The 1990’s can be an intense time in American fashion. There are a lot of prints, bold colors and oversized, baggy silhouettes. At least that is what you remember when you re-watch episodes of Beverly HIlls 90210 or Fresh Prince of Bel Air. But the reality of small midwestern towns in the early to mid-90’s is far more subdued. For the design concept of this series, I worked closely with the director, Rebecca Thomas, to create a more subtle palette to better fit with the seriousness and weight of the storyline. To do this, I referenced 1,000’s of yearbooks, teen magazines and book references all over the US/Midwest. I combined celebrity teen culture with the everyday looks of real teenagers. Creating research boards for each character is not only crucial for period shows, but it is one of my favorite elements of the job as Costume Designer. For “Becky”, played by Sophie Thatcher, it was important for her to separate herself from the “perfect” image her older sister “Chrissy” embodied. I loved references for her like Winona Ryder and Courtney Love, using special pieces found at vintage stores as opposed to Chrissy who like Liv Tyler lived in the pages of Teen Vogue.

One of the many challenges of this series was the location of Vancouver, Canada. While Vancouver is host to many incredible vintage stores, I had to rely on my arsenal of vintage dealers and renters from all over to supply the sheer volume needed to costume this series. In the end, it was an incredible journey with a very rewarding 90’s soundtrack.