia Wilde in HBO's New York City music industry scene drama that aired in 2016.

Make sure you take a closer look at these Vinyl costumes designed by Mark Bridges and John Dunn on display at Downtown L.A.'s FIDM Museum & Galleries in August 2016.

Justine costume worn by Brie Larson

in Free Fire

In 2016's Free Fire, rival gangs engage in a shoot-out in an abandoned Boston warehouse in 1978.

Brie Larson's 'Justine' tries to mediate between the groups in the action-comedy and wears this look designed by Emma Fryer.

Be sure to also take a look at these other Free Fire movie costumes worn by Cillian Murphy, Armie Hammer and Sharlto Copley on display at ArcLight Hollywood cinema in April 2017.

American Hustle movie costumes

This next collection of costumes is from 2013's crime drama, American Hustle, starring Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Christian Bale, Jennifer Lawrence and Jeremy Renner.

Michael Wilkinson was Costume Designer on the film set in the late 1970s and early 80s, and these screen-worn American Hustle costumes were photographed at ArcLight Hollywood in December 2013.

C. C. costume worn by Gary Carr

in The Deuce

In HBO's 1970s drama set in the Golden age of Porn in New York City, Gary Carr played the charismatic, ruthless and controlling pimp 'C. C.'.

Anna Terrazas and Kathleen Gerlach were Series Costume Designers and fans of the show, which premiered in September 2017, can check out more costumes from the first season of The Deuce on display at L.A.'s FIDM Museum in August 2018.

The Get Down TV costumes

In Baz Luhrman's music drama, The Get Down, a group of talented young people in 1977's South Bronx chase their dreams trying to transform the music industry.

Jeriana San Juan was Costume Design on the Netflix series which debuted in August 2016, and these screen-worn costumes from The Get Down were photographed on display with more outfits at L.A.'s FIDM Museum in August 2017.

If Beale Street Could Talk film costumes

In 2018's big screen adaptation of 1974 novel, If Beale Street Could Talk, KiKi Layne, Stephan James, Regina King and Colman Domingo star in a tale of romance and social injustice in 1970s Harlem.

These costumes from the movie designed by Caroline Eselin-Schaefer were photographed on display at Downtown L.A.'s FIDM Museum in February 2019.

Bobby Riggs costume worn by Steve Carell

in Battle of the Sexes

In the 2017 biopic sports comedy, Battle of the Sexes, Steve Carell played ex-tennis champ and self-promoter 'Bobby Riggs' who challenged Billie Jean King (played by Emma Stone) to a televised tennis match in 1973.

Mary Zophres was Costume Designer on this sporty movie and this costume was on display at ArcLight Hollywood in September 2017.

Plus make sure you check out more tennis outfits from Battle of the Sexes on display.

BlacKkKlansman movie costumes

Based on Ron Stallworth's 2014 memoir, 2018's BlacKkKlansman is a story about a Black detective (played by John David Washington) in Colorado Springs trying to infiltrate and expose a local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan with the help of a Jewish police officer (Adam Driver).

Marci Rodgers was Costume Designer on the 1970s-set film which also starred Laura Harrier, and this trio of costumes was captured on display at L.A.'s FIDM Museum in February 2019.

Kay Graham costume worn by Meryl Streep

in The Post

In 2017's historical drama about the Pentagon Papers and the government's Vietnam War cover-up, The Post, Meryl Streep plays the Washington Post's publisher, Kay Graham, fighting alongside Tom Hanks editor to preserve the freedom of the press and democracy.

Ann Roth was Costume Designer on this film set in 1971 and this outfit was photographed on display in ArcLight Hollywood's lobby in December 2017.

Dolemite Is My Name movie costumes

And finally for this collection of costumes, here's an assortment of outfits from Netflix's biographical comedy, Dolemite Is My Name, which starred Eddie Murphy as Rudy Ray Moore who created the stand-up stage pimp persona 'Dolemite' in 1970s Los Angeles.

