Tales From A Costume Designer

Whitney Anne Adams

Join professional costume designer Whitney Anne Adams as she interviews fellow costume designers, costume department members and filmmakers from across the industry. Questions for future guests can be submitted at the TFACD Patreon page.

  1. DEBRA MCGUIRE - Costume Designer, Fine Artist, Fashion Designer

    3d ago

    DEBRA MCGUIRE - Costume Designer, Fine Artist, Fashion Designer

    This week's episode features the iconic costume designer and artist Debra McGuire! We chat about her book that just came out last week called Dressing the Story: The Art of Costume Design and tales from her initials beginnings in the world and stories from incredible career thus far. Make sure you order the book from the links below!  --- If you want to support me and this podcast, please subscribe to the Patreon - we have tiers starting at just $3 and you will get access to extended cuts of every episode with more even more stories. I have the Patreon on hold for the time being while I design my current project through September 2026, but if you subscribe now, you'll still have access to all the previous extended episodes!  --- Costume Designer Debra McGuire Credits include: Friends, Freaks and Geeks, The Morning Show, Anchorman, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Superbad, Walk Hard --- Debra McGuire is an award-winning fine artist, fashion designer, and costume designer whose work spans film, television, and theatre. She is best known for her ten seasons designing Friends and for her long-standing collaborations with David Mamet, including the Emmy-nominated film Phil Spector, which earned her a nomination for Best Costume Design.   Debra has designed for many of Judd Apatow and Jake Kasdan's projects and currently designs for Jennifer Aniston on The Morning Show (Seasons 2–5). Recent work includes the international feature film Mayday, starring Kenneth Branagh and Ryan Reynolds and premiering in May 2026, and Super Troopers 3, due for release on August 7, 2026.   Her theatre career began in Paris in the early 1980s, leading to an Ovation Award nomination for Boston Marriage and an NAACP Award for Atlanta at the Geffen Playhouse. She later designed the period musical I Only Have Eyes for You, which received multiple Ovation Award nominations.   A fine artist at heart, Debra began as a painter in the Bay Area before expanding into jewelry, accessories, fashion, couture (including a decade running her boutique in Pacific Palisades), and ultimately costume design. She has spoken and presented at galleries, art institutions, and festivals around the world—offering Master Classes at the Visegrad Film Festival in Bratislava and, most recently, at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in Estonia, where she also served as a juror and presented the Best Actor and Best Production Designer Awards. Throughout her career, Debra has been driven by imagination, collaboration, and deep respect for the creative process. She credits her loyal and dedicated crews as essential partners in bringing each visual world to life.   Her book "Dressing The Story: The Art of Costume Design" with producer Jim Stark was released in May 2026.   Debra McGuire Links: Website: debramcguire.com Costume Design Instagram: @bydebramcguire Art Instagram: @debramcguireart Jewelry Instagram: @debrafineyohai IMDb: Debra MaGuire Order Debra's book Dressing the Story! Order Dressing the Story at B&N --- TFACD Links: Patreon: Tales From A Costume Designer Instagram: @talesfromacostumedesigner Twitter: @talesfromaCD TikTok: @talesfromaCD --- Whitney Anne Adams Links: Website: whitneyadams.com IMDb: Whitney Anne Adams Instagram: @WAACostumeDesign Twitter: @WhitneyAAdams TikTok: @waacostumedesign --- Union Links: Costume Designers Guild IG: @cdglocal892 United Scenic Artists Local 829 IG: @unitedscenicartists IATSE IG: @iatse ---

    1h 36m
  2. SARA HINKLEY - Assistant Costume Designer/NYC Costume Shopper

    May 18

    SARA HINKLEY - Assistant Costume Designer/NYC Costume Shopper

    Today's episode features NYC Costume Shopper, Costume Designer, and author Sara Hinkley! We get deep into the details of what it's like working as an Costume Shopper in New York City, her previous work as a Costume Department Coordinator and her upcoming novel The Red Sacrament which you should all pre-order at the link below! --- If you want to support me and this podcast, please subscribe to the Patreon - we have tiers starting at just $3 and you will get access to extended cuts of every episode with more even more stories. Sara's Patreon episode is 30 minutes longer! --- Assistant Costume Designer/NYC Shopper, Costume Designer, Author Sara Hinkley Credits include: The Off-Weeks, Law and Order: SVU, Law and Order: Organized Crime, The Blacklist, Monsterland, Crashing, Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens. --- Sara Hinkley is an author and costume designer living in Brooklyn, NY.  Her debut novel, historical vampire horror The Red Sacrament is out July 2026 from Titan Books. Her costume design work has included film, television, theatre, dance, and opera, and she currently working as Assistant Costume Designer/Shopper on The Off Weeks, a forthcoming project for Apple TV. She is a proud union member of USA 829 IATSE. Her literary representation is Isabel Kaufman at Fox Literary.     Sara Hinkley Links: Website: sarahinkley.com Instagram: @sarahinkley.jpg Twitter: @boneysoups Bluesky: @boneysoups IMDb: Sara Hinkley Preorder The Red Sacrament! --- TFACD Links: Patreon: Tales From A Costume Designer Instagram: @talesfromacostumedesigner Twitter: @talesfromaCD TikTok: @talesfromaCD --- Whitney Anne Adams Links: Website: whitneyadams.com IMDb: Whitney Anne Adams Instagram: @WAACostumeDesign Twitter: @WhitneyAAdams TikTok: @waacostumedesign --- Union Links: Costume Designers Guild IG: @cdglocal892 United Scenic Artists Local 829 IG: @unitedscenicartists IATSE IG: @iatse ---

