One thing we've always loved about Alan Ball's titillating tale of Bon Temps and its supernatural beings is the series' fine attention to detail—did you notice that clever "Sorry, We're Dead" sign hanging outside vampire Eric's Fangtasia bar last week? This keen eye extends to virtually every corner of HBO's drama, including its fierce fashions.
We got the chance to chat with "True Blood" costume designer Audrey Fisher who spilled on Alexander Skarsgård's cross-dressing moment, where she shops for the cast's fashions (hint: K-Mart!) and the inspiration for newcomer Evan Rachel Wood's '40s-glam look.
HOLLYWOOD CRUSH: During last week's "True Blood," Alex appears in one of Lafayette's delusions wearing a dress. Did it have to be specially made for him? He's a pretty big guy. I can't imagine it was ready to wear!
AUDREY FISHER: Actually, no! We were able to buy larger sizes of Lettie Mae's outfit, which fit just fine with a few alterations. I love putting Alex in all of these delusional outfits: first Andy, then Lettie Mae. Who's next?
We'd previously put up a post linking back to an InStyle interview with Deborah Ann Woll in which she said most of the cast's clothes (or, at least hers) comes from Walmart. Is that true?
Deborah Ann is absolutely right! I want to keep the clothes as "real" as possible, which simply means shopping at places where these characters would actually shop. So yes, I've shopped for most of the cast at Walmart, Kohl's, K-Mart, JCPenney, Sears — all stores that real people from Bon Temps could afford — and stores that I can afford especially when I need up to six multiples of costumes because of blood and stunts! Of course some characters are outside of that world, like Maryann (pictured in green), Eric and Pam. For those characters, I get to go more upscale (which could mean Loehmanns to Neiman Marcus and everything in between!). And of course I love to make as many costumes as time and money will allow in our wonderful workshop.
Sookie (Anna Paquin) has been dressing a lot "sexier" this season (and looking tanner!), was that intentional?
Sookie is growing up, becoming more womanly, and also trying to please her vampire boyfriend, who happens to be a bit old-fashioned since he's 173 years old. So, yes, her style has evolved. She's become confident in her sexuality and that shows in how she dresses for both Bill and herself, but still she will always be a ladylike Southern belle, flirty and feminine but never too brassy. And that works for Bill.
How did you decide upon Evan Rachel Wood's '40s/'50s glam look? Was that something that Alan Ball requested?
Alan, director Dan Minahan and I agreed that Queen Sophie-Ann would have a retro-glam look, as if during her 400 years of living, the Queen has chosen the '40s as her favorite silhouette. Evan was delighted with this plan!
Where did you get Evan's lovely long, peach beaded gown? What was the inspiration behind it?
When I saw Production Designer Suzuki Ingerslev's photos of the day room, with its sparkling pool and lavish seashell embellishment, of course I wanted the Queen's costume to both be inspired and framed by that extravagant environment. I imagined her as a seductive siren in lush, peachy nude, like the inside of a seashell, sprinkled with pearls, glamorous, fierce, and then I found that stunning bias-cut beaded number at Les Habitudes on Robertson Boulevard here in LA, and it was perfect!
Where did her retro white swim apparel come from? Her sunglasses? Earrings?
Her swimsuit is Norma Kamali and oozes 1940s glamour. Her cat-eye sunglasses are vintage and her chandelier rhinestone earrings I found at Loehmanns.
In her debut episode Evan wore mainly light, neutral colors. Was that intentional or meant to be representative of something?
Yes, I wanted to keep her in light colors because of the ironic clarity and intensity of her dark power as the Queen of Louisiana. At first blush, she's a deceptively lovely seashell goddess — who will suck you dry — then in her retro white swimsuit she simply overwhelms with glamour and won't let you leave, ever. She's dazzling and dangerous.
Can you give us any hint as to what she'll be wearing in the season finale?
You'll have to wait and see...
What do you think of the fashions on "True Blood"?
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