EP 7: Fashion on Film and TV - The Role of Costume Design in Storytelling

Join host Karis Reneé in this exciting episode of Fashion Files as she delves into the world of costume design, a career that holds a special place in her heart. Karis shares her journey into costume design, from her initial dream to her first major project, along with the creative process, challenges, and rewards of the profession. Discover insider insights on creating character stories through clothing, costuming iconic films and TV shows, and the importance of collaboration on set. Learn about her inspiring experiences working on the movie 'Young King' and other notable projects. Whether you're an aspiring costume designer or a fashion enthusiast, this episode is packed with valuable knowledge and inspiration. Stay stylish, and keep that flame burning bright!

00:00 Introduction to Fashion Files

00:36 Karis Reneé's Journey into Costume Design

05:06 The Role and Challenges of a Costume Designer

09:46 Highlighting Karis Reneé's Film Work

13:42 Iconic Fashion Moments in Film and TV

28:01 Spotlight on Ruth E. Carter

31:55 Style Spotlight: Mercedes Cook

33:16 Conclusion and Advice for Aspiring Designers

Creators & Guests

Host

Karis Reneé

Fashion Loves All Minds & Egos 💕 Fashion Files podcast

What is Fashion Files?

Fashion Files is a captivating podcast hosted by Karis Reneé that delves into the glamorous world of fashion. Explore styling secrets, costume design insights, and red-carpet chronicles featuring both solo episodes and interviews with fashion industry experts. Each episode will inspire, entertain, and educate fashion enthusiasts.

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Karis: Welcome back to Fashion Files with Caris Renee. I'm your host, Caris Renee, and I'm so happy to have you here with us. [00:00:30] this episode I'm super excited about. This is something that is super close and dear to my heart. We are going to get into costume design, so a lot of you may not know, but I am a costume designer.

It actually was a very [00:00:45] long time dream of mine. It was something that I saw in my future. I don't know what future, but like. Somewhere down the line and it came a lot sooner than I expected it to come. Um, but it was something that was always a big dream of mine. I [00:01:00] wanted to see my name going across the big screen and just saying, costume designer cares Renee or Cares Battle, as some of y'all know.

And so it was something that I always saw for myself. Um, it just [00:01:15] was a long time goal 'cause I thought it would take me a long time to get there, but. Thanks to God, I've made it there before now. So I wanna talk a little bit about costume design, kind of the ins and out, just the role that it plays in filming TV [00:01:30] and you know, yeah, just give y'all some insider insights, insight and have some chat about costume design.

As you all know, I am a stylist. I've been doing styling for a very long time, and if you watch my previous episode about the episode that was [00:01:45] little about me and getting to know me, the host, you'll find out a lot about my background and all the things that I do. So I'm not gonna repeat those.

You need to go watch it if you haven't watched it. That's your fault, so play catch up. All right, so I'm a stylist and so that kind of [00:02:00] led me into, um, getting into costume design. I've done a lot of work with like organizations and, um, doing lifestyle shoots and commercials and ad and campaigns, and so a little bit before.

Before Covid actually, [00:02:15] um, I got the opportunity to start doing some costume design for, um, TV sets and, um, doing filming. And I'm used to being on set. Of course, like as a stylist you do different things where you're on set. And so, um, I was [00:02:30] able to get some opportunities in both, um, New York and Atlanta to do costume design I was shocked, honestly, because I was thrown into it as something that I hadn't done before. Um, a couple of people had reached out to me and I [00:02:45] applied to a couple things just like trying to get my foot in the door. I wanted to just assist and, you know, kind of see, you know, what could happen. And as you know, when we were in the pandemic, we were.

So bored and not doing anything. So a lot of people that were out of work, [00:03:00] were doing like all of the, these different workshops and series and things of that sort. And so I was able to get on like this costume design or designer workshop. I was still in school at the time too. Um, so I was still pursuing my master's in fashion journalism.

