Street View is a fashion series in which Isa Giallorenzo spotlights some of the coolest styles seen in Chicago.
Jeremy W. Floyd: The color scheme approach was presented by the director at an initial design meeting. Geoff wanted to show a shift of the world and the people in it through color: a visual manifestation of the world changing around the Prozorov sisters. The choice of pink/mauve and celadon green colors stemmed from them being complementary colors that proved a distinct difference between the “old” world of the sisters to the “new” world of Natasha.
Floyd: Researching this project involved a pretty even mixture of fashion and art books for the historical research, and the Internet and magazines for the contemporary research. Most of the books were from either my personal library or the Chicago Public Library. The magazine/Internet research was quite varied. Hundreds of images that felt like a contemporary version of the first of the 20th century. Anything from Vogue and the Sartorialist to websites with fashion trends and even Pinterest. Any source that can give a quality image with a citation can be useful. I also utilized the production’s dramaturg (Derek Matson) for specific things that were difficult to find in English-language books and websites.
Boles: I had an incredible props master named Danielle Case who we all collaborated with to find the specific items needed for the play. It was challenging since everything was rooted in period but often needed to be in a specific color palette. It’s hard to do that with limited financial resources, but she’s amazing at it and has a great eye.
Which character did you have the most fun designing for?
Floyd: I prefer to work with natural fibers as a general rule unless the production demands something different. They are easier to work with and easier to wear. I used a lot of cotton and wool not just for comfort, but also for a more “traditional” feel for the clothing. The exception was Natasha as she moved to a contemporary feel. Synthetic fabrics tend to look extra sleek, which was just right for her in the final scene.
