Rash's Surname Index
Notes for William Jack TRAVILLA
William (Billy) Travilla was born on Catalina Island, California, USA, in 1920.
He had a lengthy career making costumes for films, starting with 1941 All American Co-ed up till WUSA in 1969. He joined Columbia in 1942 and left in 1943, then three years with Warner Brothers from 1946 to 1949. He was under contract to Fox from 1949 to 1956.
During the 1950s William started designing his clothing lines setting up his salon in Los Angeles. He became well-known for what was called "California" fashion. This meant comfortable elegant clothes without the restricting and rigid construction of Paris haute couture garments. Even as he developed his high fashion business, he continued to design for both film and the small screen.
William Travilla was nominated 4 times for the Oscar for Costume Design. He won one Oscar for "The Adventures of Don Juan".
He designed for Marilyn Monroe in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" and "The Seven Year Itch" in 1955. He was her favourite designer and he designed for eleven of her films.
His famous white pleated dress from the "The Seven Year Itch" Travilla designed it as an adaptation of a classical Greek design with full length pleats and peplos ties around the bodice.
In the 1980s Travilla designed costumes for TV productions including Thorn Birds in 1983. He designed the costumes for the 80's TV soap opera "Dallas" creating extravagant dresses for the rich bitchy characters.
He was an avid sportsman, and enjoyed life up to the end. He died in 1990 at the age of 70. His house continues today.
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