“You do not have to be nervous,” says Sophie (Amandla Stenberg), trying to reassure her apprehensive new girlfriend Bee (Maria Bakalova) in a gap scene of the A24 slasher-thriller comedy “Our bodies, Our bodies, Our bodies.” The 2 are driving to Sophie’s finest good friend David (Pete Davidson)’s upstate New York mega-manse (technically his one-percenter dad and mom’ property) for a grown-up sleepover amidst an impending hurricane. Feels ominous, proper?
In case you look intently, Sophie’s mismatched Brandy Melville earring, dangling on the proper of the display screen, is a tiny silver skeleton. “It is a enjoyable little Easter Egg — like ‘our bodies, our bodies, our bodies!'” says costume designer Katina Danabassis.
Bee (Maria Bakalova) and Sophie (Amandla Stenberg) together with her little skeleton earring peeking out.
Photograph: Gwen Capistran/Courtesy of A24
Danabassis, who designed auteur Mike Mills’s acclaimed movie “C’mon C’mon,” boasts some critical Gen-Z costume bonafides. She earned an Emmy nomination as a part of Heidi Bivens’s staff on season considered one of “Euphoria,” and likewise counts April Napier (“Booksmart,” “Woman Fowl”) as a mentor.
For director Halina Reijn’s thrilling, bloody treatise on Gen-Z social — and social media — dynamics, Danabassis kicked off her analysis course of within the cohort’s pure habitat: Instagram. “I felt like that was the required place to start out,” Danabassis says.
With the hurricane starting to rage outdoors, Sophie and her mates have interaction in a “Mafia”-style recreation known as “Our bodies, Our bodies, Our bodies.” However as the group tries to unmask the faux killer, their effervescent resentments, rivalries and deep-seated insecurities floor. The cut-throat revelations and accusations really feel particularly decisive to a era fixated on how they current themselves (and are seen) on-line. Clearly, the 20-somethings are dressed for it, too, whether or not they’re doing a TikTok dance or operating from an actual killer, who’s choosing them off one after the other within the sprawling mansion.
Like arranging clues, Danabassis thought-about a number of components in figuring out the perfect character-building costumes for every of the leads, who slowly reveal themselves because the story — and suspense — intensify.
“It is like a Venn diagram” of “texture, shine, lightness and actuality,” says Danabassis, who needed to contemplate Reijn’s kinetic, naturalistic path and cinematographer Jacob Wolf’s frenetically suspenseful digicam work.
Forward, Danabassis takes us by every of the principle characters, as you guess who the killer is and who will survive the evening.
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Sophie (Amandla Stenberg)
Sophie, Bee, David (Pete Davidson) and Alice (Rachel Sennott).
Photograph: Erik Chakeen/Courtesy of A24
Low-key super-rich Sophie — who’s been silent on the group textual content — surprises her mates when she arrives on the celebration. Her Gucci emblem tote, with a chunky gold chainlink strap, hints at her dad and mom’ huge internet value, however her multi-layered outfit seems like a metaphor for her true loyalties and troubled previous, to be slowly revealed: a neon yellow Zara tank, black bra peeking out, topped by an Asos long-sleeve plaid shirt and an outsized Uniqlo zip hoodie.
“I needed Sophie to really feel a bit bit gamine,” says Danabassis, who additionally infused powerful, sporty and susceptible components. “She might get down and soiled, but additionally there is a intercourse enchantment.”
Filming befell final yr, so Danabassis was really forward of traits in buying Sophie’s H&M shorts, a method now worn by celebrities from Bella Hadid to Meghan Markle. “The lengthy trouser shorts elevated the look,” she says.
Danabassis conveyed tenacity by Sophie’s rugged patent-leather boots by Kickers: “At midnight, [the boots] might decide up mild… She’s extra out-there and takes increasingly more dangers.”
Bee (Maria Bakalova)
Sophie and Bee have a quiet second.
Photograph: Erik Chakeen/Courtesy of A24
Bee is the working-class, Russian immigrant outsider venturing into the viper’s nest of prosperous, debaucherous, backstabbing mates. She assesses the group as they chug Veuve Clicquot (pilfered from the high-end wine cellar) and snort strains prefer it’s an ’80s Bret Easton Ellis novel.
“Bee’s a sensible, pragmatic character,” says Danabassis. “She’s not into something frou frou.”
The costume designer took inspiration from French mannequin and Demna Gvasalia muse Yuri Escudie for Bee’s lengthy shorts from Aritzia, Dickie’s work shirt and graphic tee designed by multidisciplinary artist and punk musician Andrea Lukic. The latter contains a drawing of two sides of 1 face, which hints at a duality — and maybe duplicity. (Like, is Bee who she says she is? Is anybody?) Danabassis was drawn to how the art work expressed Bee’s persona: “There is a noir to it, and it is form of darkish, and there is a femininity about it, nevertheless it’s additionally a bit bit ugly, in an incredible means. Bee’s not afraid to simply make one thing off-kilter. I actually favored that for Bee, as a result of there is a DIY-ness to her character.”
Danabassis additionally integrated a bit sartorial foreshadowing with Bee’s purple bandana bracelet, which lingers on-screen as she locations her hand on the bannister whereas exploring the expansive home. The bracelet’s daring hue is a wink-wink nod to the title of a well-liked trade ebook, “If It is Purple, Somebody’s Gonna Die: The Energy of Coloration in Visible Storytelling” — and collection of occasions to return.
Alice (Rachel Sennott)
Alice and her glow-sticks.
