Admitted to borrowing a fellow art student's sketches when interviewing for her first costume sketch-artist job at Paramount
Nicknamed the "Dress Doctor" for her ability to prescribe solutions to costume design problems
Deliberately kept her own appearance neutral (including signature short hairdo and circular glasses) to maintain a focus on her actors
Collected eight Academy Awards, the most by any woman, and was nominated every year from 1948 to 1966
Designed a woman's uniform for the U
S
Coast Guard in the late '70s, when their numbers increased
Honored in a 2003 commemorative stamp for behind-the-camera movie personnel; also remembered in the 1999 song "She Thinks She's Edith Head," performed by They Might Be Giants
Awards
1977Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design:nominated
1976BAFTA Film Awards-Best Costume Design:nominated
1975Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design:nominated
1973Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design:winner
1970Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design:nominated
1969Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design:nominated
1966Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Color):nominated
1965Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Color):nominated
1965Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Black-and-White):nominated
1964Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Color):nominated
1964Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Black-and-White):nominated
1963Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Color):nominated
1963Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Black-and-White):nominated
1962Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Color):nominated
1962Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Black-and-White):nominated
1961Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Color):nominated
1960Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Color):nominated
1960Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Black-and-White):winner
1959Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Black-and-White):nominated
1959Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Color):nominated
1958Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design:nominated
1957Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design:nominated
1956Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Color):nominated
1956Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Black-and-White):nominated
1955Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Color):nominated
1955Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Black-and-White):nominated
1954Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Black-and-White):winner
1953Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Black-and-White):winner
1952Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Black-and-White):nominated
1952Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Color):nominated
1951Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Black-and-White):winner
1950Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Color):winner
1950Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Black-and-White):winner
1949Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Black-and-White):winner
1948Oscar-Best Achievement in Costume Design (Color):nominated