The Story Behind "The Perfect Find"'s Party Dress Everyone Will Be Searching For

Published on 6/26/2023 at 4:55 PM

Emily Aragones | Netflix

Gabrielle Union stars as fashion mogul Jenna in the new Netflix movie "The Perfect Find," which is based on Tia Williams's 2016 romance novel of the same name. And for costume designer Amit Gajwani, working on a film that centers on the fashion industry is nothing short of a treat. Born in Mumbai, Gajwani moved to the US at age 12 and has both extensive design and editorial experience. Collaborating with someone like Union, a style icon in her own right, made for plenty of memorable fashion moments that viewers are going to pinpoint for inspiration — particularly in the going-out, party-look category.

One such instance is the first time Jenna meets love interest Eric (Keith Powers). She's wearing a plunging metallic midi dress by Galvan London teamed with a chunky gold cuff — the picturesque vision of high-octane glamour. With glowing makeup and her hair in a curled bob, she 's immediately the most alluring person in the room, and there's no doubt that the outfit will be pinned to many mood boards, with the exact dress rightfully garnering search. Gajwani talked to POPSUGAR about the scene, explaining that it was, in fact, a vision brought to life: "That dress is by Galvan London. We tried several dresses that fit the intention to keep Jenna chic and sexy, without being overt about it," he said. "I wanted a silver metallic dress to make it feel like Eric has found his jewel at the party. There was a simplicity to this dress that made it extremely elegant. The deep plunge and the perfect fit just looked incredible on her."

Called the Stella, the number is conveniently marked down at Saks Fifth Avenue, though it's safe to say it's not the only covetable item in Jenna's closet. The movie also stars Gina Torres as Darcy and La La Anthony as Elodie, and all of the clothing is aesthetically captivating from start to finish, thanks to Gajwani's masterful work. Ahead, he answers more questions about curating the wardrobe for "The Perfect Find," pointing directly to his learnings about what someone would wear as they develop a career in fashion.

On Jenna's Party Looks

POPSUGAR: Let's talk about Jenna's party dresses and going-out attire. Was there any significance to the curation of these incredible looks?

Amit Gajwani: For each of Jenna's party looks, I wanted to showcase different international designers. I wanted her to be a chameleon who loves to play with fashion. So these outfits feel effortless, but chic and elegant at the same time. While creating the looks for each of the party scenes, I knew we wanted to make every look special, and I think we were able to do that.

On the Film's Connection to the Fashion Industry

PS: When you're working on a project where the storyline involves the fashion industry, how does that shift your perspective or "up the ante"?

AG: Any movie that has a storyline involving the fashion industry automatically makes it very exciting for different reasons. As someone who worked in fashion, these types of projects give me the opportunity to push the limits when it comes to costumes. It's a great chance to be very creative and create looks that are both aspirational and one of a kind.

PS: In your mind, what are a few key elements of a fashion editor's workday wardrobe, and how did you make sure to bring those into Jenna's world?

"It's important to me that I use these kinds of opportunities to select from underrepresented talent to showcase."

AG: I think a key concept is defining a sense of personal style and owning it. Maintaining both comfort and elegance was important, as these are hardworking characters needing a sense of ease in their wardrobe. With Jenna having her own sense of style, and with Gabrielle really enjoying the outfits, she owned them perfectly.

PS: The movie is based on Tia Williams's book. How closely did you work with the writing team to come up with looks that accurately depicted the storyline in the book?

AG: I didn't work directly with the writing team but studied their work endlessly. Once I presented photos of the first fitting, the team knew I was representing a deep knowledge of their work, and a trust was formed.

On the Designers Jenna Wears in the Movie

PS: Can you name some go-to designers for Union's character, Jenna?

AG: For Gabrielle Union, given her role, I was able to present her as a serious fashion enthusiast. I used this opportunity to showcase highly creative, emerging designers from Africa such as Christie Brown, Atto Tetteh, and Atafo, as well as local designers from Newark. It's important to me that I use these kinds of opportunities to select from underrepresented talent to showcase. Some other favorite go-tos are Nina Ricci, Paco Rabanne, Stella McCartney, Martin Margiela, YSL, Christian Dior, and Victoria Beckham, which completed Gabrielle's wardrobe.

On Jenna's Most Memorable Outfits

PS: Which outfits do you think will deliver the greatest onscreen impact from Jenna's wardrobe?

AG: I think there are a few outfits that the viewers will remember, including most of her party outfits, such as her final look. The color of the slip dress with the sheer cape is something very memorable. I absolutely love her first outfit, when she arrives to meet Darcy at the office. There is something so effortless and chic as she floats through the office.

On Working With Gabrielle Union

PS: As a fashion-interested person, did Union have a favorite look or provide input? Were there any wardrobe collaborations during fittings?

AG: When we started our initial fitting, having never worked together before, a trust had to be created. Gabrielle saw my mood boards and understood the direction I would be taking Jenna. In our first fitting, we discussed our ideas about the character and how we wanted to elevate her fashion. Once we started trying on a few outfits, Gabrielle understood we were creating some very special looks for Jenna, and a trust was formed. From that fitting forward, she gave me complete freedom to play hard with fashion.