WHITNEY HOUSTON SCREEN-USED “RACHEL MARRON” “QUEEN OF THE NIGHT” COSTUME FROM THE BODYGUARD. - (Warner Bros., 1992) This complex costume incorporates armor elements, Chris Gilman of Global Effects, known for his expertise in creating suits of armor, was hired to create it. Gilman handed Nininger’s design to his colleague, noted production designer Patrick Tatopolous, to refine the costume sketch to a practical workable costume. Inspired by Maria, the Maschinenmensch (machine-human), in the 1927 Fritz Lang classic Metropolis, the Art Deco costume consists of a chromed thermal formed chest plate, a stylized corset with chrome and aluminum accents, a metallic gray undersuit with attached garter straps detailed with metal studs, silver lamé crepe skirt, pair of aluminum arm cuffs with chrome ball detailing, broad Egyptian-style collar festooned with chrome balls, a waist belt with attached strings of hanging chrome beads, a pair of gray over-the-knee high heel boots accented with metal diamond-shaped studs running down the sides of the legs and gray opera-length gloves with both metal and hematite beading. The costume is completed with a chromed fiberglass headpiece with aluminum hoop arcing across the head. In the film there is a “Queen of the Night” music video playing on the back screen of the stage while Whitney is performing her number. This costume was utilized in the making of both the screen-seen video and it was slightly modified to be worn on stage during the concert sequence. The corset and gloves are marked “Darlene” (Whitney’s dance double who was pulled off the stage in the scene when the crowd gets out of control). The gray undersuit was purposely distressed in areas showing above the chest armor to exhibit this jarring experience. Whitney also wore this costume when Kevin Costner’s character holds her (sans chest armor) in his arms following this incident—the very image used for The Bodyguard movie poster. The costume exhibits some missing beads in areas from production use; overall in fine condition. One cannot find a better costume worn by Whitney Houston—one of the greatest musical performers of all time—at the peak of her storied career. Comes with a letter of authenticity from Chris Gillman.