-By Dan dos Santos

Debbie Reynolds (Mother to Carrie Fischer), was not only an actress and singer, but also a notable collector of film memorabilia. Over her lifetime she amassed one of the most impressive collections of cinematic costumes in America. Two days ago, much of that collection was auctioned off, including Marilyn Monroe’s famous ‘subway dress’, which fetched $4.6 million dollars.

Amongst that collection were some amazing pieces that would serve as wonderful reference for a fantasy artist. Such as, Elizabeth Taylor’s dress and crown from the film ‘Cleopatra’:

Debbie Reynolds also collected other film memorabilia, including matte paintings and concept art… many of which centered around the works of her close friend Elizabeth Taylor. Here are two gouache paintings by Duilio Savina, used as concept pieces, again for ‘Cleopatra’. The original paintings measure 40 inches wide.

The auction may be over, but the catalog is still available for download and contains hundreds of images. I don’t know how much longer it will be available, so download it soon! The full PDF can be found here: a45_debbie_reynolds_catalog.pdf

This catalog is a treasure trove of wonderful costuming ideas and textures. From Ben-Hur to Joan of Arc, you’re sure to find something inspiring.