[00:03:15] And so I had like all these different doors that were opening. So there were a lot of workshops that were happening and um, a few costume designers had got on some. Um, online workshops while we were stuck in a house with nothing to do and we're just talking about [00:03:30] like the behind the scenes of costume design.

And shout out to Mandy Line. I was able to create some relationships, with some fellow costume designers, um, that I looked up to, and that just was able to give me some insights on how to get started in the [00:03:45] industry.

So. That led to me being able to land a couple of costume design jobs. I was super nervous, super scared. I'm like, what am I getting into? But honestly, that's just my life. Like a lot of the things that I've [00:04:00] done in the industry, I've been thrown into it kind of like this. I've been thrown into it and I just have to figure it out as I go.

And somehow with God, it all ends up working out. Um, and that's when you know, like. You're living in your [00:04:15] purpose. You're doing what you're called to do. Um, and God's gonna work out the rest. You know, all you have to do is show up, put in your effort. If you're talented, you know that you're talent, you have the experience, everything else is gonna fall into place.

And that's literally what it did. [00:04:30] Um, well that's literally what happened for me. And so I was able to start. Doing costume design. And I was like, what? How did I get here? Um, and not even just going into it with assisting, but actually being the lead costume designer. And [00:04:45] so, um, yeah, so it was a blessing. Um, I've done a few shorts.

Um, I've definitely done some TV series. and I had my first feature film. That was premiered this year in August at A [00:05:00] BFF in Miami and is currently circulating through the, film festivals, but we'll get into that later. So let's backtrack a little bit and let's get into kind of what costume designing is in like the behind the scenes of what a [00:05:15] costume designer does.

Okay.

Let's talk about the creative process behind being a costume designer and doing costume design. So basically costume design is creating a story, um, for character. You take a script and you are [00:05:30] basically telling that character story and point of view, view, of course. Through what they are wearing, through their full look.

So not just, just like as a stylist where you're putting looks together, but you also create what they may look like You. [00:05:45] Do, do you work very heavily and very closely with the hairstylist, the makeup artist. Um, you work hand in hand with your director. Um, you want to bring the director's vision to life and that script to life, and you're creating that [00:06:00] storyline of who that character is, right?

So a lot, there's a lot of groundwork. As with anything, there's a lot of groundwork that comes. And it's not just putting clothes. On a body, like there's so much more work involved in costume [00:06:15] design versus styling. And so let's kind of get into that and what some of those differences are. When I get a script, um, I have to literally build the character, the character line and what that plot looks like, and taking [00:06:30] what is happening and, and envisioning.

And sometimes it's character growth, like sometimes you're building what that character is going to grow from. The beginning to the end of the story, you know, and there are going to be defining [00:06:45] moments, especially with their costume that you have to create and decide what that looks like. Sometimes you have a period piece where you're p pulling from a certain era. Maybe you're pulling from the seventies or the thirties, or in [00:07:00] my case with my movie, I was pulling from the early two thousands, and so you'll have to be able to source. And create a story that tells that story in that decade and not necessarily current decade.

[00:07:15] And so, um the role of the costume designer is very important, but it's also important to tell that story based off of location. Era based off of what the plot, the summary of the script, what are is the [00:07:30] director and the writer trying to get across in this script, and figuring out how to tell that story with what these characters look like.

And then sometimes the characters are married together, like not married like in the sense of a [00:07:45] relationship, but like. They need to tell separate stories, but still be cohesive and you have to figure out how to do that and what that looks like. So that's kind of a little bit just like kind of high level of kinda what that initial process looks like, [00:08:00] um, into costume designs.

And so as with anything, you're gonna face some challenges. Normally the main challenge with costume design is budget. A lot of times it's sometimes people don't realize how [00:08:15] important. Um, costume design is on set, and so sometimes they skip corners when it comes to that. They'll spill money on the set.

They'll spend money on, of course, the cameras and sound and all of those things. And sometimes we get the short [00:08:30] end of the stick and we have to figure out how to make it work with a smaller budget sometimes. And that may means shopping in, um, the character's closet. That may mean shopping in your.

