Conversations with the artists who create the latest in costume design, fashion and culture. Host: Jazmie Motley-Maddox Subscribe, grab a cup of your favorite coffee and tune in!
Tune in as I chat with Costume Designer and Writer Marjorie McCown! Marjorie began her career in theatre in New York City before moving to LA to work in film and landing a job as Ruth Myers Assistant Costume Designer on "The Addams Family." She also worked on other A-list features including "Forrest Gump." If that doesn't make her cool enough, she pivoted into her passion for murder mysteries writing two of her own - "Final Cut" and "Star Struck," which are loosely based on Hollywood film sets. Her reverence for the craft shines through the way she writes and speaks as she shared so much knowledge + this quote that I'd love to call out: "The more generous you are, the more generosity you get." In true fashion, Marjorie is sharing that generosity with Costumes & Coffee listeners by giving the first person to answer this question a copy of her first book: Who would Marjorie choose to design costumes if her novels were developed into films? Enjoy this convo! I know I did! And don't forget to share your answers by DM-ing the podcast on Instagram @costumesandcoffee.
Tune in as I chat with the legendary Rhonney Greene. Rhonney is the first Black man to design shows for BET, MTV and OWN networks. He is also the costume designer so many other projects including the first season of "Harlem," Tyler Perry's "The Have and Have Nots," "Single Black Female," the second season of "The Ms. Pat Show" and now the upcoming holiday movie "A Very Merry Beauty Salon" on Lifetime. We get into his love for glamour, fashion and draping. He shares why travel is key to gaining a different perspective and how important research and collaboration are to his job. Pour up a cup and tune in!
Tune in as I chat with Costume Designer Cris Araujo. We get into her love for creating costumes for futuristic worlds, her unique path from Key Costumer to Designer, her rich heritage and her love for top fashion designers like Rick Owens. Her latest film Uglies is based on the dystopian novel by Scott Westerfeld. It is set in a future post-scarcity world in which everyone is considered an "Ugly" until they are then turned "Pretty" by extreme cosmetic surgery when they reach the age of 16. What Cris and her team brought to the screen is visually stunning and it was a pleasure to get insight into her creative process and more. Thank you so much Cris for having coffee with me. Pour up a cup!
Tune in to my conversation with Costume Designer Laura Smith. Laura is behind all of the costumes in season 3 of the hit series "Industry". We get into the symbolism behind the looks plus the accessories. She shares where she was able to source such eye-catching pieces. If you're a fan of the show, you know there's a lot of nudity. So we talk about her experience working with the Intimacy Coordinator and why she believes every IC should have their own kit and more. Pour up a cup!
Tune in as I chat with Costume Designer Kairo Courts about her upcoming films “Ruth & Boaz” executive produced by Devon Franklin and the soon to be titled film starring KeKe Palmer and SZA. And of course we dish on the details of her other credits, which include “The Other Black Girl”, “Turtles All The Way Down”, “Naomi”, “Raising Dion”, “Really Love” and “ATLANTA”. Kairo also speaks about the themed playlists she creates for each of her projects to inspire actors to get into character and how she manifested her recent move to Costa Rica. Kairo is such a vibe! Pour up a cup and listen!
Tune in as I chat with Costume Designer Charlese Antoinette Jones. Charlese's latest work can be seen in the action-packed movie "The Instigators" on AppleTV, which we dive into the details of how she paid homage to the city of Boston. She is also the renowned designer behind the looks in "Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody" and "Air," the incredibly popular story behind Michael Jordan's first-ever shoe contract with NIKE. Charlese is a disruptor who creates in every facet of her life and really evokes positive change. From her on screen designs and her storytelling Red Carpet looks to creating the Black Designer Database, Charlese connects so many dots within our industry. Pour up a cup!
Tune in as I chat with Emmy-nominated Costume Designer Courtney Wheeler about her recent nomination for her work on "The Bear" for FX. Courtney explored the great taste of culinary professionals and how aspects of their artistry often spilled over into the wardrobe - something she was able to showcase beautifully on screen. She also shares the challenge of having such a big cast and playing Tetris on who's wearing what colors, how they compliment each other and play in a scene together. Oh, and - Did you know that Syd's Thom Browne chefs coat is beaded?! Such a great conversation! Pour up a cup.
