It’s Not Just the Storylines That Are Connected on AHS — the Costumes Are Too
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While American Horror Story doesn't revolve around fashion, it's a show that's full of fabulous costumes that add to the story. Witches rock all black with wide-brim hats, creating a coven you wouldn't want to mess with. Lady Gaga's The Countess owns the ultimate power woman wardrobe, full of gowns, jewels, and standout details that scream, "I'm in charge!" And costume designer Lou Eyrich is the person behind it all, working with creator Ryan Murphy to make magical looks that jump off the screen. So when we had to chance to chat with Lou about her day job? It was time for her to spill on the all the juicy details.
Which stars rewear old outfits? What's the designing process really like? How much say does Ryan Murphy have in what the characters wear? Find the answers to this and more ahead. Then check out relive all of American Horror Story: Hotel when the Blu-ray and DVD are released Oct. 4.
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If an Outfit Looks Familiar, It Probably Is
"Something I like to do is put little pieces from previous episodes on somebody else or reuse them to see if any of the fans catch it. There was a necklace we used on Lana in season two that I then made into a belt that Gaga wore in season five. There was a cardigan that Cordelia wore in season three that Chloe Sevigny’s character, Alex, wore in season five. Little things that I would just throw in to see if people would catch it. No one has so far — that I know of, anyway."
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A Lot of Work Goes Into Getting Each Look Just Right
Since a handful of characters are based on historical figures, "research is key" for Lou.
"I spend the first two weeks of prep doing research, and then I usually hire someone to help because it's such a massive project. I do about 20 big research boards for Ryan to go through, and then he takes a little pile of post-its and sits and hits the pictures that resonate the most with him. That gives me direction for getting to know what he wants and what the tone is. I usually cover my walls in research so everywhere I look, I see things that inspire me for each character."
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And the Shopping Process Is Intense
"The hardest part is translating [a costume] from the page to the character, and making sure it's what Ryan wants, what I want, and that the actor can work within that well. It's finding that great balance, that collaboration, because it's not just going to the mall and buying a specific color dress. It's: 'What's the silhouette? How does it move? Do they have to get shot in it — in the arm?' So then we have to cover the arms. 'Does she have to fall down in it?' Then the stunt double's going to need a coat over it. There are so many factors to think of on American Horror Story because of all the stunts. There are photo doubles, stunt doubles, and [the costume] might have to work for three episodes, so it's: 'How many multiples do we need?' If there's only one of that dress across the country, we can't use that dress because I can't find five of them."