The film also starred Da'Vine Joy Randolph and Wesley Snipes, whilst Ruth E. Carter was Costume Designer on the film. These garments from the 2019 movie were photographed on display at the FIDM Museum in February 2020.

I hope you've enjoyed time traveling down memory lane with me. Come back soon for more screen delights from my archives.

10 sporty costumes from the movies and TV on display...

Today I'm shining a spotlight on costumes worn in sporty biopics, comedies and TV shows, from the worlds of ice skating, wrestling, boxing, American Football, surfing, soccer, tennis, horse racing and race car driving.

Tonya Harding ice skating costume

worn by Margot Robbie in I, Tonya

First up is this ice skating outfit worn by Margot Robbie as 'Tonya Harding' in the 2017 dark comedy I, Tonya.

Jennifer Johnson was Costume Designer on the movie about the scandal-ridden Olympic figure skater set in the 1990s.

This skating outfit was photographed at ArcLight Hollywood cinema in December 2017, and fans of the movie can check out more I, Tonya film costumes on display at Downtown L.A.'s FIDM Museum & Galleries the following year.

MelRose wrestling costume worn by Jackie Tohn

in GLOW

From figure skating to wrestling, and Jackie Tohn wore this punky wrestling outfit as 'Melanie "MelRose" Rosen' in the first season of Netflix's 1980s wrestling dramedy, GLOW.

Beth Morgan was Costume Designer on this retro series about the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling and you can check out more GLOW costumes on display at L.A.'s FIDM Museum in August 2018.

Plus wrestling fans can also check out Mickey Rourke's costume from The Wrestler on display.

Phil Weston coach costume worn by Will Ferrell

in Kicking & Screaming

In 2005 Will Ferrell stared in the little-league soccer comedy, Kicking & Screaming, as a competitive father coaching his son's team.

Pamela Withers was Costume Designer on the film and his blue tiger-striped tracksuit was photographed on display at Universal Studios Hollywood in May 2013.

Tim Riggins American Football uniform worn by Taylor Kitsch

in Friday Night Lights

From soccer to rural Texas high school American Football, and Taylor Kitsch wore this uniform as 'Tim Riggins', a Fullback/Running Back for the Dillon Panthers team in the TV drama, Friday Night Lights.

The series was based on the 2004 film of the same name, inspired by H. G. Bissinger's 1990 non-fiction book, Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream.

Karyn Wagner (2006-2007) and Kathy Kiatta (2007-2011) were Series Costume Designers for the show that ran for five seasons.

Anne Marie Chadwick surfer costume worn by Kate Bosworth

in Blue Crush

In 2002 Kate Bosworth starred as a surfer living with her two friends and dreaming of riding the giant waves on Hawaii's famed North Shore, based on Susan Orlean's 1998 Outside magazine article, Life's Swell.

Susan Matheson was Costume Designer on the surf drama directed by John Stockwell, and this outfit and surfboard from the movie were photographed on display at Universal Studios Hollywood in January 2014.

James J. Braddock boxing costume worn by Russell Crowe

in Cinderella Man

From surfing to boxing, and in 2005 Russell Crowe starred as washed-up prizefighter in the Great Depression of early 1930s America in Cinderella Man. The inspirational sports biopic about heavyweight boxing champion James J. Braddock and his comeback story was directed by Ron Howard.

Daniel Orlandi was Costume Designer on the film inspired by a true story, and this costume was photographed on display at Universal Studios Hollywood in October 2014.

Billie Jean King costume worn Emma Stone

in Battle of the Sexes

In 2017 Battle of the Sexes told a tale of LGBT icon and world tennis champion, Billie Jean King (played by Emma Stone), as she took on ex-champ Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell) and sexism in a televised 1973 tennis match.

Mary Zophres was Costume Designer on this sports biopic and this tennis outfit was spotted on display at ArcLight Hollywood cinema in September 2017.