Tune in as I talk to Carol Case, the Emmy-nominated Costume Designer for "Fargo" on FX. We discuss Carol's brilliant designs and how she manages to create costumes for entirely new characters each episode. Carol also shares the experience of designing costumes to withstand the frigid temperatures in North Dakota and Canada - the two places where shooting took place. She also shares great advice for anyone who's looking to join or matriculate within the Costume department. Pour up a cup and tune in!
Tune in as I talk to Karen Serreau, the Emmy-nominated Costume Designer for "The New Look" on AppleTV. We discuss Karen's trips through the Dior archives, what she learned from working so closely with Mr. Dior's dresses and how the design house praised her team for re-creating such iconic dresses. We also discuss the challenges she faced while designing for two opposite worlds - one of luxurious lifestyles and high fashion runways and another of concentration camps during WWII. Pour up a cup!
Today, I'm talking to Costume Designer Christina Flannery, who is nominated for an Emmy for her contemporary designs in "The Righteous Gemstones" for HBO. We talk about how she and her team went all out this season, dressing characters in extravagant custom costumes, such as Aimee-Leigh's watermelon pantsuit and Judy's electric blue opera gown, as well as designer pieces including Jesse's gold trimmed Dolce & Gabbana suit. We also discuss the transition of coming on as the new costume designer for Season 3, and how she used the already established storylines and character arcs to build a fresh new wardrobe that amplifies each siblings' growth throughout the season. The Emmy series continues...Pour up a cup!
Today, I'm talking with Costume Designer Safowa Bright Bitzelberger, who is nominated for Outstanding Period Costumes For A Limited Or Anthology Series for her work on Netflix's hit miniseries Griselda. Safowa is also the only black woman nominated this year as costume designer across all costumes categories. During our conversation, she details her journey to this very special nomination and what it means to her. For the show, Safowa discusses how she pulled (from the estate sales of wealthy women) hundreds of looks incorporating pieces from Escada, Yves Saint Laurent, Versace, Ralph Lauren and Dolce & Gabbana. Safowa shares that she opted for flashy designer pieces for background actors during party scenes to show the new wealthy environment Griselda was in while using simpler 80s silhouettes to emphasize Griselda's personality and lack of interest in fashion. Safowa also shares how she was able to avoid projecting Griselda's power through pantsuits and opting for structured dresses instead to highlight her femininity in the men's world. Pour up a cup!
We're kicking off a series of conversations with this year's Primetime Emmy nominees. Up first is Costume Designer Annie Symons who is nominated for Outstanding Costume Design for her work in Mary & George for STARZ. Ahead of the awards ceremony on Sunday, Sept. 15, I spoke with Annie about what it means to be nominated amongst her peers, and what she's most looking forward to at this year's red carpet. She shares how she started officially designing costumes for local theatre at age 14. We discuss how she brings to life the opulent aesthetics of the Jacobean era, featuring grandiose hats, ruffles, jewels, and the iconic Jacobean Ruffs often worn by Julianne Moore's character, Mary. We also chat about how this Emmy nomination highlights her exceptional attention to detail!
Ahead of the wide release of the moving drama Sing, Sing, I spoke to Costume Designer Desira Pesta about the ways that costumes help bring this story to life on screen. We talk about how she and her ACD searched 10,000 square feet of SUNY Purchase College storage to find props and costumes from the original play that the film is based on. How the uniforms were aged to match the time each character spent in prison to personalize to their status/stories and so much more. Pour up a cup! Pour up a cup!
The Costume Designers Guild, IATSE Local 892, has launched its Pay Equity Now campaign, which focuses on achieving parity with their male-dominated creative department head counterparts. To give a brief background, the Costume Designers Guild consists of professional costume designers, assistant costume designers and costume illustrators working in film, TV, commercials and other media. Its membership is 87% female, and the guild says that they are 65% lower on the IATSE pay scale than male-dominated creative department heads, according to Pay Equity Now. Seeking to expand upon the #NakedWithoutUs campaign that the Costume Designers Guild has used for the past several years, Pay Equity Now is about education that will hopefully lead to industry-shifting change and a better quality of life for Costume Designers. Tune in as Terry A. Gordon, President of the Costume Design Guild (Local 892), discusses all of the details of the campaign and our goals going forward. Pour up a cup!