Stylist Closet, or, you know, in this industry you have to [00:08:45] build relationships so that you can pull and borrow pieces and, you know, and things of that, that, that sort. Also working with seamstress and Taylors, um, and making sure that you can pull from any of your network to be [00:09:00] able to get it done and still stay within budget.

But budget is even with styling and with you. Styling. I feel like you're a little bit more flexible with budget because you can kind of set that with like, with your client based off of their [00:09:15] budget, but you still have to stay within that. But I think that with costume design, a lot of times, um, because I feel like unfortunately sometimes we are at the bottom of the barrel and we get pulled from before anybody else, like unfortunately.

[00:09:30] So we have to really try to. Use those constraints and stay within those budgets and pull for pull for more. I'm always saying like, well, what else can I get? But I'm also really good at staying within a budget, and so that's just something that you have to learn and it [00:09:45] just comes with the territory. Okay, so we mentioned my film that came up, so let's go ahead and talk about the film that I had premiered this year is called Young King. You can see the poster. Here. And, um, [00:10:00] it's, I'm so proud of it. I actually shot it during COV Go figure. it was shot actually in Charlotte.

The writer and director Brian T. Griffin and Selena, they both who was the [00:10:15] producer, brought me on to be the costume designer for the film. I'm super grateful for them. Honestly, the team was one of the best teams I have ever worked on in my career. Everybody was so close. We work. So well together, the team and the cast.

The cast [00:10:30] was amazing. Shout out to the star of the show, Vince Washington. Um, I love him so much. We have a great relationship still to this day. Um, I have a great relationship with all of the team, honestly, and it was just such a blessing. Like [00:10:45] the cast, we, we. We shot for about a month. Um, yes. Shooting a movie in a month.

Crazy, right? Um, but it was such a blessing. And the film is basically about, a post vet who is struggling to, [00:11:00] um. Get back into civilian life and struggling with PTSD and unfortunately deals with some trauma, um, based around that. And so it's talking about real life problems that a lot of people that you may know and love, that we all know [00:11:15] and love that may face.

Today and not getting the help in the, in the things that they deserve and that they need. Um, so like I said, it is currently being shopped through the different film festivals. It started at A BFF in Miami [00:11:30] and it then went to Martha's Vineyard and it just left, um, Austin, Texas Film Festival. And I don't know what's next, but I'm super excited and hopefully it will be.

On a, the, in a theater or a streaming [00:11:45] service near you sometime soon. So be sure to look out for it. It is, like I said, my fir it is not my first film that I did, but it's the first one that has come out. And so that's another thing, one of the challenges. You do a lot of things that may never see the [00:12:00] light of day, but you also know it's just gonna help you strengthen who you are, strengthen your skill, and so I am super proud about this one.

So that is my film, young Kink.

So we talked about some of the challenges, but let's [00:12:15] talk about some of the rewards. So, of course, as I said earlier, one of the things that I could not wait to do was see my name on the big screen, and I've gotten to see that. I've gotten to see my name. On the big screen [00:12:30] come across as costume designer, and that was super rewarding.

In addition to that, just seeing something that you worked on on the big screen and knowing that I literally dressed everybody that [00:12:45] you're seeing. On the screen and like it's my work and it's something that I did like. It's one of my proudest moments. And so even through the challenges and even through like, you know, just pushing through something that you may are like, oh my gosh, this is a lot, this is [00:13:00] great.

It's such a good feeling to see the outcome of that. So. Yeah, it's definitely rewarding and it's something that I'm super excited about and I'm in the beginning stages of my costume design career. Um, and so I'm super to see it [00:13:15] continue to grow and I can't wait to get me some real iconic moments. I can't wait to get me a real, a fashion show, like a fashion moment, and we'll get into some of my favorites later, but like.

As to what I'm talking about, but like I can't [00:13:30] wait to style and do costume design for a show that I actually get to like pick out what the looks are and make some iconic fashion moments. That's what I'm excited about. that rose into the next thing that I was gonna talk about. So some of the things that, um, [00:13:45] are important in what costume designers bring to the table is creating these iconic fashion moments. So think about your sex in a city, think about your clueless. So let's get into some of those things. And like I said, some of the [00:14:00] things that I'm looking forward to doing in my costume design career.

