Costume designer Cristina Spiridakis gives us a sneak peek into an average day as a stylist for tv. costumedesigner bettyhbo oitnb femalecostumedesigners CristinaSpiridakis
There’s often a misconception that costume designers swoop onto a TV set with a rack of perfectly picked out clothes for the main actors and then just as swiftly leave. But getting the costumes just right—whether that’s layers of authentic-looking period garb or the perfect flannel and pair of jeans—is a collaborative process that begins weeks before filming, involves excessive amounts of research and shopping, endless fittings, makeshift dressing stations, and countless hours on set.
1) The Rise and Shine On mornings when we’re shooting in N.Y.C., I wake up between 3 and 5 a.m. Courtney Wheeler, my assistant designer who I’ve been working with for the past five years, will meet me at my place and we’ll go across the street to get coffee at our favorite bodega, Merci Market, before heading to set. I always prefer to drive us to set no matter where we’re located because it gives us time to catch up and do the time Tetris of what the day is gonna be like.
3) A Perfect Fit The fitting process not only helps us better visualize what outfits work best for each character and scene, but also makes us aware of what items we need to tailor or make from scratch. After a fitting we submit photos to the directors, showrunners, sometimes the studio, they make a choice, and we have to have it ready for set the next day.
For fittings, Courtney makes specific playlists based on who or what clothes we’re fitting. It’s the best way to get the actor in the mood and it’s a great icebreaker.