From quick changes and incredibly tight deadlines to recreating the most popular moments in news and culture, Costume Designer Tom Broecker has been doing his thing behind the scenes at SNL since 1994. His work has earned him 17 Emmy nominations and six wins, a Peabody, five PGA nominations and 10 CDGA nominations and two wins. This year, he's up for another CDGA for his brilliant work in season 48, episode 10 of SNL featuring Aubrey Plaza as guest host. Pour up a cup and tune in as he shares how the universe lead him to Costume Design, his fascinating design process and more.
With two big films to hit theaters over the weekend - "The Book of Clarence" and "Lift," I had to sit down for coffee with Costume Designer Antoinette Messam. Pour up a cup and tune in as she shares her thoughts on the importance of research in costume design, relationship building with costume rental shops around the world, building a global costumes crew, her love for textiles, color theory and so much more.
Join me for coffee with Costume Designer Jen Caprio. You can currently see Jen's designs on Broadway in the hilariously funny musical "SPAMalot" and on the legendary children's show "Sesame Street".
Tune in to the latest episode of Costumes & Coffee with Costume Designer Dominique Dawson, who showcased her talent and artistry in Donald Glover's highly anticipated psychological thriller series, "Swarm." Dominique has had an expansive career bringing her talent to projects ranging from Roberto Patino's "DMZ" to Ava Duvernay and Colin Kaepernick's "Colin In Black & White." During our chat, Dominique shared everything from her start at NYU, why she chose costume design over directing, and how she's inspiring the next generation of designers. She also gets into her research of stan culture (which included lots of Beyonce references) and the inspiration behind looks for Dre, Marissa and Ni'Jah. Plus, she shares what it was like working with a star-studded cast including Chloe Bailey, Billie Eilish, and Nirine S. Brown. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/costumes--coffee/support
Fans are raving over Costume Designer Helen Huang's work in Netflix's new hit series "BEEF." Join us for coffee as she breaks down the inspiration behind each character's costumes, the importance of highlighting diversity within the Asian community and the personal experiences that prepared her to successfully take on this role. Pour up a cup! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/costumes--coffee/support
Today, we're having coffee with "The Last of Us" Costume Designer Cynthia Summers. She shares what it's like to design a video game turned TV series, develop a post-apocalyptic world, and the collaborative process with Special FX Make Up for creating the Clickers - those infected by the zombie-ant fungus. Cynthia's credits include designing “The L Word,” “Swan Song,” “A Series of Unfortunate Events,” “The Babysitter's Club” and more. She even dishes on “Goosebumps,” an upcoming series she's designing for Disney. Cynthia's experience and ability to teach the techniques of design are top notch. Grab a cup and tune in! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/costumes--coffee/support
Join me today for coffee with "Abbott Elementary" Costume Designer Susan Michalek. Picture this. You've gathered all of the clothing and accessories for an upcoming fitting. Instead of placing things on the rack, you place everything in a pile and the actor selects the pieces he or she loves the most to fit. Once pieces are selected, you collaborate with the talent to put together all of the changes that for the episode. It's a far departure from what we're used to, but it's the genius of Susan Michalek. She shares this, what it's like to work with an award-winning cast and so much more. Pour up a cup and tune in! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/costumes--coffee/support
Today, I'm talking to CDGA nominee Natasha Newman-Thomas. You've seen her work in Childish Gambino's “This Is America” music video and the recent Von Dutch documentary on Hulu. We get into the details of her award-nominated work in Yeah, Yeah, Yeah's “Spitting Off the Edge of the World” video, and how she brought back the fun of iconic rock star energy with the designs and styling. She also shares the unique story of how she landed in Costumes after going to helicopter school. Yep, helicopter school. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/costumes--coffee/support
