I’ve always been a jeans and t-shirt kind of person, so it’s not surprising that I paid very little attention to the wardrobe TV characters wore. It was probably around the third season of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., during the height of my obsession (when I consumed anything and everything related to the series) that I stumbled upon an interview with their then costume designer Ann Foley. (Said interview is linked below.)
In it she explained how she not only dressed the cast for their everyday looks, but also how she went about reimagining existing comic book superhero costumes to be practical pieces for the small screen.
That interview really piqued my interest. Obviously clothing is a major part of identity in real life, so the same goes for TV. And of course wardrobe can be used for world building, especially for period pieces or ones set outside of our realm of reality. But prior to reading that article I never really considered the logistics, creativity, and behind-the-scenes work it took to style every TV character, primary or background.
Since then, I’ve really started to look at TV characters’ costumes with a more critical eye, and not just the superhero shows which obviously have their own set of challenges. But I’ve also gained a greater appreciation for the threads that “normal” TV characters wear too. I found myself envious of the sweaters the women of Supergirl were rocking in season three, I was in awe at the attention to detail PEN15 had in recreating the cringe-worthy early 2000s fashion of my middle school years, and I really dig the outwear and flannel that the women of Chicago P.D. sport in most episodes.
Obviously this admiration hasn’t improved my own personal style, but it does mean I like to seek out interviews with other TV costume designers to learn more about their work and how it influences scene setting, storytelling, and characterization.
So without further ado, here’s 10+ interviews with TV costume designers that I recommend reading if fashion is your jam, or if you’re like me and just love all things TV:
Ann Foley (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) – EW.com
Charlotte Mitchell (Killing Eve) – Nylon.com
Amanda Needham (Shrill) – Vox.com
Donna Zakowska (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) – Deadline.com
Alix Friedberg (Big Little Lies) – HollywoodReporter.com
Beth Morgan (GLOW) – AVClub.com | IndieWire.com | AwardsDaily.com
Amy Parris (Stranger Things) – EOnline.com | Fashionista.com
Hala Bahmet (This is Us) – GoldDerby.com
Melissa Walker (PEN15) – CRFasionBook.com | Magenta.as
Jacqueline Demeterio (Younger) – Vulture.com | Elle.com
