Discussing Authenticity in Hulu's 'Reboot': An Exclusive Chat with Costume Designer Reiko Schoenfeld
Getting down to the nitty-gritty on Reboot, Hulu's laugh-out-loud revival of an '00s family sitcom, now more dysfunctional than ever! Costume queen Reiko Schoenfeld, fresh off her gig on How I Met Your Mother, brings her A-game to this electrifying new series. I chatted with her about the costumes, the mega-talented cast, keeping it real, and going green.
Sw: G'day, Reiko! I gotta say, Reboot looks like a wild ride! I'm stoked you found the time to chat with me!
RS: Thanks for having me, Sw! I'm thrilled to be here! Our cast and crew are an absolute dream to work with—super talented, supportive, and a blast to be around.
Sw: Now, for Reboot, you had to dial back the clock and put the main characters in '00s garb, as well as bring them into current fashion. What dirt did you dig up to keep it legit for Reboot?
RS: You've got great instincts, mate! To create the perfect mix of '00s nostalgia and contemporary threads, we did our homework. My team and I scoured our favorite '00s sitcoms, pored over iconic lookbooks, and even mocked up vision boards filled with our fave looks. We were lucky to see some trends from the '00s making a serious comeback in style. With a little vintage shopping, costume houses, and second-hand finds, we managed to transport the audience back to the early 2000s while keeping it fresh for 2022.
Sw: Each character gets a unique wardrobe; you've got Kenan Thompson as a science-fiction nerd, a hilarious character actor with a colorful past, and one of my all-time favorites, Johnny Knoxville. What's the skinny on the costumes for Reboot?
RS: As you'll see, each character has a distinct wardrobe. Judy Greer, in particular, channels an eclectic mix of vintage finds, current fashion, vegan brands, and female-owned companies—picture her as the epitome of refreshing, cool, and sustainable style. Speaking of Johnny, we went for a cool, laid-back, comfortable vibe with him. Combat boots, leather jackets, flannels, and a dash of vintage flair? You've got the recipe for Johnny perfection.**
Sw: Gotta love that collaboration between the cast and costume designer. What was the lowdown on working with the talented folks on Reboot, such as the buzzy Keegan-Michael Key and the one-and-only Johnny Knoxville?
RS: Collaboration is KEY to any successful project. I'm a firm believer in open dialogue and listening to everyone's ideas. I love hearing input from my actors—it helps me understand their character better and select costumes that align with their on-screen persona. Judy, Keegan, and Johnny were a dream to work with—we had a fantastic time discussing which styles would pop off the screen and create the best representation of their characters.
Sw: As if that collaboration wasn't sweet enough, it seems you brought plenty of authenticity to the Reboot cast and crew. Is authenticity the name of the game for Reboot?
RS: Authenticity is our bread and butter! The producers and I wanted this show to transport the audience to the Fox lot—to give the inside scoop on what goes on behind the scenes in the world of television. I went all in on bringing the world of Reboot to life, from the main cast to the background actors. We even set up shop for background actors to transform themselves head-to-toe in a variety of costumes.
Sw: Alright, let's chat sustainability for a moment. With so much attention on eco-friendly practices these days, what can costume designers do to make the fashion world a more environmentally-friendly landscape?
RS: Sustainable practices are a top priority for me. We source second-hand and vintage clothing, rent or borrow costumes, use sustainable fabrics, upcycle and repurpose materials, and donate or recycle costumes post-production. It's all about minimizing waste and working smarter, not harder—for our planet and our bank accounts.
Sw: Reiko, thanks a million for joining me! I can't wait to watch Reboot now!
RS: My pleasure, Sw! I hope you enjoy it as much as I've enjoyed working on it!
Witness the magic by streaming Reboot on Hulu right now!
RS: For the costumes in Reboot, we aimed to create a perfect blend of '00s nostalgia and contemporary trends, taking inspiration from our favorite '00s sitcoms and iconic lookbooks.
RS: In line with the sustainability movement in the fashion world, we focused on using sustainable fabrics, renting or borrowing costumes, and minimizing waste by repurposing materials and donating or recycling costumes post-production.
