Entirely
made
to
order
to
keep
her
in
period
and
age
appropriate
cloing
Costumes for child turned vampire, Claudia (Bailey
Bass) had to be almost entirely custom-made to keep
her in period and age-appropriate clothing. The chal-
lenge is showing the character aging emotionally but
not physically. I had to obscure the actor's 18 year old
figure, giving her a straighter, more child-like silhouette
as she goes from 1917 to 1929 trapped in the body of a
14 year old.
Because Anne Rice often referred to Claudia as a magnif-
icent doll when she is first with Louis and Lestat, I found
inspiration in Edwardian dolls. Her sailor suit is iconic
children's wear, for both boys and girls. When the 1920s
hit, Claudia becomes restless and branches out on her
own. Her bid for independence parallels a massive shift
in womenswear which threw out restrictions and control
in favor of a search for self and personal freedom.
Bailey Bass as Claudia. Photo: AMC Networks.
66
THE COSTUME DESIGNER
|
WINTER 2023