Today, we're having coffee with Carrie Cramer. Carrie is an artist and Costume Designer who has worked on a number of projects. And today we're highlighting the fact that she is a CDGA nominee for her work alongside Jason Rembert for Lizzo's "Watch Out For The Big Grrrls". We discuss her experience in reality TV (We all remember MTV's “Singled Out” right?), her passion for creating ceramics and oil paintings and the clothing line she created with Daniel Tosh “Boys Wear Pink Too”. Pour up a cup! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/costumes--coffee/support
BEL-AIR is back tonight for an incredibly stylish second season, and we're talking to artist behind the looks! Tune in to the latest episode as I have coffee with Costume Designer QueenSylvia Akuchie. QueenSylvia takes us on her journey from law school to costume design, and her start as Tyler Perry's right hand in Costumes & Wardrobe. She also gives us impeccable insight into the careful thought she put into showcasing wealth, heritage and style for the looks this season. And how locally sourcing pieces helped her bring authentic storytelling to the screen. Pour up a cup! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/costumes--coffee/support
Tune in to the latest episode of the podcast as I chat with Costume Designer Deirdra Govan. Deirdra shares the insight behind the costumes for Harlem season 2 - the inspiration behind each of the ladies' unique style, and the conscious effort she made to avoid “window dressing” the guys. As a member of Local 892 and the vice president of Local 829, Deirdra shares insight into some of the most pressing issues designers face today. Plus, hear more about she's creating “an opportunity zone” and “legacy of access” for future artists everywhere. Pour up a cup and tune in to this enlightening conversation a great conversation. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/costumes--coffee/support
Check out the episode which features a conversation with Costume Designer Johnetta Boone. We discuss how her remarkable career, the life experience she has that lends itself to designing the stories of diverse characters, her process for uniquely dressing a multitude of cowboys in “Yellowstone” for 16 million viewers and so much more. Her wisdom and insight are gold. A quote she shared so eloquently: “My color does not transcend my title (as Costume Designer). My skin color does not dictate the kind of work that I do…because I am able to contribute to all environments.” That's a mantra! If you're currently working in the industry or aspire to, this conversation is for you. Tune in! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/costumes--coffee/support
Today, we're talking to Costume Designer Trayce GiGi Field about her work in Rian Johnson's new series Poker Face, her recent NAACP Image Award nomination for her designs in A League of Their Own and so much more. She has designed two hit series streaming simultaneously on two different networks - and with another show in the works - Trayce offers some guidance and fun stories about her journey in costumes. Grab a cup of coffee and tune in! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/costumes--coffee/support
We're back with more coffee and conversations! Kicking off season 3 of the podcast with Quita Alfred, the Costume Designer of the new hit drama "Women Talking,” which has earned Quita a nomination for this year's Costume Designers Guild Awards. She brilliantly shares the research and inspiration behind the costumes in “Women Talking," a particular affirmation that I believe we all should tap into and some of the invaluable wisdom she's gained through the process of the project. Grab a cup of coffee, tune in and don't forget to subscribe for the latest. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/costumes--coffee/support
Check out the latest conversation with Costume Designer Phoenix Mellow. We discuss what inspired her to pursue a career in Costume Design, her process for a more sustainable design process and the inspiration behind the looks in the second season of “The Sex Lives of College Girls” on HBOMax. Her advice for aspiring designers is top tier! Pour up a cup and tune in.
Listen in today as I chat with Jenna Tyson, fashion stylist to rapper Flo Milli and NBA player James Harden. We discuss her bond with legendary trailblazer Misa Hylton, her experience at the Misa Hylton Fashion Academy and the inspiration behind some of her most recent creative hits. Jenna has also been assistant designing for a series that's a part of one of the hottest TV franchises. Pour up a cup of coffee and tune in!
Pour up a cup of coffee and check out my latest conversation with the Costume Designer Jaclyn Banner. We discuss her journey from Wardrobe Stylist to Costume Designer, her unique design range and her inspiration behind the costumes in Hulu's latest series ‘Kindred,' based on the novel from award-winning science fiction author Octavia Butler. She drops a lot of gems. Enjoy!