[00:14:15] [00:14:30] [00:14:45] Okay. First up, you know, as the fashion girl, you know where we gotta start, and if you don't know. You've been living under the rock, so. We gonna go ahead and get into the [00:15:00] Iconic Fashion Girl movie, the Devil Wears Prada, which the costume designer is one of my favorite costume designers, which I've talked about previously.

And we will talk about her a lot because she's in a couple of these moments because that's just, [00:15:15] she's that girl when it comes to costume design, and that is Patricia. Field. So she was actually the costume designer for the Devil Wears Prada. we think about like the iconic moments that happened in that movie.

So we know that, we remember how [00:15:30] Andy's wardrobe before was really drab, really bland. she was coming into the office and everybody was looking at her like, what do you have on, what are you wearing? Until, until she got with [00:15:45] Simon and she pulled up in those Chanel boobs and literally it transformed the whole movie.

It transformed her style. It transformed the respect that people had for her, and it is still one of the most iconic moments that people always remember. [00:16:00] In addition to, of course, the Ilian Blue conversation and the. Um, florals for spring groundbreaking, right? So those are all kind of moments that con were contributed by Patricia [00:16:15] Phil, who was the costume designer, because if she had not created these looks, we wouldn't be talking about 'em.

They wouldn't have been monumental from the movie. Okay, Another one of Patricia Phil's Moments, sex and the City. We can talk about all of them, but we know Carrie [00:16:30] Bradshaw is somebody that we talk about still to this day These moments transcend out of the movie into everyday real life, right?

We think about how people talk about Carrie bras out who is somebody who is [00:16:45] fictional, but as she's a real person, Sarah Jessica Parker has gone on to make her own shoe line and everything just from the impact that she had in the movies, in the Sex and the City movies that. Was created [00:17:00] by Patricia Phil, these fashion moments.

we think about her teal tool skirt that she wore that was such a iconic moment. her wedding dress, that was a rebellious moment with the super big,

bird hat or oversized hat, and just some of the other moments that, [00:17:15] that were created that people still remember till this.

Day. I don't know if y'all caught last year there was like this trend on TikTok where people were doing the Carrie Bradshaw walk, where they were doing a little skip down the, um, New York [00:17:30] Street, you know, across, crossing over the streets and crossing New York blocks. Like all of these moments. Like I said, part of them of course is the script of the movie, but it's also because of what she was wearing.

And so Patricia Field, she's had so [00:17:45] many in her career, like we can't even name them all. So next up another Patricia Field moment. I told y'all we was gonna talk a lot about her, like she's really been did her big one as far as a costume designer. Confessions of A Shopaholic, one of my favorite [00:18:00] movies. That whole movie was fashion related, right? So we can talk about so many looks in that movie when she was walking by looking at the dress and the mannequins were talking to her. but let's just focus on the one part of the movie where [00:18:15] she had that scarf, the scarf that she was auctioning off, that she, it meant so much to her. Um, something that, like I said again. It stood out and it's something that you took away from the movie, Okay, so now let's get into some [00:18:30] fa fashion, iconic moments from tv. We talked a lot about film, but let's talk about tv, right? So We talked about sex in the city. So let's talk about and just like that, which is a spinoff from Sex in a [00:18:45] City.

Right? So we have the reboot, and I will never forget, like there is this one moment that stands out to me the most. Nicole Ari Parker, I can't remember her name in the show,

she had this utility inspired look that is like, [00:19:00] monochrome and it has like these, it's like a cargo short with these like cargo boots, kind of similar to something that I'm wearing today, which also, if you didn't notice, it's inspired by my movie Young King. But anyways, and so, and she had [00:19:15] this moment that was.

Super chic, super girly, and it's one of my favorite looks in the series. But all of the characters in this show, like they have so many memorable moments, fashion moments, [00:19:30] the costume designers, yeah, they really created these stories and you see from like season one to season two to season three, like how the characters grow.

