Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/989249
24 The Costume Designer Spring 2018 Lou Eyrich I spoke to self-professed small town girl and superstar Costume Designer Lou Eyrich about collaboration with multi-hyphenate producer Ryan Murphy. For nearly two decades, she has created a cast of characters beyond imagination, following her intuition to her new role as producer. AW: YOU CAME TO LOS ANGELES FROM A SMALL TOWN. DO YOU MIND TELLING ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND? LE: I grew up in New Ulm, Minnesota, below the tracks as it was called in the day, but we loved it. My dad was a plumber by trade, but he was a painter and a musician. He also was a photographer and had a darkroom down in the basement. I had seven siblings so we would have art night every Friday with a different theme. We would sometimes paint, or sculpt, or learn about developing film, but it was always this fun, creative environment to grow up in. Then I left to go to college where I had a fine arts major and a music minor. I ended up in Minneapolis and that's where I met the Costume Designer working for Prince, and ended up being Prince's costumer on set! I had no idea what I was doing … and then I went on tour with him. After touring, I was hired by Carol Ramsey on a film in Minneapolis—and that changed the course of my life. (I am forever grateful to Carol.) HAS YOUR PERCEPTION OF COSTUME DESIGN CHANGED? My perception is pretty much the same, I think what has changed is the volume of shows being made and the amazing work that's being done compared to back when I started. Costume Design for television has gotten so much more in-depth, along with the production values. DO YOU FIND YOURSELF RETURNING TO ANY THEMES IN YOUR WORK? I tend to use a lot of hats, because I love hats. Ryan loves hats as well. Sometimes I feel like I tend to over editorialize, I have a penchant for that. Like, take something and make it more. I WOULD CALL YOU A MAXIMALIST. I FEEL LIKE YOU USE MAXIMALISM THE WAY SOME PEOPLE USE NEUTRALS AND STILL HAVE IT SERVE THE CHARACTER. I REMEMBER WHEN I INTERVIEWED YOU FOR GLEE AND IT WAS ABSOLUTELY THE CRAZIEST SHOW IN TERMS OF THE A Conversation with By Anna Wyckoff Photo: Brooke Nipar.