I love exploring the intersection and history of costumes and fashion. After all, how would we know if it's an original idea without something to reference? The next episode of the podcast features Colleen Hill, Curator of costumes and accessories at The Museum at FIT, New York. We chat about what she does as a museum curator and her latest 90s-inspired coffee table book. We even get into some fun costumes trivia like... - Which 90s sitcom character was scripted to be a fashion student at FIT. - What decade mixed metals became a thing. - What vintage collection pieces she looks for when shopping. Grab a cup and tune in!
Join me for coffee with Costume Designer Leslie Kavanagh as she dishes on her career and all of the costume details from season 5 of Hulu's hit series “The Handmaid's Tale.” We chat about everything from the role of color this season to designing and developing ‘The Plums' to indicate a new social classification, which hasn't been done since season two. Leslie shares her experience costuming hundreds of background performers, creating the details of the Commanders' uniforms, and her collaboration with Elisabeth Moss. Leslie also goes into detail about creating a show-stopping funeral look and how she depicted the evolution of the characters by designing new fashion-forward, yet conservative silhouettes. Grab a cup of coffee and tune in! You don't want to miss it.
Pour up a cup of coffee and check out my latest conversation with the incredibly talented Costume Designer Tsigie White and the legendary Costume Designer Frank L. Fleming. We discuss Tsigie's journey through the costumes department into her dream career, her inspiration behind the authentic 90s looks for ‘Raising Kanan' and so much more. Have you ever heard of grape gold earrings? I hadn't either until Tsigie shared her love for designing with them. As a bonus, legendary Costume Designer Frank L. Fleming joined us for a masterful conversation about how he went from assistant designing on Monsters Ball into the design seat, how he manages costumes across the entire Power Universe and how he is passing the torch to the designers of the future, including Tsigie White. Both Tsigie and Frank share valuable knowledge and unique insight through clothes, storytelling and business. Tune in!
I sat down for coffee with fashion historian, archivist and research consultant Tianni Janae' Graham. In this episode, she discusses her extensive career in fashion, her current role at Thom Browne, how fashion pieces are archived, some of her favorite personally archived pieces and her tips on the proper way to store costumes for future use.
Join me and 4x CAFTCAD- award winning Costume Designer Gersha Phillips for coffee! You may recognize Gersha's work in the wildly popular Star Trek Discovery. Her film credits include designing Barbershop, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, A Raisin In The Sun, Black Nativity, The Secret Life Of Marilyn Monroe and most recently the highly anticipated blockbuster The Woman King, which premieres this Friday. Grab a cup because we're talking costumes with one of the most insightful designers in the industry.
Join me and 6x Tony-award winning, Emmy-award winning, and Oscar-nominated Costume Designer Paul Tazewell for coffee! Paul is the first Black man ever to receive a nomination in the Academy's Costume Design category. You may recognize Paul's work in the critically acclaimed stage plays
Pour up a cup of coffee and check out my latest conversation with Emmy-nominated Costume Designer Heidi Bivens. We discuss her career pivot from journalism to styling, her work as the Costume Designer of HBO's hit series Euphoria and her latest role as film Director. Enjoy!
Pour up a cup of coffee and check out my latest conversation with legendary Costume Designer Tracey A. White. She's responsible for the looks in Netflix's blue -collar comedy The Upshaws, Tales From The Hood and Carmen: A Hip Hopera. Enjoy!
Pour up a cup of coffee and check out my conversation w/ 5x Emmy-award winning Costume Designer Marina Toybina. Millions watch The Masked Singer on FOC each week for the main attraction - the COSTUMES!
I sat down with Tony award-winning Respect Costume Designer Clint Ramos. Watch to learn more about the inspiration behind his designs, how the looks he created really told the inner most stories of Aretha Franklin and more.
Tune in tonight as I chat with BMF on Starz Costume Designer Keia Bounds. We chat about her career start in fashion and editorial, her favorite designs and we even play a quick game of STO (See It, Touch It, Obtain It). Subscribe, please And tune in! You don't want to miss this episode.
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