Hands up whos excited about the imminent release of The Lone Ranger, starring former ELLE Man of the Week Johnny Depp and the gorgeous Armie Hammer?
We are, obviously and its made all the better for Disneys link-up with Stephen Jones and his Headonism milliners' collective, who have between them created seven haute couture masks inspired by the movie. (They're expected to be auctioned off for charity shortly; details TBC.)
We caught up with Jones, straight off the train from his holiday in Oxfordshire, to find out more.
How did the collaboration come about?
Ive known the people from Disney on and off for years and of course, Ive always been a huge Disney fan. Ive always loved the drawings, especially the old ones, like Sleeping Beauty all the old Walt Disney animation. They approached the BFC, actually, almost a year ago, when they knew The Lone Ranger was going to be coming out. When I heard that I thought, fantastic, because I always loved The Lone Ranger as a child.
If you were a Disney character, who would you be?
Ooh, lordy. Today Id be Sleepy, because Im just so relaxed after my holiday. I need to get back in gear.
Talk us through the two masks you personally created.
There was one made out of metal, which was almost like a reverse mask. Instead of having little eye holes cut out, there was a great big piece cut out of the middle but within the square frame, so it really brought up the conversation about whos behind the mask: is it the person whos looking at you, or are you the person? Then there was another one, which was basically in the silhouette of the dead crow that Johnny Depp wears on his head but the glamour version of it.
Are there any particular challenges associated with creating masks?
Trying to get the fit is really difficult, because everybodys face shape is so different. For the mask that is worn on film, I think they made about eight or nine of them to eventually get the right fit. And that was after theyd done a body cast as well. Its a really tricky thing to do.
Youve worked on a lot of films. Do you have a favourite?
I think that when I was working on it, it had to be Coco Avant Chanel, with Audrey Tautou. Because Chanel was a milliner before she was a dress designer and I was creative consultant on the film as well as making hats for it. That was great.
Is there a historical film you wish you couldve been involved in?
I have to say My Fair Lady, which is the equivalent of the last supper of millinery.