who is edna mode based on

Who Is the ”Incredibles” Fashion Maven Based On?

She was designed as a cross between Q, the snooty gadget guy from James Bond, and Edith Head, the Oscar-winning costume designer from Hollywood. But Edna Mode, the magnificently imperious superhero costume designer presently stealing scenes in Pixar’s The Incredibles, is such a dead-on parody of self-absorbed creative genius fabulousness that spectators are reading a large gallery of resemblances into her tiny face. “I’ve heard maybe fifteen different people that she resembles,” says writer-director Brad Bird.

Tell us about it, sweetheart! The gallery of must-have-been-inspiration-figures must begin with Vogue editor Anna Wintour, fashion designer Coco Chanel, and actress Lotte Lenya (who camped it up as villainess Rosa Klebb in From Russia With Love). Edna resembles architect Philip Johnson, producer Robert Evans, über-agent Swifty Lazar, Hollywood tycoon Lew Wasserman, and even former Old Navy spokesperson Carrie Donovan in terms of her oversized black-framed glasses.

Linda Hunt: Was NCIS LA star inspiration for The Incredibles' Edna? | TV &  Radio | Showbiz & TV | Express.co.uk

Bird refuses to acknowledge any direct inspirations, maintaining that “flamboyance and enormous glasses go hand in hand.” But Pixar artist Teddy Newton, a codesigner of the character, adds that he and the Pixar team did study 1995’s Unzipped, a fashion-industry documentary that highlighted the petulant ways of, among others, Isaac Mizrahi and former Vogue editor Polly Mellen.

Also Read: Was Hannibal Lecter Based on A Real Person?

As for Edna’s sarcastic vocals, Bird himself is responsible. After recording the initial “temp tracks,” he approached numerous women (including Lily Tomlin) about taking over the part, but was ultimately persuaded to continue in it. He obviously has a warm spot for Edna. “I was never pleased with the notion of a huge hero stitching in the basement,” he explains. There had to be someone else designing all of these colourful costumes…some sort of designer/scientist hybrid. She is a raving fashionista.

 

Parvesh Rana

Parvesh is the Content Editor for Bulletin XP. Here at Bulletin XP, she covers news about trending topics in the television and entertainment industries. Moreover, Parvesh likes to dance and listen to music. She also finds time in her hectic schedule to relax and spend time with loved ones.

Post navigation