Photograph: Courtesy of A24
Tragically self-unaware podcaster Alice is dressed for the event in a rainbow crochet halter high from Zara, leather-based denims from Aritzia and strappy slides with a stacked heel that look cute, however nonetheless permit for operating for one’s life. She additionally brings an out-of-place date for the weekend: Greg (Lee Tempo), a 40-year-old she just lately met, perhaps on Tinder.
“We needed her to really feel attractive as a result of she’s acquired this date, like she’s attempting to be sizzling and attractive for Greg,” says Danabassis. “Additionally, what do you put on to a celebration upstate? Like, do you costume up? It is like she’s actually going for it.”
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The tactile outfit — with the textured patterns on high and glimmer from the pants — additionally complement Alice’s glow-stick necklaces and bracelets, which catch (and even simply present) mild because the physique rely rises. The metallic pink cowboy hat she wears for a short second additionally captures the carefree recreational-drug-enhanced euphoria that rapidly dissipates.
“It is foolish,” says Danabassis. “She’s only a foolish lady and she or he’s very humorous, and that is why she might pull off the craziness of these glow sticks together with her outfit. It is in some way works all collectively within the chaos.”
Emma (Chase Sui Wonders)
Sophie, Bee, Emma (in her blood- and rain-soaked Zara) and Alice.
Photograph: Erik Chakeen/Courtesy of A24
Emma’s buttercream yellow Zara sundress — with the ruching and delicate ribbon on the ’90s-style sq. neckline — speaks to her people-pleasing nature and the picture-perfect picture she desires to convey. She’s the actor of the group (though, her passive-aggressive mates appear to have blended critiques on her efficiency in “Hedda Gabler”), and because the soon-to-be lethal recreation heats up, asshole boyfriend David accuses her of getting no originality (and overusing Twitter buzzwords), thus sending Emma right into a match of tears.
“It is this vulnerability factor,” says Danabassis. “She has so many susceptible moments and she or he will get actually darkish, however she’s at all times attempting to take care of this positivity. The colours for her had been simply actually candy and light-weight.”
However Emma’s full schoolgirl-referential look can also be an influence transfer: “For that outfit, it truly is all in regards to the sneakers. She’s imagined to be a rich lady, so she’s sporting these patent Miu Miu Mary Janes; the ankle socks with metallic lamé threading are simply an additional little model level.”
Jordan (Myha’la Herrold)
Bee, Sophie, Jordan (in her tactical-chic Sandy Liang tank high) and Alice.
Photograph: Gwen Capistran/Courtesy of A24
Regardless of being a longtime group member, Jordan has a giant chip on her shoulder, and sees herself as an outsider. She and Sophie additionally appear to have some form of previous connection.
Jordan has “a boldness and a braveness,” says Danabassis. “She’s pays no thoughts. She’s simply snug together with her physique.” When she climbs out of the pool to reluctantly greet Sophie and Bee, for instance, she’s really sporting her bra and thong underwear, not a pool-ready bikini.
Jordan additionally cares the least about dressing up for a hurricane celebration, and positively is not all in favour of adorning herself for the male gaze. After shedding her vintage-esque sweatshirt through the first bloody demise, she reveals a black athletic-style cut-out tank high by Sandy Liang and wide-leg chinos. The ensemble feels tactical-chic, particularly when Jordan resourcefully dons a headlamp to maneuver by the home.
“There is a militant factor to it,” says Danabassis. “It simply hits the traits which can be taking place, but additionally feels pure and plausible — purposeful naturalism.”
Greg (Lee Tempo)
Photograph: Gwen Capistran/Courtesy of A24
Danabassis recollects her dialog with the web’s boyfriend about how he envisioned his geriatric millennial character: “He is like, ‘Greg is simply down for a superb time, and he is simply there to have enjoyable.'”
Shirtless, Greg efficiently sabers a bottle of champagne with David’s dad’s Gurkha sword, impressing the younger ladies and threatening the delicate David. His easy elastic-waistband swim trunks and acid-washed hat counsel that he feels easygoing and easy in his masculinity. Altering for the night festivities, Greg dons a striped short-sleeve button-up shirt from City Outfitters.
“His shirt is that this pure cotton or linen that hits that word of ‘pure man,’ perhaps a wiseness,” says Danabassis. “Like, he is been by some stuff.”
Greg later takes a break from the backbiting Zoomers, enjoyable right into a clingy, long-sleeve white thermal — which was really Tempo’s suggestion. Danabassis additionally “doctored up” a pair of Reigning Champ sweat-shorts, “so he actually seemed good and hit a word of: nonetheless related, however older and a bit bit outdoors of this entire world that they are in.”
David (Pete Davidson)
Greg and David don’t see eye to eye.
Photograph: Gwen Capistran/Courtesy of A24
David — Sophie’s finest good friend and fellow idle ultra-rich child (the others are simply common wealthy) — has quite a bit to show. “He is attempting to be alpha, however he is making up for one thing. He is loud and obnoxious and chilly, however he is on development and is aware of what’s cool,” says Danabassis, who landed on a designer streetwear aesthetic after discussing the character with Davidson.
“We ended up nicknaming it ‘the newborn swimsuit,'” she says of the pink Supreme hoodie and lengthy shorts set, which she fortunately present in multiples. Gucci slides with ratty athletic socks full David’s clout-chasing look. (It additionally appears very Pete Davidson, who, apparently, says to Sophie what looks like a meta BDE-referential line: “I appear to be I fuck. It is my entire vibe.”)
“The pink was a humorous contact and a daring selection,” says Danabassis. “If anybody can, Pete can pull it off.”
‘Our bodies, Our bodies, Our bodies’ premieres on Friday, Aug. 5 in theaters.
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