Euphoria costume designer on Maddy, Cassie, Jules, Kat dressing

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The second episode of “Euphoria” Season 2 begins with a dream sequence in a luxurious dressing room as Maddy Perez (Alexa Demie) – the alpha to the show’s many naughty and mean girls – plays dress-up with the clothes of a wealthy mother while babysitting.

She slips into designer silk dresses and slips lavish jewelry onto her fingers, while gazing dreamily at her richer, more sophisticated reflection in the mirror. The fantasy suddenly comes to a halt when the mom comes home early, and she is forced to hastily change into her denim miniskirt and halter top.

But really, this act of dressing up and sartorial reinvention is a pronounced theme throughout the show and for every character. The show’s costume design became one of the hottest talking points online after the second season premiered earlier this month, with TikTok and Twitter quickly flooded with memes recreating the over-the-top looks worn. at “Euphoria High”.

“I’m always looking for a way to communicate the story through the costume,” says costume designer Heidi Bivens, who says she took advantage of this season’s fantasy elements to push the sartorial boundaries of the characters. “After reading the scripts, I try to empathize with the characters and put myself in their shoes and imagine what it would be like to feel what those characters feel.”

Below, Bivens talks about finding the right looks for Maddy, Cassie (Sydney Sweeney), Kat (Barbie Ferreira), and Jules (Hunter Schafer) — some of the standout “Euphoria” looks this season.

Mady

Maddy’s outfits clearly reflect her abrasive and callous demeanor; only she could get away with wearing a rave two-piece set down the halls at school or a skin-tight tube top while babysitting. For much of the first season, Maddy practically lives in an array of skin-tight tracksuits by Akna, a must for high school girls. Her first scene of the second season sees her wearing a sexy cut-out dress by the Mexican brand on the infamous New Year’s Eve party, while fashionable designers such as I.AM.GIA, Dion Lee, jacquemus and Balenciaga make later appearances.

Bivens says she and Demie often collaborate on Maddy’s costumes. “She understands the idea that this character could be iconic,” she says. “I think she understands there’s a real opportunity there.”

Akna Short black dress Damien

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Amina Muaddi Mirror Wrap Gladiator Sandals

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I.AM.GIA Lucid Box Set

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Cassie

“For Cassie, it’s important to me that fashion is really accessible because I think it’s someone trying to figure out who she is and who she wants to be – she wants people to see her as she presents herself. “, says Bivens. She gravitates towards “social media heavy brands” like CB housewho made the blue mini dress that Cassie wears to New Year’s Eve, and other trendy brands like Wayf and Parity of achievement, pieces you’ll likely find in department stores like Bloomingdale’s. “She’s watching a lot of other people around the world, whether it’s on social media or other people.”

Bershka ballerina top

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House of CB “Ella” Dress

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Kat

While Maddy and Cassie clearly take to social media to keep up with trends, Bivens says characters like Kat have a more fully realized style. Instead of buying “mall brands,” as Bivens calls them, Kat’s looks are an amalgamation of second-hand finds, like her record label “Cramps” t-shirt. Death by Monoassociated with pieces from cult brands like O-Mighty and more contemporary brands like Danielle Guizio.

Like all characters, Bivens says Kat’s style has evolved with her own development, explaining why her clothes this season look more sophisticated and polished than previous episodes. “Kat is growing really fast in those two seasons,” says Bivens. “She’s light years away from when we first met her, so it was important to somehow establish with her costumes.”

Danielle Guizio Green Mohair Cardigan

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O-Might OG One Love Skirt

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jules

Clothes play an even bigger role for Jules, who starts this season reflecting on her gender identity. Bivens says she and Schafer agreed that her character would spend more time in pants than in a skirt this season, as she plays with the idea of ​​de-transition. An exception was made for the first episode, which sees her in a gorgeous Orseund Iris Skirtpaired with a sheer beaded halter from nihl.

Her looks are an eclectic mix of layered vintage finds, a way of talking about her character’s blatant individuality. “That’s how we can create an original look,” says Bivens, adding that she also sources from smaller designers such as Lazoschmidl and Advantages and Mini for its many graphic t-shirts. “You take three different pieces from three different designers and put them together – the chances of someone else having already created this look are pretty slim.”

Orseund Iris Gamine skirt

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Nihl sheer pearl halter

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