Norma Moriceau: home movie

Costume designer Norma Moriceau (1944–2016) drew upon her background as part of the London punk and fashion scene to create the memorable costumes in Mad Max 2 (George Miller, 1981) and Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (George Miller and George Ogilvie, 1985).

This rare home movie shot by Moriceau in an unknown location captures the artistic and creative scene in which she was immersed, circa 1980.

In her early teens, Moriceau started her career as a model with June Dally-Watkins before taking herself to London to pursue other opportunities.

In the swinging 60s, she entered the fashion world as photographer, stylist and editor for a string of hip fashion magazines including Nineteen, Vogue and London Life.

By the 1970s, she was friends with fashion designer Vivienne Westwood and her partner Malcolm McLaren (they lived around the corner) with whom she often collaborated on film shoots.

She took the iconic photograph of Westwood in her designer 'Destroy' t-shirt, a garment originally sold at Westwood and McLaren’s boutique store Sex and now part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

She also worked with Julien Temple on the film The Great Rock’n’Roll Swindle (1980), styling McLaren and the Sex Pistols.

As well as solidifying the look for Mad Max, Moriceau also worked on another iconic Australian creation.

As costume designer on Crocodile Dundee (1986), she fashioned Paul Hogan's look with its distinctive Akubra hat, shark-tooth necklace and worn leather vest.

Read more about Norma Moriceau and the costumes she designed for the Mad Max universe.