Madonna as Eva Peron in 'Evita' Designed by Penny Rose

Red wool suit consists of a fitted hip length jacket, decorative bib front with fifteen black cord buttons, black velvet inserts at hem and edging on the cuffs and collar; straight knee length skirt with pleated inset at the center front; silver and rhinestone pin.

Madonna campaigned to play the role of Evita and used her rock star status to acquire it. Many other actresses were considered to play the role such as Elaine Paige, Liza Minnelli, Cher, Glenn Close and Meryl Streep and it would be interesting what the film might have become. Even though it is a sumptuous production filled with some fine performances, it failed to receive the praise that was hoped for.

Costume designer Penny Rose designed eighty-five costumes for Madonna for the film and thirty-five sets of costume jewelry were either created for or purchased for her character. The actress wore the suit onscreen after the Inaugural Ball sequence where Eva decides she must work on her image and make a good impression on the media and the Argentine people to show support for Juan Peron (played by Jonathan Pryce). Eva launches into the musical number “Rainbow High” and is seen wearing this outfit while trying on shoes during a montage sequence showing her being fitted for shoes.

This costume is an example of acquiring different elements of a costume from different sources, to complete an ensemble. The suit was purchased from one source and the original brooch was purchased years later on the other side of the world.