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In the event you’ve tuned into Netflix’s newest hit movie Do Revenge, you’ve most likely left serious about 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), an ungainly 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 lady 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 intently with Robinson, she crafted the film’s most memorable vogue moments: from the pastel mint inexperienced and lavender college uniforms to Drea’s admissions celebration chain-link ‘90s runway quantity.
In our newest Gen AP interview, we converse to Morshead in regards to 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 obtained 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, “Nicely, I like movie. I’m going to movie college.” I’m going to movie college, and so they educate you the whole lot however costume design. Once I graduated movie college 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 pal of mine was engaged on commercials as an assistant and mentioned, “Oh, you are aiding the stylist. You need to work on this industrial?”
So, I began aiding on commercials, after which after some time, I actually discovered what artwork is, and there’s a place for loving garments, but in addition loving movie. I did not ever simply need to be a designer 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 total paycheck simply went to purchasing garments. I had a lightbulb second after I graduated movie college, like “Oh, there’s a option to marry the 2 of them.”
How did you pull from completely different ’90s motion pictures to create the seems to be in Do Revenge?
I imply, it actually started [with] making boards. Once I learn the script, I felt prefer it already showcased what the vibe was. Once 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 realizing that it was going to be Maya and Cami — that additionally helps create the character as a result of you already know what colours will look good on them or what silhouettes would look good on them. So, it was actually watching numerous 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 adverts. However one in all my largest references, once I’m researching a job, is Instagram as a result of it is simply so “now.” You possibly can put on something you need, be your self and specific your self by means of clothes.
Within the opening celebration 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 exact [outfit] wasn’t the inspo for that, however Cher [and] the film did. Perhaps 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 believe that the pastels simply felt so Miami. After we had been determining what we needed them to be, after enjoying round, [we] actually landed on these two colours complementing one another. At one level, we considered doing 5 completely 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, but it surely 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 College 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 costume 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 shedding herself on this group, we see her in a costume. Drea is the one taking management and in energy, so we put her in these child blue, high-waisted slacks however nonetheless discover a option to make it hers.
Inform me about the way you conceived Drea and Eleanor’s seems to be for the makeover scene.
That is most likely one in all my favourite items. We made that piece that Drea is sporting. As a result of makeover scenes are simply so pivotal in all the flicks we love, I needed it to really feel actually Miami, excessive, and so Drea, after all, is in a scorching pink houndstooth outfit. I actually needed to place her in one thing that felt like she is assured and the queen bee and she or he 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 project 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 may 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 flicks that we love, model actually is a big think about Clueless, Jawbreaker and in Romy And Michele. These are the belongings you bear 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, all people 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 superb so as to add to those cult motion pictures that we love.
So, what’s your subsequent venture after Do Revenge?
I am at present designing a TV present for Hulu known as Tiny Lovely Issues, starring Kathryn Hahn, primarily based on a e book by Cheryl Strayed. It’s extremely emotional and really intense, and it may be a good looking present. That is what is nice about my job: Each venture is so completely 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 return out, too, as a result of they’re all such completely different tales. Discovering a manner to usher in model or develop characters extra by means of 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 at college and she or he has some emotionally vital scenes with Drea, it was a fantastic 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 need to be distracting or take away from performances. Since we solely see her at college, we did not need 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 identification of who she is however becoming into this world that we created. Her coloration palette continues to be in the identical really feel as the varsity. Traditional, clear strains had been the way in which to go along 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?
Perhaps the film I simply talked about, One thing From Tiffany’s. A New York rom-com is on the high of my checklist, and the individuals that you just work with can also make the expertise higher. This TV present [Tiny Beautiful Things] and that film, they’re each Howdy Sunshine productions. Actually working with individuals you like and respect who worth your opinion…I’ve actually, actually felt that with Howdy Sunshine.
