‘I may not be great, but I am an original?‘ George Lazenby
Costume Designer: Paula Tabalipa
Filmography: Flock of Dudes, Dream of Love, Sorry About Your Wife.
Watch our interview with Paula Tabalipa on YouTube
My Review
It’s not just about Bond and the James Bond world. There is a lot of that of course, but there’s a love story that’s played out. I think there’s a lot of regret in George’s life. Not just with relation to being James Bond. I believe in a sliding doors life, he would have continued his love interest instead of falling to the trappings of fame.
The love story is the beating heart to this film. A theme that could resonate with all of us. Maybe there is the one that got away. There is the one that you would treat better, if you had another go around.
Special Guest
On this episode of From Tailors With Love I speak to costume designer Paula Tabalipa about her work on Becoming Bond, the doco/drama starring Josh Lawson as a young George Lazenby. The film chronicles Lazenby’s journey to .. well .. Becoming Bond. If you haven’t seen it, it’s on Hulu. I have transcribed some quotes and passages from Paula below.
TRANSCRIBED
It’s a project I’m in love with. I’m pretty proud of this film as a Costume Designer. I was there from the beginning, during all the interviews with George, were done prior to Josh even finished the script. Those interviews gave him ideas. And he picked the stories he wanted to tell from those interview.
There were so many other crazy stories we heard from George during those interviews. He had to see which ones would fit in the movie. it was really great we were cracking up. the stories were one better than the other.
With regards of wardrobe it was a lot about paying attention to George Lazenby he came form a very poor family in Australia. Becoming a car salesman, becoming a model, there were so many transitions wardrobe wise Josh Lawson was very open to play with it.
Between all the references we got in the archives from Lazenby and pulling from the internet and then running it by Josh. The movie had about 100 and some days in the script, and josh alone had about 60 to 65 changes., thats a lot. – Paula Tabalipa, Costume Designer for Becoming Bond.
Learn more about the style of George Lazenby’s Bond in the book From Tailors With Love: An Evolution of Menswear Through the Bond Films, available on Amazon.
Thanks to Erin at Artistry for facilitating the interview. For more information on George Lazenby be sure to check out his official website.
Buy the movie
Becoming Bond is available to buy/stream on Amazon.
Further Reading
Meeting James Bond | George Lazenby at the BFI
Recreating the Pleated Dress shirt from On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
