“Elle” costume designer Sara Byblow says she leaned into “Legally Blonde” nostalgia.
“It was more about finding things that felt true to Elle and true to that nostalgic feeling that we were trying to build out, and true to our ‘Legally Blonde’ universe,” she added.
“Elle” explores Elle Woods’ teenage years as a high school student in Seattle, before she transformed from a sorority girl obsessed with marriage into a whipsmart Harvard Law student.
Byblow explains that there are “designer” pieces in the series — which has already been greenlit for a second season — but many of the outfits were found on the “hunt” rather than by calling up designers and asking for clothes.
“It was more so us looking for things that felt true to us,” she added.
Byblow explained that they didn’t worry where the outfits came from, as long as they worked.
“We have thrifted things,” she said. “We have vintage things. We have archived designer things. We have things that we’ve built. We have things that are new. It’s truly a mix of the entire spectrum of clothing.”
Byblow, who also worked on “Fire Country,” says being a part of “Elle” is “one hundred percent a dream come true.”
She added, “This character is so iconic and has truly stood the test of time, so to be able to have the opportunity to step in and help tell that story is…I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
The pink-hued premiere was attended by the show’s cast and the original Elle Woods: Reese Witherspoon.
Witherspoon brought along her and Ryan Phillippe’s son, Deacon, as her plus-one, with the 22-year-old re-creating his father’s 2001 red carpet look from the “Legally Blonde” premiere, pairing a black suit with Ray-Ban sunglasses and a pink tie.