What they're wearing as the characters grow in this, in the the show. [00:19:45] also, as we talked about sex in the city and in just like that. The Carrie Diaries, which is basically the lead up, the prequel to Sex in a city.

Right? I love the Carrie Diaries. I have like been watched that show [00:20:00] over and over, Young, Carrie Bradshaw, and Larissa, who was Carrie's friend in the, in the um, TV series. Their looks. They were eighties inspired looks, which I love. 'cause you know, I'm a bold color girl. I'm [00:20:15] a bold print girl. So I love eighties looks.

But the looks in this series are some of the most standout. It's like, like also another good show. It, it, it reminds me of like, looks from Fran, From the nanny from Fran [00:20:30] Dressler, like, those types of shows that pull from certain eras, those looks are so iconic and I, I love them.

Moving right along, we can bring it to something that is modern and out today. I don't know if you guys watch Bel Air, which is [00:20:45] of course the new and modern version reboot of the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, and I literally just watched the Season F finale of the new season.

So spoiler alert, if you haven't seen it yet, I'm telling you now, so you can just skip past this [00:21:00] spark, but. Hillary's dress. I have never seen a wedding dress that looks like that. I love when people do something different with their wedding looks, but her story and to [00:21:15] be able to pull from, here's the thing, when you have a reboot of a show that was.

Already a classic and to be able to remake it. Bel Air is one of the only shows that we've seen it done right to be able to remake it. So you have to use the old show [00:21:30] that you are inspired by and create looks and create a story that still gives you that feel, but make it modern. They have done that so well.

The costume designers for Belaire have done that so well. And so her dress, her [00:21:45] wedding dress. If you haven't seen it, please check it out. Um, of course if you're watching this, you'll be able to see it, but if you're listening, please go check it out. Um, it was so beautiful. It was such a standout moment, but literally, everybody on the show, the [00:22:00] looks eat down.

Okay, next up is another fashion show. This actually is like, kind of similar to like a series version of the Devil's Wear Wear. Its Prada, but not really, but it kind of puts you in the mind of that, and [00:22:15] that's the bold type. Um, but the looks like it literally is about a fashion magazine. So of course they have no choice but to have iconic fashion moments.

there's so many standout moments. Um, I loved watching the show and watching the [00:22:30] see what they were gonna wear for each episode.

And when I say I wanna do a fashion show. This is what I mean. I mean something like the bowl type, something like Carry di, the Carry diaries. Um, and so I'm hoping to [00:22:45] get to that point in my career where I can do costume design and create these iconic fashion moments, which also brings us back. Into something modern day and Emily in Paris.

Um, and I know everybody, this is a little [00:23:00] controversy 'cause some people love the fashion in Emily in Paris and some people hate it and that's okay because fashion is subjective. So you can have your own point of view. But Emily in Paris is definitely another moment that we have modern day fashion [00:23:15] where, um, you're gonna see the looks.

so Emily in Paris. Of course, Emily had multiple looks that are definitely iconic, but. Her girl, Mindy Mindy's looks, especially her performing looks when she was on stage, [00:23:30] which of course performing looks are always kind of more over the top, but like, I loved all of the looks that she wore.

There are so many standout looks in this show, so like even if you, you know, some of the looks, you're like,

I don't really like it. Like, a lot of [00:23:45] times the first season people were not really like, they felt like it was too Parisian, too, like cliche Parisian. But I. Think that, like I said, I feel like that as an American in Paris, I think that the costume designers did a great job showing that because a [00:24:00] lot of times people go to Paris and they feel like this is how I'm supposed to look.

And I feel like that that was just a matter of being able to grow her storyline as a character with her clothing. So as you got into season two and she got a little more Parisian, [00:24:15] she understood how to dress a little bit better, so. But you gotta understand that, to be able to appreciate that. All right. And our next one, I'm probably gonna be putting you onto a show you may have or may not have ever heard of before, called Jane by Design. [00:24:30] I love all fashion shows, so I like watch all of them. But this one was about a young girl. She was actually, a high schooler who, had aspirations of being a designer.

