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She was born Edith Claire Posener in San Bernardino, California, the daughter of Max Posener and Anna E. Levy. Whether her parents were married is unknown, but in 1901, her mother married Frank Spare and Edith was passed off as his child.

She graduated from the University of California in 1919 and became a school teacher in Los Angeles. On July 25, 1923, she married Charles Head. (They would divorce in 1936Events January-February January 15 The first building to be completely covered in glass is completed in Toledo, Ohio, for the Owens-Illinois Glass Company. January 20 Death of George V of the United Kingdom. His son Edward VIII succeedes him as King of th.) With no experience, Head answered an advertisement to work for Paramount Studios in the costume department. She borrowed another's sketches and passed them off as her own. She began designing costumes for silent films and by the thirties had established herself as one of the leading designers. She worked at Paramount for forty-four years until she went to Universal Pictures on March 27March 27 is the 86th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (87th in Leap years). There are 279 days remaining. Events 1306 Robert I of Scotland and Elizabeth de Burgh are crowned king and Queen of the Scots. 1513 (not 1512 as often cited) Explorer Jua, 1967Events January January 4 British motorboat racer Donald Campbell dies while attempting a water speed record in Coniston Lake. January 4 Algerian revolutionary Mohammed Khider is shot in Madrid. January 6 Vietnam War: USMC and ARVN troops launch " Operatio.

Head was a very private woman, a trait well illustrated by the dark sunglasses that became her trademark. Originally the lenses were blue, but later they were increasingly dark shades of gray. The glasses and her unchanging hair style helped aid her in hiding her true age. In the 1920sCenturies: 19th century 20th century 21st century Decades: 1870s 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s Years: 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 Events and trends Technology John Logie Baird invents the first working t, she wore a Colleen MooreColleen Moore ( August 19, 1900 January 25, 1988) was a film actress, and one of the most fashionable stars of the silent movie era. Born Kathleen Morrison in Port Huron, Michigan, Moore made her first film appearance in 1918 and for the next few years ap Dutch boy cut, but in the 1930sCenturies: 19th century 20th century 21st century Decades: 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s Years: 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 Events and trends Technology Jet engine invented Link Trainer invented Sc she noticed Anna May Wong's style and copied it: flat bangs with a chignon at the back. She would wear it for the rest of her life.

She married set designer Wiard Ihnen , nicknamed Bill, on September 8, 1940. Their marriage would last until his death in 1978.

During her long career she was nominated for thirty-four Academy Awards and won eight times, more Oscars than any other woman has won. She was responsible for some of the best known Hollywood fashion images of her day, with her costumes being worn by the most glamorous and famous actresses of the day in films seen by millions. Head's influence on world fashion was far reaching, especially in the 1950s when she began appearing on Art Linkletter's television program and writing books on fashion .

Ms. Head was known for her no-nonsense, assertive working style. Despite her own accomplishments, she also had a reputation for taking credit for others work--but in the studio days a department head not uncommonly claimed credit for everything in her department. Privately, she was a warm and loving hostess, presiding over fabulous soirees at her Benedict Canyon hacienda, with her husband.

She died in 1981 from bone marrow disease and was interred in Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California. She has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6504 Hollywood Blvd.

Head was a lifelong friend of actress Anne Baxter. Upon Head's death, Baxter's daughter Melissa Galt was bequethed Head's extraordinary collection of jewelry. Other bequests by Head included prominent artworks to Roddy McDowall and to Elizabeth Taylor.

As part of a series of stamps issued in February 2003 commemorating the behind-the-camera personnel who make movies, Head appeared on an American postage stamp honoring costume design.

Edith Head's personality and mannerisms were caricatured in the 2004 Pixar/ Disney computer-animated film, The Incredibles. The round glasses and assertive personality of the film's fictional superhero costume designer Edna Mode are in direct homage to Head's legendary accomplishments and style.