Current:Home > MyThe Idol Costume Designer Natasha Newman-Thomas Details the Dark, Twisted Fantasy of the Fashion -Wealth Axis Pro
The Idol Costume Designer Natasha Newman-Thomas Details the Dark, Twisted Fantasy of the Fashion
View
Date:2025-04-20 08:04:23
Behind the glitz and glamour of The Idol costumes lies an ugly truth.
Sam Levinson's new HBO series shines a light on the sinister side of fame, as it centers on aspiring, troubled pop star Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) and her complicated relationship with modern cult leader Tedros (Abel "The Weeknd" Tesfaye).
To play up the dark, twisted fantasy of the show, costume designer Natasha Newman-Thomas revealed that the fashion is intentionally meant to be a little scandalous.
"We wanted to bring a sense of darkness and sleaziness," she exclusively told E! News. "You don't always see pop stars or the underbelly of the music world portrayed in that way."
Take Jocelyn's risqué costumes, for example. Her clothes might show a lot of skin but the reality is that it's meant to distract from who she really is.
"There's an innate mystery to anyone you idolize," Natasha pointed out. "You see the façade and the persona, but there's a mystery to what goes on behind the scenes. It's meant for you to not see how hard it is."
Moreover, she explained that Jocelyn's attention-grabbing wardrobe is supposed to feel out-of-reach and impractical.
"If you're a pop star on that level," Natasha noted, "you have to wear clothes that are unattainable to keep that fantasy status. We wanted to get the point across that she's not a normal person."
And as fashion is a key element to Jocelyn's persona, fans will see her style evolve throughout the series, offering clues to her character's newfound sense of empowerment—even if it's only a front since she is being manipulated by those in her inner circle.
But, as the costume designer explained, Jocelyn doesn't exactly take charge of her own destiny in the beginning. It's not until she realizes her potential that she projects that confidence through her clothes.
"There's definitely a narrative arc to it that changes after she meets Tedros," Natasha hinted. "We wanted to portray her transformation through the clothes and sensibility toward harnessing power."
As for what inspired Jocelyn's costumes and this make-believe illusion of her real-life issues? Well, Natasha turned to fashion greats like the late Thierry Mugler and Jean Paul Gaultier.
"They all have traditional sensibilities but with their own twist," she said, "and they don't really follow trends, they set trends. We were going for something to create a new kind of timeless look, a new iconic superstar."
With all the buzz ahead of the new series, it's clear the costumes will be ones to watch.
The Idol premieres June 4 on HBO and will stream on Max.
Sign up for E! Insider! Unlock exclusive content, custom alerts & more!veryGood! (54937)
Related
- DeepSeek: Did a little known Chinese startup cause a 'Sputnik moment' for AI?
- Kansas tops AP Top 25 preseason men’s basketball poll ahead of Alabama, defending champion UConn
- ‘Legacy’ Forests. ‘Restoration’ Logging. The New Jargon of Conservation Is Awash in Ambiguity. And Politics
- Aidan Hutchinson injury update: Lions DE suffers broken tibia vs. Cowboys
- Jamie Foxx gets stitches after a glass is thrown at him during dinner in Beverly Hills
- SpaceX launches its mega Starship rocket. This time, mechanical arms will try to catch it at landing
- WNBA Finals winners, losers: Series living up to hype, needs consistent officiating
- Hurricane Milton leaves widespread destruction; rescue operations underway | The Excerpt
- Skins Game to make return to Thanksgiving week with a modern look
- Man with loaded gun arrested at checkpoint near Donald Trump’s weekend rally in Southern California
Ranking
- Elon Musk's skyrocketing net worth: He's the first person with over $400 billion
- NFL Week 6 injury report: Live updates for active, inactive players for Sunday's games
- ‘The View’ abortion ad signals wider effort to use an FCC regulation to spread a message
- USMNT shakes off malaise, wins new coach Mauricio Pochettino's debut
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- Irina Shayk Shares Rare Photos of Her and Bradley Cooper’s 7-Year-Old Daughter Lea
- Cleaning up after Milton: Floridians survey billions in damage, many still without power
- Pet Halloween costumes 2024: See 6 cute, funny and spooky get-ups, from Beetlejuice to a granny
Recommendation
'Malcolm in the Middle’ to return with new episodes featuring Frankie Muniz
Why Aoki Lee Simmons Is Quitting Modeling After Following in Mom Kimora Lee Simmons' Footsteps
Not exactly smooth sailing at the 52nd Albuquerque balloon fiesta after 4 incidents
Alex Bowman eliminated from NASCAR playoffs after car fails inspection at Charlotte
'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
The Latest: Trump and Harris head back to Pennsylvania, the largest battleground state
How child care costs became the 'kitchen table issue' for parents this election season
Opinion: Yom Kippur reminds us life is fleeting. We must honor it with good living.