And so it was completely circled around fashion. And so, um. I can't think of [00:24:45] right now any specific moments, but just in general, the costume design for, um, that show, um, stood out to me and the The costume designer for that show was Nancy Gould. Okay. So shout out to her and check that show out if you haven't, [00:25:00] because I love, like, even just the moments that Jane created, um, as a designer in that show. The looks, chef's kiss. Okay, so now let's get into some of the moments that are like more bold and rebellious. So [00:25:15] let's start with Cruella, the new one. Well, first of all, of course, we can go back to Disney and yell Disney Cruella, she ate down. But let's talk about the new Cruella, So Cruella was this rebellious moment, which was really like,

[00:25:30] inspired by like punk rock and like the looks were super avant-garde, but had a a, a edge to them. Like, I loved the looks. I actually loved it so much that I was Cruella for Halloween last year.

Okay? [00:25:45] So if you have not seen that movie. Please look at that movie as well and look at all of the looks that, um, were inspired by like a punk, rock, rock and a little edge. Um, but still very much given fashion. Okay. And on [00:26:00] the flip side of that, we'll go to Barbie, the new one. And so Barbie was this. Super chic, super girly.

We already know who Barbie is, and she is that girl. to see those [00:26:15] moments also brought to screen and brought into like a life size realistic, um, moment. And every character, as you know, as Barbie's do, had their own distinct style. So these were our bold and rebellious moments that we know that [00:26:30] we had these very dramatic looks that even like I said, I dressed as Cruella for Halloween last year, and you saw a lot of Barbie looks that were turned into Halloween outfits based off of. The looks from the movie, [00:26:45] let's talk about some iconic characters that were created, you know, kind of based off of what they wore in the movie. So we'll start with Legally Blonde. We already know our girl L was gonna be super girly. She was gonna have on some pink, her and her little baby, her [00:27:00] dog.

all of those moments were so iconic and it created. To, to who she was in the movie and created her story. And even still to this day, I can't even remember when Legally Blind or Legally Blind two [00:27:15] came out, but that's something that is still talked about to this day. And speaking of movies that came out a long time ago, but are still iconic and talked about to this day. Next up is clueless. I love this movie so much. I did a editorial [00:27:30] shoot inspired by the movie. Okay. Cher and Dionne's looks were iconic again. They are still looks that are replicated to this day. When you see plaid and yellow mixed together, you instantly think about Cher.

[00:27:45] When you see somebody wearing red and black and this big old top hat, you instantly think about Dionne. There are so many iconic looks that came out of Clueless that are still, like I said, being replicated today in today's fashion,

for [00:28:00] costumes. Um. Inspiring other movies Last, but certainly not least, we're going to get into some fashion that is rooted in heritage and culture. So we're gonna go ahead and start [00:28:15] with coming to America because we all know that movie. We know and love that movie and we know. It tied back to African roots and bringing that to the screen and showing the beauty of African royalty.

[00:28:30] And so the looks that came out of that were so great and huge. And that was with our girl, Ruthie Carter. If you look behind me, I have her book back there feature because I love her so much as a. A costume [00:28:45] designer. I'm super inspired by her. And if, you know, if you got, like I said, watch the getting to know me, you'll know a little bit more about that.

Um, and we're gonna talk about some more things in a little bit. But let's just talk about some of the, the influence that she has had in costume design and with [00:29:00] her roles as a costume designer in these movies. So, moving right along, we get into Black Panther. Of course Black Panther and Wakanda forever.

Ruthie Carter created these looks. She actually had, um, an exhibit that,[00:29:15]

was a traveling exhibit that you got to see these pieces up close and personal, and it came to my area and I was able to actually go see the looks from Black Panther and Wakanda forever. And I was. Taking a bat, I was [00:29:30] overwhelmed by just the detail and the specificity of how great these pieces were, and I was able to learn like some of the people that she worked with.

