“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 pal 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 carefully, 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) along 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 severe Gen-Z costume bonafides. She earned an Emmy nomination as a part of Heidi Bivens’s staff on season one in every of “Euphoria,” and in addition counts April Napier (“Booksmart,” “Woman Chicken”) 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 mandatory place to start out,” Danabassis says.
With the hurricane starting to rage outdoors, Sophie and her associates have interaction in a “Mafia”-style sport referred to 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 technology 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 of a number of elements 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 think about Reijn’s kinetic, naturalistic route and cinematographer Jacob Wolf’s frenetically suspenseful digicam work.
Forward, Danabassis takes us by way of every of the principle characters, as you guess who the killer is and who will survive the evening.
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 associates when she arrives on the occasion. 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 wished Sophie to really feel a little bit bit gamine,” says Danabassis, who additionally infused powerful, sporty and susceptible parts. “She may get down and soiled, but additionally there is a intercourse enchantment.”
Filming befell final 12 months, so Danabassis was truly forward of developments in purchasing Sophie’s H&M shorts, a mode now worn by celebrities from Bella Hadid to Meghan Markle. “The lengthy trouser shorts elevated the look,” she says.
Danabassis conveyed tenacity by way of Sophie’s rugged patent-leather boots by Kickers: “At midnight, [the boots] may decide up gentle… 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 associates. She assesses the group as they chug Veuve Clicquot (pilfered from the high-end wine cellar) and snort traces 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 includes 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 type of darkish, and there is a femininity about it, nevertheless it’s additionally a little bit bit ugly, in a tremendous manner. Bee’s not afraid to only 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 included a little 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 preferred business guide, “If It is Purple, Somebody’s Gonna Die: The Energy of Shade in Visible Storytelling” — and sequence of occasions to come back.
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 prime from Zara, leather-based denims from Aritzia and strappy slides with a stacked heel that look cute, however nonetheless enable 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 not too long ago met, perhaps on Tinder.
“We wished her to really feel horny as a result of she’s acquired this date, like she’s attempting to be scorching and horny 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 prime and glimmer from the pants — additionally complement Alice’s glow-stick necklaces and bracelets, which catch (and even simply present) gentle because the physique depend 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 may pull off the craziness of these glow sticks along with her outfit. It is one way or the other 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 associates appear to have combined evaluations on her efficiency in “Hedda Gabler”), and because the soon-to-be lethal sport 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 be an influence transfer: “For that outfit, it truly is all in regards to the footwear. She’s speculated to be a rich lady, so she’s carrying these patent Miu Miu Mary Janes; the ankle socks with metallic lamé threading are simply an additional little fashion level.”
Jordan (Myha’la Herrold)
Bee, Sophie, Jordan (in her tactical-chic Sandy Liang tank prime) 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 comfy along with her physique.” When she climbs out of the pool to reluctantly greet Sophie and Bee, for instance, she’s truly carrying her bra and thong underwear, not a pool-ready bikini.
Jordan additionally cares the least about dressing up for a hurricane occasion, and undoubtedly is not thinking about 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 prime by Sandy Liang and wide-leg chinos. The ensemble feels tactical-chic, particularly when Jordan resourcefully dons a headlamp to maneuver by way of the home.
“There is a militant factor to it,” says Danabassis. “It simply hits the developments which are taking place, but additionally feels pure and plausible — purposeful naturalism.”
Greg (Lee Tempo)
Photograph: Gwen Capistran/Courtesy of A24
Danabassis remembers her dialog with the web’s boyfriend about how he envisioned his geriatric millennial character: “He is like, ‘Greg is simply down for an excellent 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 girls 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 notice of ‘pure man,’ perhaps a wiseness,” says Danabassis. “Like, he is been by way of some stuff.”
Greg later takes a break from the backbiting Zoomers, stress-free right into a clingy, long-sleeve white thermal — which was truly Tempo’s suggestion. Danabassis additionally “doctored up” a pair of Reigning Champ sweat-shorts, “so he actually seemed good and hit a notice of: nonetheless related, however older and a little 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 pal and fellow idle ultra-rich child (the others are simply common wealthy) — has so much 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 pattern 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 seems to be very Pete Davidson, who, apparently, says to Sophie what looks like a meta BDE-referential line: “I appear like 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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