Sarah Evelyn on Designing the Costumes for The Beauty

      Costume designer Sarah Evelyn had previously collaborated with Ryan Murphy before working on The Beauty. Therefore, she understood that during meetings with him, it is essential to jot down “every single thing he says.”

      Murphy and Matt Hodgson's horror series on FX/Hulu focuses on a biotech billionaire named Byron Forst, who is obsessed with preserving his youth. Played by Vincent D’Onofrio and later Ashton Kutcher, Forst invests in a drug called The Beauty, which turns ordinary individuals into supermodel versions of themselves. However, there is a significant downside: the drug has fatal side effects.

      Evelyn describes her experience creating costumes for the impressive cast, including Isabella Rossellini, Jeremy Pope, and Rebecca Hall, as both challenging and intimidating at times, but ultimately fulfilling.

      Her career highlights include dressing Brad Pitt for Bullet Train, Ryan Gosling for The Fall Guy, and the casts of Murphy’s Hollywood and American Horror Story Season 7. She shared insights into her process for The Beauty.

      Sarah Evelyn on Crafting the Gorgeous Costumes of The Beauty

      The Beauty costume designer Sarah Evelyn. FX

      MovieMaker: Did you collaborate closely with Ryan Murphy to develop the looks?

      Sarah Evelyn: Absolutely. I believe that while Ryan is writing [a series], he is also envisioning it. Therefore, before starting to design costumes, you attend a meeting with him and write down everything he says. I recorded voice notes and had an assistant take notes because it all happens very quickly. He discusses not only costumes but also the environments and production designs, which are equally significant. After that, you go back and begin creating detailed mood boards based on his words and ideas. That’s the first step.

      MovieMaker: What happens when the actors get involved?

      Sarah Evelyn: After the mood boards, you bring in the cast, which can be a tricky transition because you had a vision in your mind, and the actors come in with their own concepts. My role is to merge those two perspectives. It involves absorbing information, processing it, visualizing to ensure comprehension, and then presenting my interpretation.

      MovieMaker: I heard that Ashton Kutcher desired a Burning Man outfit for his character, Byron Forst, since Forst was a “burner,” which is why D’Onofrio wears a jacket adorned with teddy bears. How did you design that jacket?

      Sarah Evelyn: For his transformation robe, Vincent stated, “I want something very burner.” So I created a board featuring some of the wildest looks I found [from Burning Man]. There was an image of a burner in an extravagant jacket decorated with stuffed animals or toy baby dolls connected. Ryan liked that concept and said, “I want that.”

      Jeremy Pope as Jeremy and Anthony Ramos as The Assassin in The Beauty. Photo by Eric Liebowitz/FX

      MovieMaker: Isabella Rossellini, who plays Byron’s wife, Franny, has such a detailed, vibrant, and eye-catching wardrobe. How did you develop her looks?

      Sarah Evelyn: Ryan and I discussed modern interpretations of 19th-century silhouettes. We aimed to blend old and new styles, which can be quite challenging. Initially, we considered all-black outfits, but once Isabella Rossellini was cast, she expressed, “I envision these silhouettes in bright colors. I’m thinking of fruit — vibrant, beautiful, lively hues.” So, we devised silhouettes and ideas, saying, “Let’s create pieces we can build on.”

      Then, we approached various designers with our mood boards and essentially asked, “What can we source? What can we purchase?” We also visited couture rental houses. We gathered everything for her fitting and started experimenting. Naturally, I felt quite intimidated, but she was extraordinary, and we crafted these amazing outfits.

      The Beauty is now available for streaming on Hulu. You can find more of our interviews with Emmy contenders here.

      Main image: Sarah Evelyn mentions that fruit inspired Isabella Rossellini’s wardrobe in The Beauty. Photo by Philippe Antonello/FX.