A lot of times when they are culture inspired, um, they work with people who are [00:29:45] actually. This in these cultures, in these areas. Um, and so she was able to work with a lot of African designers and things of that sort to be able to bring these visions to life. just to see them up close in detail, it showed me how [00:30:00] much longer I had to go to get as good as her because the looks were just so good.

And there's so many iconic moments that you'll pull from those movies that people still talk about to this day. .

And so as a [00:30:15] bonus, we have the Woman King.

I wanted to include this one because I just felt like, just like coming to America and Black Panther and Wakanda forever, I felt like that the woman King had such iconic moments that just stood out to me. That [00:30:30] made women look powerful but still feel feminine.

So I love that. And I feel like that there are iconic moments that we will still talk about and pull from for other looks and for other, like even sequels or other movies that are inspired by [00:30:45] the women gang.

So, like I said, shout out to our girl, Ruthie Carter. She's been doing her thing and she's been doing it for a couple of decades now. And so she also was able to land, um, a costume designer award. That's how [00:31:00] great, um, she is at what she does. And so, um, in 2018, she landed an Academy Award for Black Panther.

And in 2022, she landed, um, an Academy Award for Wakanda [00:31:15] forever. She became the first black person to win the Academy Award for costume design not just to win it, but to win it for the first film and the sequel. So shout out to her. I love that she also has a Hollywood star as she [00:31:30] should, and so I'm so inspired by her. She, like I said, she's one of my favorite costume designers and I have so much growth to get to where she is. But she's been in the game for a long time, so rightfully so.

But shout out to Ruthie Carter if [00:31:45] you didn't know who she is. I hope you know a little bit more about her today, and please go learn more about her and follow everything that she's doing, because she really has the game down.

All right. So as y'all know, this is my favorite part of the episode, the Style [00:32:00] Spotlight. And this time of course, I had to highlight a costume designer, a fellow costume designer. I actually was able to meet this costume [00:32:15] designer when I attended Culture Con last year. She's super sweet. Um, I loved her. And if you watch the Shy.

You know her as well. Her name is Mercedes Cook. [00:32:30] You can find her at on Instagram at Mercedes Cook. Please check out her work. I'm super inspired by her. Like I said, I got to personally meet her. We got to talk a little bit [00:32:45] about costume design. Um, I hope I get the opportunity to work with her one day, but like I said, if you haven't checked out The Shy and a lot of her other work.

Please feel free to check her out and make sure if you follow her on Instagram, you tag us. Use the [00:33:00] hashtag fashion files and tell her we sent you. All right. And if you know somebody that you are inspired by and you think we would be inspired by them too. Be sure to use the hashtag flame style spotlight so that we can possibly feature them [00:33:15] on one of our episodes.

All right, so this wraps up this costume design for film and TV episode. I hope that you thoroughly enjoyed it. I hope that you got something added it. If you are an inspiring costume designer, please, [00:33:30] my biggest thing I tell you with everything in this industry is to try to network as much as you can find somebody who is doing what you wanna do.

Reach out to them. Reach out to multiple people, reach out to them again, like, [00:33:45] I'm so serious, and do whatever. You can try to get on set, even if it's just getting on set. As a pa, a lot of people start in their careers as a pa. Just to get you on set so that you can have the conversations with the people that you need to meet [00:34:00] so that you can move into the career path that you want.

So do whatever you can. They're always looking for PAs. Also, another idea to, and how to get on set is to sign up or apply or audition to be a extra [00:34:15] extras. Don't really have to do a lot. Most of the time. Most of the time just. Standing there, they're walking or whatever, anything you can to get your foot in the door to get on set.

'cause a lot of times that is your way into, that's your way in, that's your door opener. I was [00:34:30] blessed to be able to get in another way. Um, but a again, these are just some ideas, um, that you can implement. In your journey to become a costume designer. So I hope that you enjoy this episode That wraps us up.

[00:34:45] So until next time, stay stylish and keep that flame burning bright. Bye. [00:35:00] [00:35:15] [00:35:30] [00:35:45]