Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
'Black Mirror' Costume Designer On Dressing The 'Pristine, Pastel' Dystopia In Season Opener
The techno-paranoia show Black Mirror is back for a third season (like it or not), and the first of the six episodes ("Nosedive") is one of the most beautiful and terrifying of them all. It stars Bryce Dallas Howard as Lacie Pound, an everywoman of the not-so-distant-future, where you are rated (1-5 stars) by everyone you encounter in life. Just like Uber. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pound, along with practically everyone and everything in the town, is draped in pastel hues. The inviting color scheme pairs perfectly with the dark undertones of a life where everything is anchored to your social media presence, and a wrong look or less-than-bubbly air can make you practically obsolete.
How did the color palette come to be? We asked Sinead O'Sullivan, one of the costume designers for the episode. (Click through for the looks, but be warned there are mild spoilers.)
()
Support for LAist comes from
Were the clothes custom made for this episode? Most of Lacie's costumes were made bespoke, [as were] some of the other principal items, such as Paul's groomsman frockcoat.
Can you divulge where the others were from? The rest were sourced from a variety of places across London and Cape Town, where we filmed. Naomi's wedding dress was borrowed from designer Elbeth Gillis in Cape Town.
Did you have to follow a color guide? Yes, the whole film had a pastel color theme, with limited pattern!
Who decided on the color schemes for the episode (clothing and otherwise), and what do they mean, if anything? [Director] Joe [Wright] wanted to create a dystopia that is pristine, picture perfect, and thought the overall pastel and preppy color scheme would reflect the character's aspirations to appear chirpy and happy at all types.
The man at the end, and also some other people in the episode, are wearing dark colors. Why is that? We tried to avoid black as much as possible—even the security guards are wearing greys or blues, but here and there, there are characters who don't fall in line with the status quo. So Ryan wears a darker blue shirt at one point and he wears a lot of grey, because he's not trying to fit in. Similarly in the queue for the car rental place, and at the electro station, some of the other people next to Lacie in the "non priority" queue, are not wearing pastels. The character at the end is wearing a dark green suit, and again he's someone who breaks the rules and doesn't care what people think.
Do you have a favorite outfit in the episode? The aerhostess, Michaela Coel, in her mint uniform and bow tie blouse was a particular favorite.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
Best of LAist