Oscars 2015: Costume secrets from award-winning designer Colleen Atwood

You may not know Colleen Atwood, but you most certainly know her work.

The three-time Oscar-winning costume designer is the creative hand behind Hannibal Lecter'sterrifying mask in Silence of the Lambs, and she'sbehind many of thefantasticaloutfits in Tim Burton's weirdly wonderfulfilms, such as 1990's Edward Scissorhandsand 2010'sAlice in Wonderland, for which she won her third Academy Award.

The 66-year-old Hollywood veteran is up for another Oscar at Sunday's awards ceremony for her work on the dark family fantasyInto the Woods.

Several of the movie'scostumes, including MerylStreep's memorable witches costume, are on display at theFashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in LosAngeles, giving fans an up-close look at the intricate creations.

"It's layers of textiles sprayed with paraffin and it's leather cording and [it's all]sewn onto a very sheer crinkle chiffon," said Atwood describing the elaborate construction of Streep'sdark gown.

"Then it's layered over leather that hasbeen laser cut and backed on to a metallic to giveit a little bit of kick from the back, to lighten it up in the environment that she was in that's very dark."

In the video above, Atwood walks CBC's Kim Brunhuber through the secrets of Streep's transformation, and explains how bondage played a role in the creation of another costume.

Kim is in Los Angeles for the Academy Awardsand will be live blogging from the parties, the red carpet and behind the scenes starting Saturday. Watch for full coverage, including photo galleries and all the winners onCBCNews.ca/arts.