Black Swan Costume Designer Slams Rodarte

Amy Westcott, the credited costume designer for Black Swan, is getting her revenge after being left out in the press and slamming Rodarte's contributions to the film.

In a recent interview with ClothesOnFilm.com, Westcott was asked a lot about the Mulleavy's and it's pretty obvious she's not their biggest fan.

Here are some HIGHlights:

Are you aware of the controversy surrounding yourself and fashion house Rodarte (the Mulleavy sisters) in the press; that they should be credited alongside you as costume designers?Do you feel as though you are being vilified for something out of your hands?

I was happy for Rodarte’s persistent publicity efforts at first; I’m so proud of the film and anything that brings it to an even wider audience is genuinely welcome. I tried to put aside my ego while being airbrushed from history in all of their interviews, as I’m just not that kind of person anyway. But when articles were planted that attacked me personally as if I had conspired against them I felt nothing but despair and betrayal. I don’t have a publicist working for me, needless to say, and I was asked to stay quiet –“not to engage”, to avoid any bad press towards the film. Unfortunately this seems to have proven detrimental to the perception of my work on Black Swan. I didn’t make the rules that the Guild and the Academy set and I am proud of my professionalism and commitment to my work, so to have my name dragged into such ill-informed gossip is galling and hurtful to say the least.

Interestingly, the overwhelming reaction from other costume designers has been very affirming. Apparently this has happened to a number of people, but this one just got more press.

Who did design the stage wear seen at the end of the film, specifically the black feather tutu?

The white and black swan were a collaboration between Rodarte, myself, and Darren, a fact that is completely concealed in the press. In all, there were 7 costumes in the collaboration with Rodarte, not the “40” that keeps coming up in the press. The core ballet was designed by Zack Brown (for American Ballet Theater), and my department and I added some feather detailing to assimilate them with the White Swan.

Has this situation made you wary of working with fashion designers again?

Absolutely. I was too trusting, and never saw this “controversy” coming. Suffice to say that I will never be put in this position again.

How professional.

We can understand her being upset, but the last time we check Laura and Kate never said anything bad about Amy.

Thoughts???

[Image via Getty Images.]