Stephanie Collie, the visionary costume designer behind iconic films and TV series such as Peaky Blinderspassed away on October 26 in London after a battle with cancer. She was 60.
Throughout her illustrious career, Collie collaborated with some of Hollywood’s biggest names, including Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Henry Cavill, Jessica Chastain, Penélope Cruz, Daniel Craig, Samuel L Jackson, Cillian Murphy, Gary Oldman, Michelle Williams, and Ryan Reynolds.
Collie’s journey began in the BBC’s sewing room, where she worked alongside esteemed costume designer Susan Coates. Her talent caught the eye of David Parfitt, who introduced her to Kenneth Branagh, leading to her role as a wardrobe assistant on Much Ado About Nothing. She soon took on the position of costume designer for Branagh’s Peter’s Friends.
In 1988, Collie’s work gained widespread recognition with Guy Ritchie’s iconic crime comedy Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Christopher Laverty, speaking about her design for the film, stated, “You could not pick up a men’s magazine of the time without seeing some guy in slim trousers and a jersey polo shirt. Stephanie Collie invented this look, thus providing one of the clearest examples of how costume design can transcend a movie and become something more. We would go so far as to say Stephanie Collie helped define an era.”
Collie’s career reached new heights with Peaky Blinders. Her exceptional work on the show earned her a prestigious Royal Television Society Award for Best Costume Design.
Her extensive body of work also includes Wrath of Man, For Argy, The Look of Love, London Has Fallen, Angel Has Fallen, The Hitman’s Bodyguardand Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard.
Director Susanna White paid tribute to Collie, saying, “Stephanie had a true originality about her sense of design – there was never anything received about what she did. Her work on Woman Walks Ahead was extraordinary – she went back to primary sources and found references for the clothing the Lakota people and Jessica Chastain wore which both made her costumes absolutely truthful to period detail yet gave the film a very contemporary spin. She told powerful stories through her work but like her personality her costumes never shouted “look at me” – she was always at pains to make sure that what she did fitted seamlessly into the aesthetic of the whole creative endeavour. No matter how stressful a day was she treated everything with her characteristic humour and grace. She will be greatly missed.”
Cillian Murphy, reflecting on Collie’s impact, stated, “Stephanie was a ferocious talent. She invented the Peaky Blinders look and silhouette that has become iconic across the world.”
Most recently, Collie worked on the Amazon drama series My Lady Jane.
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