Ron Turcotte jockey silks worn by Otto Thorwarth

in Secretariat

Disney's 2010 movie, Secretariat, told the true story of the American Thoroughbred racehorse who became the first Triple Crown winner in 25 year in 1973.

Michael Boyd was the Costume Designer tasked with recreating the 1970s looks of the jockeys, trainers and owners in this biographical drama.

Make sure you check out more screen-used costumes and props from Secretariat on display at Hollywood's El Capitan Theatre in October 2010, and more.

Red Pollard costume worn by Tobey Maguire

in Seabiscuit

Keeping to the world of horse racing, and in the 2003 Tobey Maguire played a Depression-era jockey in the film Seabiscuit, about an undersized and overlooked Thoroughbred who raced to victory.

Judianna Makovsky was nominated for an Oscar for Best Costume Design in the period drama based on the 2001 non-fiction book by Laura Hillenbrand, Seabiscuit: An American Legend.

This movie costume was photographed on display at Universal Studios Hollywood theme park in July 2013.

Ken Miles racing car driver costume worn by Christian Bale

in Ford v Ferrari

From horse-racing to super-fast cars, and 2019's Ford v Ferrari told the tale of the 24 Hours of Le Mans competition in 1966 when the American company took on the Italian sports car manufacturer.

Christian Bale played the British driver, Ken Miles, and Daniel Orlandi was Costume Designer on the movie biopic.

This racing outfit was photographed on display at ArcLight Hollywood where it was exhibited alongside Matt Damon's Carroll Shelby costume (the American car designer) in November 2019.

If you've enjoyed this collection of sporty wardrobes, make sure you stay tuned for more themed roundups in the future.

Battle of the Sexes movie costumes on display...

With all the #MeToo, Time's Up and Women's March initiatives in recent months, it's also important to acknowledgment the women who fought for female equality in the past, like Billie Jean King (played by Emma Stone) and her teammates in the tennis industry in the 1970s. In last year's Battle of the Sexes, the film explores her sexual awakening as a lesbian and her infamous televised 1973 tennis match between the tennis champion and the ex-men's champ and serial hustler 'Bobby Riggs' (Steve Carell).

Original Battle of the Sexes movie costumes

These tennis costumes from the film were photographed on display at Downtown L.A.'s FIDM Museum on February 6, 2018.

Oscar-nominee Mary Zophres was Costume Designer on the biopic comedy drama and you can also enjoy her work with these La La Land movie costumes, these Hail, Caesar! film costumes, this astronaut costume from Interstellar and these Gangster Squad movie costumes.

Battle of the Sexes movie poster

Emma Stone and Steve Carell film costumes from Battle of the Sexes...

This year's biopic sports comedy, Battle of the Sexes, recounts the true story of the televised 1973 tennis match between World number one Billie Jean King (played by Emma Stone) and ex-champ, serial hustler and self-promoter Bobby Riggs (played by Steve Carell).

Original costumes and props from Battle of the Sexes

These movie costumes and tennis racquets were photographed on display at ArcLight Hollywood cinema on September 2, 2017, and I love how they've presented the outfits on a faux tennis court.

Battle of the Sexes movie teaser billboard

Mary Zophres was Costume Designer on this biopic directed by Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton and was responsible for recreating the 1970s period looks of the time, plus she also designed the costumes in La La Land in which Emma Stone also starred.

Billie Jean King costume worn by Emma Stone

in Battle of the Sexes

This Battle of the Sexes tennis match was played at the Houston Astrodome when Billie Jean King was 29-years-old and Bobby Riggs was 55.

Admirers of the actress can also check out her movie costumes from The Help, her Gwen Stacy costume from The Amazing Spider-man 2 and her red dress from Gangster Squad.

Bobby Riggs costume worn by Steve Carell

in Battle of the Sexes

Apparently Bobby Riggs was paid $50,000 to war this sponsored yellow Sugar Daddy lollipop jacket during the match, which he took off after after three games.

Fans of the actor can also check out his Anchorman 2 movie costume and costumes from The Office TV series.

Battle of the Sexes movie poster