Mirren Gordon-Crozier has worked with Brie Larson on four projects in the past 10 years, beginning with the actress’ breakout role in the 2013 independent drama . Yet when the costume designer heard Larson’s next lead part was in a period TV series, “I almost fell to the ground,” she says. What most excited Gordon-Crozier about coming on board was the span from 1949 to 1957 that’s covered in , the Apple TV+ adaptation of Bonnie Garmus’ novel of the same name in which Larson stars as Elizabeth Zott, a chemist turned cooking show star who’s navigating stifling gender norms amid love and loss.
Gordon-Crozier talked with about the defining style of that period and the story Zott’s clothes tell in the series. Definitely, but it was their off-duty wardrobe rather than what we’ve seen on camera. So what Grace Kelly would wear behind the scenes, and Lauren Bacall, and Audrey Hepburn, naturally.
I did a lot of research into what they wore on the weekends with their family and built shapes and silhouettes based on that. There’s a dress code that a lot of women had to abide by, especially in her work environment at the lab. I’m sure she would have chosen to wear pants if she could, but if she wanted to keep her job, she had to wear a skirt and her saddle shoes.
So when she had the opportunity, which is the moment where she’s really running the show, she comes out wearing a pair of slacks, which is very rare, especially on TV. It was a pivotal moment. We used a lo.
