Crafting the Attire for an Unforgettable Getaway: Behind the Scenes with Costume Designer, Alex Bovaird, on The White Lotus.
Cracked My Laughbone and Sweatpants on Vacay with The White Lotus
Hey there, vacation dreams and beach vibes are calling your name, and a little show called The White Lotus might just be the ticket. This dark comedy masterpiece, created by Mike White and boasting an insane cast, takes us to the luxurious White Lotus resort in Hawaii. And yeah, I'm not joking, it's freaking hilarious. But wait till you feast your eyes on the OTT costumes by Alex Bovaird, the 2022 Emmy® nominee for Outstanding Contemporary Costumes.
After the 2022 Emmy® nominations dropped some much-needed excitement in our lives, I chat-sneaked my way to Alex Bovaird. This was her first nomination, and my, oh my, I was stoked to hear her reactions!
"I found out in the morning," Alex said, her voice full of glee, "My husband and I were like, is this for real? I mean, how do we know this is real? But it feels nice!" she added, credit shining her praises on her dedicated team. Such a heart-melting moment!
But back to the real reason we're here: the style despair of the White Lotus. A single episode of The White Lotus, and you're bound to have vacay envy for the rest of your life. Alex clued me in on the overall vibe they aimed for with the costumes.
"Mike recently described it as a fever dream," she told me, "Our goal was to create an experience that you'll love watching, and it'll give you a chance to get to know these characters. We picked out a vibrant color palette inspired by Hawaii's fruits, the ocean, and flowers." Being prone to fever dreams myself, I can totally relate!
The costumes are absolutely off-the-wall fabulous, screaming vacation at every corner. "In our research, we saw what wealthy vacationers actually wear and based it on reality," Alex said, " But we decided to make it a little crazier. No one's going on holiday in sweatpants, right? When you go on vacation, you're kinda putting on a little show. It's an escape, a time to be whoever you want to be."
The costumes ooze prints and textures, painting the canvas with a wide range of hues and patterns. It's the 90s all over again, but twisted into a tropical paradise of fits and fashion. Hawaii's famous 'Aloha Shirts' are all over the place, staff uniforms screaming bossy vibes, and who can forget the insane finale shirt for Armond, played by Murray Bartlett, that practically demanded attention.
As for the characters, theys' styles suit them like a... well, whale in the lotus! Notable mentions include Connie Britton as the powerful Nicole, rocking big sunglasses, big hats, and a mix of vintage and new fashion, redefining sophisticated. Then there's Jennifer Coolidge as the unforgettable Tanya, whose outrageous outfits left me desperate for more with every scene.
So, what's the moral of this colorful, wild, and fabulous story? Catch The White Lotus on HBO Max, still binging and sweating through every episode! And if you ever find yourself in Hawaii, don't forget to don those Aloha Shirts. You're on vacation, after all. Go big, go bold, baby!
The elaborate costume designs by Alex Bovaird for the movies-and-tv show, The White Lotus, earned her a 2022 Emmy® nomination for Outstanding Contemporary Costumes, making a significant impact in the entertainment industry. The costume designs, inspired by Hawaii's vibrant colors, are a standout feature of the show, with each episode inciting a case of vacation envy due to their off-the-wall fabulousness.
