Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1010567
38 The Costume Designer Summer 2018 Beth Morgan GLOW/Netflix The series, with a diverse ensemble cast, follows a group of aspiring performers who find themselves involved in an all- female fake wrestling show. It was inspired by an actual TV series which ran from 1986 to 1989, a time when women had made some strides in asserting themselves in the world, but were still not being taken seriously in many situations, especially professional ones. These characters take a project conceived by men and gradually gain a measure of creative control and expression. The period-correct skimpy leotards are both exploitive and empowering. Morgan, talking about her characters' clothing choices as they struggle with how they want to be perceived, asks, "Are we empowering young girls? Are we having young men gawk at us? What's the power in both of those?" Morgan's cast embraced their custom-built vintage wres- tling costumes. "People come out in a new leotard, and the other actors clap! They're wearing all these leotards, and half the time they don't wear bras, and we have all different body types, and we're not afraid of cellulite, especially in the '80s. These are really what women looked like, and there's no rea- son to make them look like TV women. They are all so sup- portive and happy, and nobody feels self-conscious. That's how everybody should feel, every day! I think that really translates on screen to our audience that these women are all here for each other, and feel strong and powerful, in the tiniest leotard with their legs hanging out, and it's all these different types of women showcased." For Morgan, GLOW was an incred- ible experience, working on a show about women that is produced and created by women. "There's some- thing about the open collaboration that happens on GLOW, that's why I believe that creatively it's been my best work, and I really feel that it's because I'm in this space, in this loving, supportive environment. I think that's why audiences respond to GLOW. Industry people respond to GLOW because it's a bunch of people trusted to do their best work." Photos: GLOW, Netflix; Claws, TNT.