Series:

The Crafts in Hollywood: Costuming

Topic:

Film and Television

Biographical Note:

Co-founder of Muto-Little custom-made costume shop. Career in costuming that has included work in film, television, opera, and popular music.

Interviewer:

Collings, Jane

Interviewee:

Little, Kimberly

Persons Present:

Little and Collings.

Place Conducted:

Muto-Little costume shop in Los Angeles, California.

Supporting Documents:

Records relating to the interview are located in the office of the UCLA Library’s Center for Oral History Research.

Interviewer Background and Preparation:

The interview was conducted by Jane Collings, principal editor and interviewer, UCLA Center for Oral History Research; Ph.D. Critical Studies in Film and Television, UCLA.

Processing of Interview:

The interviewer prepared a timed log of the audio recording of the interview. The interviewee was given the opportunity to review the log in order to supply missing or misspelled names and to verify the accuracy of the contents. Little made a few additions, which were entered into the text without further editing or review on the part of the Center for Oral History Research staff.

Length:

1.5 hrs.

Language:

English

Copyright:

Regents of the University of California, UCLA Library.

Audio:

Series Statement:

This series of interviews documents the work of costumers in the film and television industries in Los Angeles. The interviews preserve a dimension of Hollywood history and Los Angeles history that has been under-documented to date.

Early life in Iowa--Develops an interest in fashion-- Attends Viterbo College, which has a wide range of theater offerings--Inspired by working at the Utah Shakespeare Festival to move to Los Angeles--Begins work at the Center Theatre Group--Begins a small couture house with Antoinette Muto--Launches custom costuming shop Muto-Little with Muto--Staffing the shop--Operates as a union shop that is supportive of its women employees--Changes in the industry bring changes in the focus of the work at Muto-Little--Difficulty in recent years of finding people with the required set of skills--The work process at Muto-Little from concept to execution--The rise of cosplay work--Work with Lady Gaga.