Material girl: Costume designer’s ‘27’ frocks plays starring role

There was plenty of material, literally, for costume designer Cat Thomas to work with for the frocks featured in “27 Dresses.”

Thomas and her design team spun yards and yards of sherbet taffeta, silk shantung and cheap cotton Swiss dot into so many bridesmaid dresses that she hoped the director might rename the movie.

“We wished it was called ‘37 Dresses,’ ” said the New York-based Thomas. “We had so many options.”

Such is the dream dilemma for a costumer when clothing becomes a character. Much like center-stage ensembles worn in HBO’s “Sex and the City,” the 27 dresses Katherine Heigl’s character, Jane, must sport as a constant bridesmaid in this romantic comedy are as spirited as the actress herself.

“It’s memorable when it has personality,” said Thomas in a telephone interview earlier this week. “They were really like another character. Or like 27 other characters.”

The film was shot almost entirely in Rhode Island, and Thomas’ favorite scene is the last when - spoiler alert! - all 27 brides are lined up on the pier at Jane’s nuptials in the bridesmaid dresses she wore at their weddings.

Alongside the goth girl, there’s the Japanese friend in a kimono, the “Gone With the Wind” getup from the plantation-themed wedding (“There’s nothing more fun than creating 10 hoop skirts”), and the hot pink zip-front L.A. minidress, to name a few.

“The reality is that there are people who have theme weddings and who do it over the top. It’s true,” said Thomas, whose other work includes “A Prairie Home Companion” and both “Kill Bill” films.

Inspiration came from thrift stores and eBay and online bridal industry outlets.

“We could have just gone on and on,” she said.

The choices were limitless because, let’s face it, the rarely worn-again bridesmaid dress is an Everywoman’s lament. Thomas said its status will change only when bridesmaids can shop for - and wear - what they want without a hovering bride offering her opinions. Until then the dress’ bad reputation is all sewn up.

“It is very much the bride’s aesthetic,” she said. “It is her day.”

How big is the bridal business?

Conde Nast Bridal Media did an American Wedding Study in 2006. Here are The Big Day’s big numbers:
# There are 2.2 million weddings per year in the United States, or 44,230 weddings every weekend.
# The average wedding has five bridesmaids, which works out to 11 million each year.


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