Costume designer, Karyn Wagner, was deeply touched after she learned that Kobe Bryant gifted his wife the blue dress that she had designed for the film The Notebook.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Wagner revealed she had ‘zero idea’ that the late superstar had presented such a memorable and symbolic dress made by her to his wife.
The iconic blue dress was designed in the 40’s styles and was worn by Rachel McAdams in the romantic drama film.
Though Bryant’s wife Vanessa Laine Bryant had posed while wearing the classic dress in 2013, most people including the designer came to know about the gift on Monday during the life celebration ceremony of the late sportsman.
Talking about the priceless gift, Vanessa said: “When I asked him why he chose the blue dress [from the movie], he said it was because it’s the scene when Allie comes back to Noah.
“We had hoped to grow old together like [in] the movie. We really had an amazing love story.”
She added: “We loved each other with our whole beings, two perfectly imperfect people making a beautiful family and raising our sweet and amazing girls.”
Wagner couldn’t just control her tears after listening to Venessa’s eulogy.
She told THR: “I started bawling. I’m still drying the tears off my face. What a beautiful eulogy. I’m so honored that I was able to contribute in some small way to the history of this amazing man.”
Wagner was amazed at how the NBA star managed to acquire the dress. She said: “When I was finished with the movie, I put the dress in a box and it went into storage.”
Appreciating the efforts the player put to obtain the dress for his beloved wife, she told Access Hollywood: “When I finish a film, my team and I, we inventory everything, we put it in boxes, and we never see it again.
“So I don’t know how Kobe even tracked this dress down. He has to have spent a lot of time and a lot of effort.”
She added: “He was that good and he was that determined to show his wife how much he loved her.”
Talking about Bryant, who passed away in January 2020, Vanessa said he was her ‘soulmate’ and a person with ‘a tender heart.’
The 37-year-old added: “I want my daughters to know the amazing person, husband and father he was.
“The kind of man who wanted to teach the future generations to be better … he taught us all valuable lessons about life and sports … we’re so thankful he left those lessons and stories behind for us.”
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