Dede Lovelace, Ajani Russell and Moonbear in Betty, Season 2 Episode 6.
In all entertainment endeavors, clothes tell just as much of a story as does a screenplay or a song. It’s why we’re grateful for costume design greats— the ones whose arts both feed our eyes and inform plot and character. With the premiere of the fall television lineup and awards season around the corner, now is as good a time as ever to appreciate wardrobe and keep your eye out for the next wave of great costume designers. See five below that you should definitely keep your eye on.
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On HBO’s Betty, Cristina Spiridakis enlivened the all-girl crew of NYC skaters with individualized wardrobes that matched the vibrance of their respective characters. It’s a shame we won’t be able to see more of Janay, Camille and the rest of the gang. Spiridakis’ wardrobe truly captured the balance of Gen-Z trendiness and skate culture without sacrificing personality. Over the last few years, she has also served as costume designer for Dash & Lily, High Maintenance and Difficult People. We can’t wait to see her next project.
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Lynsey Moore has worked on a fair amount of TV productions since 2016. An exceptional example is her two-time collaboration with visionary storyteller Michaela Coel for her shows Chewing Gum and I May Destroy You. Even with the intense storyline of the latter, Moore’s work so clearly stood out and brought to life a character who has fair enough reason to be a shell of a human. Her dexterity for the craft was further proven by helming costume design for a storyline from nearly five centuries ago. With British miniseries Anne Boleyn, Moore shows she can tackle the past, present and future. Her work will next be seen in Judd Apatow’s Bubble.
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Ayanna James-Kimani has styled an onslaught of high-profile celebs like Tiffany Hadish and Usher, making her way to design for Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s music video for “Family Feud.” She’s since made her mark on television by costume designing for Issa Rae’s Insecure and Ava DuVernay’s Queen Sugar. Next on her list are Netflix’s Tall Girl 2: Junior Year and NBC’s Council of Dads. All eyes are on James-Kimani as she continues to expand her resumé.
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Analucia McGorty has worked in costume and wardrobe design for ten years, but it’s with Pose that she’s made her mark as a costume designer. Just recently, she won an Emmy for contemporary costumes for the show. Meeting the standards of the NYC ballroom scene from the ‘80s through the ‘90s, she developed magnificent pieces that translated the heart and soul of Blanca and friends. With Pose having ended in its third season, it will be exciting to see where McGorty takes her talent— one that understands both streetwear and high fashion— to next.
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Once you’ve achieved the standards set by Beyoncé, any creative endeavor is possible. The New York-based stylist served as costume designer for Bey’s Black as King and the “Apeshit” video. Her resumé also includes working with Chloe and Halle Bailey, Normani, Niecy Nash and Saweetie. In her latest venture, she designed for Eyes on the Prize: Hallowed Ground, an HBO Max documentary that explores the journey of Black Liberation through the primary players of the movement. Fingers crossed we see more of her work in film and television.
See also: The 10 Best Award-Contending Documentaries To Watch
Photography by: Stephanie Mei-Ling/HBO
