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In case you’ve tuned into Netflix’s newest hit movie Do Revenge, you’ve in all probability left occupied with three issues: “Glennergy,” the variety of iconic movie references and the unimaginable vogue. The twisty revenge story, written and directed by Jennifer Kaytin Robinson, highlights the bond between former queen bee Drea (Camila Mendes) and Eleanor (Maya Hawke), a clumsy switch pupil, as they attempt to get again on the ones who wronged them — the previous, her ex who leaked a intercourse tape, and the latter, the woman from camp who outed her.
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With a smattering of iconic movie references starting from Clueless and Jawbreaker to Imply Ladies, the film is brimming with iconic seems to be. And the mastermind behind the candy-coated model? Costume designer Alana Morshead. Working carefully with Robinson, she crafted the film’s most memorable vogue moments: from the pastel mint inexperienced and lavender faculty uniforms to Drea’s admissions social gathering chain-link ‘90s runway quantity.
In our newest Gen AP interview, we communicate to Morshead concerning the inspiration behind a few of Do Revenge’s greatest costumes and what tasks she has developing subsequent.
How did you first get into styling and costume design?
I grew up in England, and I did not even know what a fancy dress designer was. I simply knew I all the time beloved garments. I received my undergrad and all of my electives had been movie. I nonetheless did not know what I needed to do, and I used to be like, “Properly, I really like movie. I’m going to movie faculty.” I’m going to movie faculty, and so they train you the whole lot however costume design. After I graduated movie faculty in 2008, I wanted a job, so I began aiding a celeb stylist, and that ranged from choosing up issues from boutiques to taking her canine to the vet to being on set doing dry cleansing. Whereas I used to be doing that, one other buddy of mine was engaged on commercials as an assistant and mentioned, “Oh, you are aiding the stylist. You wish to work on this business?”
So, I began aiding on commercials, after which after some time, I actually realized what artwork is, and there’s a place for loving garments, but in addition loving movie. I did not ever simply wish to be a dressmaker or have my very own line — I simply beloved garments. Rising up in England, I did not know that this actually was a job. My first job once I was 15 was at McDonald’s as a result of I may stroll there from my home, and my whole paycheck simply went to purchasing garments. I had a lightbulb second after I graduated movie faculty, like “Oh, there’s a strategy to marry the 2 of them.”
How did you pull from totally different ’90s motion pictures to create the seems to be in Do Revenge?
I imply, it actually started [with] making boards. After I learn the script, I felt prefer it already showcased what the vibe was. After I chatted with the director Jenn, it was obvious that we had been on the identical web page — my temper boards — so it clicked from the start. It was simply the script that made it clear to me who these characters had been — particularly figuring out that it was going to be Maya and Cami — that additionally helps create the character as a result of you realize what colours will look good on them or what silhouettes would look good on them. So, it was actually watching a number of these motion pictures after which simply scouring Pinterest for hours, taking a look at photos, taking a look at magazines from again then, taking a look at advertisements. However considered one of my largest references, once I’m researching a job, is Instagram as a result of it is simply so “now.” You may put on something you need, be your self and categorical your self by clothes.
Within the opening social gathering scene, Camila’s outfit appeared to parallel Cher failing her driver’s take a look at in Clueless. Was that look meant to allude to that?
That specific [outfit] wasn’t the inspo for that, however Cher [and] the film did. Possibly subconsciously it did. That was undoubtedly one of many motion pictures that I watched, beloved and grew up on. It was coming from that period and that vibe.
How did you land on the colour palette for the varsity uniforms?
We needed to have all these enjoyable garments, colours and prints exterior of college, however how will we make {that a} uniform that is additionally plausible and never utterly excessive? I feel that the pastels simply felt so Miami. After we had been determining what we needed them to be, after taking part in round, [we] actually landed on these two colours complementing one another. At one level, we thought of doing 5 totally different colours, however then it was like, “OK, now it may be an excessive amount of.” There was going to be pastel yellow and a child blue, nevertheless it began to really feel prefer it was too overcomplicated and a bit too chaotic.
The entire senior ring dinner scene gave me Romy And Michele’s Excessive Faculty Reunion vibes. Was that the inspiration for the scene?
For the ring dinner, Jenn mentioned the colours had been child blue, off-white and silver. We needed to do one thing for Drea that also felt fairly highly effective — not a gown like everybody else. We do not see Eleanor in clothes that a lot, so on the ring dinner when she’s actually attempting to slot in and dropping herself on this group, we see her in a gown. Drea is the one taking management and in energy, so we put her in these child blue, high-waisted slacks however nonetheless discover a strategy to make it hers.
Inform me about the way you conceived Drea and Eleanor’s seems to be for the makeover scene.
That is in all probability considered one of my favourite items. We made that piece that Drea is sporting. As a result of makeover scenes are simply so pivotal in all the films we love, I needed it to really feel actually Miami, excessive, and so Drea, after all, is in a sizzling pink houndstooth outfit. I actually needed to place her in one thing that felt like she is assured and the queen bee and he or she nonetheless is aware of who she is and may transfer round comfortably. She had decrease heels on, so it wasn’t one thing uncomfortable. This was like an task for her, so she’s additionally dressed “virtually.” It is such an iconic scene, so I actually needed to have her in one thing that might be actually memorable.
Why was vogue so pivotal to Do Revenge‘s storyline?
As a result of it’s such a enjoyable film. In all the films that we love, model actually is a large consider Clueless, Jawbreaker and in Romy And Michele. These are the stuff you keep in mind as being a part of a cult traditional. After we see Halloween costumes or if somebody says, “Oh, the Romy And Michele outfits,” or discuss Cher’s yellow plaid outfit, everyone is aware of what you are speaking about. It is simply attempting to create these moments the place you immediately know 10 or 20 years from now it might be wonderful so as to add to those cult motion pictures that we love.
So, what’s your subsequent challenge after Do Revenge?
I am at the moment designing a TV present for Hulu known as Tiny Lovely Issues, starring Kathryn Hahn, primarily based on a guide by Cheryl Strayed. It’s extremely emotional and really intense, and it may be a phenomenal present. That is what is nice about my job: Each challenge is so totally different. I’ve a film on Amazon popping out in December known as One thing From Tiffany’s. It is the traditional, New York Christmas rom-com with Zoey Deutch. I am so excited for that to come back out, too, as a result of they’re all such totally different tales. Discovering a manner to usher in model or develop characters extra by the wardrobe is such a enjoyable a part of my job.
How did you go about styling Sarah Michelle Gellar as headmaster, contemplating the entire references to Merciless Intentions?
Since we solely see her in school and he or she has some emotionally necessary scenes with Drea, it was a nice line of not placing her in one thing that was distracting or taking you out of the scene. My job is so as to add to scenes and improve these characters. I by no means wish to be distracting or take away from performances. Since we solely see her in school, we did not wish to simply do one thing the place it felt boring or like, “Oh yeah, we’ll simply put her in a shirt and a pantsuit.” Like nonetheless giving her an id of who she is however becoming into this world that we created. Her colour palette remains to be in the identical really feel as the varsity. Traditional, clear traces had been the best way to go together with her. She was skilled, however she nonetheless had her personal model. She slot in with the varsity and with the film.
What are your favourite tasks that you have labored on?
Possibly the film I simply talked about, One thing From Tiffany’s. A New York rom-com is on the prime of my listing, and the individuals that you simply work with can also make the expertise higher. This TV present [Tiny Beautiful Things] and that film, they’re each Whats up Sunshine productions. Actually working with individuals you’re keen on and respect who worth your opinion…I’ve actually, actually felt that with Whats up Sunshine.