    2h 3m
  3. Apr 27

    ELIZABETH LAIL - Actor

    This week's episode features my very talented and amazing friend and collaborator Elizabeth Lail! We met when we got to work together on Five Nights at Freddy's 2 and had an absolute blast. Come listen to us chat about all the things: Vanessa's sequel looks, likening an audition to the "first pancake" of the batch, being her own costume designer for her self-tapes, the vital necessity of self-care while working, advice for aspiring actors and filmmakers, our love of Britney Spears, and so much more! If you want 10 more minutes of our conversation, be sure to join my Patreon for the extended episode! --- If you want to support me and this podcast, please subscribe to the Patreon - we have tiers starting at just $3 and you will get access to extended cuts of every episode with more even more stories.  --- Actor Elizabeth Lail Credits include: You, Five Nights at Freddy's 1 & 2, Gonzo Girl, Mack and Rita, Countdown, Once Upon A Time --- Elizabeth Lail is an actress from North Carolina. She studied at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and will next appear in Season Four of the Night Agent on Netflix. Recently she was seen in Blumhouse's Five Nights at Freddy's 2 and Tennessee Williams' Not About Nightingales at the Williamstown Theater festival. She is most known as Guinevere Beck in Netflix's hit thriller You, and for her breakout role in Once Upon a Time as Princess Anna. She enjoys bird watching, long walks on the beach, and is a recent convert to pistachio matcha lattes.   Elizabeth Lail Links: Instagram: @elizabethlail IMDb: Elizabeth Lail --- TFACD Links: Patreon: Tales From A Costume Designer Instagram: @talesfromacostumedesigner Twitter: @talesfromaCD TikTok: @talesfromaCD --- Whitney Anne Adams Links: Website: whitneyadams.com IMDb: Whitney Anne Adams Instagram: @WAACostumeDesign Twitter: @WhitneyAAdams TikTok: @waacostumedesign --- Union Links: Costume Designers Guild IG: @cdglocal892 United Scenic Artists Local 829 IG: @unitedscenicartists IATSE IG: @iatse ---

    1h 26m
  4. BERNADETTE CROFT - Costume Designer

    Apr 13

    BERNADETTE CROFT - Costume Designer

    This week's episode features the wonderful costume designer Bernadette Croft! We first met 15 years ago while working on The Great Gatsby together in Australia and it has been so amazing to follow her career since then. Come listen to us chat about her work and her process as a costume designer.  --- *A note that my intro for her in the episode is now *wrong* as she won two more CAFTAD Awards in the time since we recorded! --- If you enjoy the show, please consider helping others find it by writing a five star review on your podcast app of choice. --- If you want to support me and this podcast, please subscribe to the Patreon - we have tiers starting at just $3 and you will get access to extended cuts of every episode with more even more stories.  --- Costume Designer Bernadette Croft Credits include: The Copenhagen Test, Ginny & Georgia, Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds --- Bernadette Croft is an award winning Costume Designer based in Toronto, Canada. She has recently wrapped on the fifth and final season of the Star Trek Series, Strange New Worlds for Paramount+ as well as Simu Liu's contemporary Sci-Fi thriller "The Copenhagen Test" for Peacock. Bernadette and her Trek team have won 6 CAFCAD Awards for Design, Textile Art and Building. Bernadette describes Costume as a powerful story telling medium and she loves to enhance and inspire any narrative with her contribution to real and imagined world building.     Bernadette Croft Links: Website: bernadettecroft.com Instagram: @berncroft IMDb: Bernadette Croft --- TFACD Links: Patreon: Tales From A Costume Designer Instagram: @talesfromacostumedesigner Twitter: @talesfromaCD TikTok: @talesfromaCD --- Whitney Anne Adams Links: Website: whitneyadams.com IMDb: Whitney Anne Adams Instagram: @WAACostumeDesign Twitter: @WhitneyAAdams TikTok: @waacostumedesign --- Union Links: Costume Designers Guild IG: @cdglocal892 United Scenic Artists Local 829 IG: @unitedscenicartists IATSE IG: @iatse ---

    1h 19m
  5. 09/22/2025

    ANNIE SPONG - Intimacy Coordinator

    This week's guest is Intimacy Coordinator & Costumer Annie Spong! We had a fantastic discussion all about Intimacy Coordination: the origins, the nuance of the job, the process, the intersection with costumes, intimacy riders, different types of modesty garments, and so much more! Annie also co-hosts a fantastic Intimacy Coordination podcast called Romancing the Screen - check it out through the link below. There's a LOT of great links in the show notes today, so be sure to take a look.  --- If you want to support me and this podcast, please subscribe to the Patreon - we have tiers starting at just $3 and you will get access to extended cuts of every episode with more even more stories. If you enjoy the show, please consider helping others find it by writing a five star review on your podcast app of choice. --- Intimacy Coordinator Annie Spong Credits include: The Patient, Beef, Saint X, Dave, Rebel, Perry Mason --- Annie Spong, MFA (Pratt Institute, NYC), is an Intimacy Coordinator for television, film, and advertising, bringing decades of award-winning experience as a costume designer and wardrobe stylist. Her seamless transition into intimacy coordination is rooted in years of firsthand advocacy for on-set safety and talent support. Often the first to respond to unspoken needs in production, Annie naturally stepped into the role of safeguarding boundaries long before the industry formalized the position. With a reputation for professionalism, emotional intelligence, and creative problem-solving, Annie collaborates with directors, producers, and performers to choreograph intimate scenes with integrity and care. Her production fluency and deep commitment to consent-forward storytelling make her an invaluable asset on set. She is passionate about cultivating a safe, inclusive, and dynamically creative work environment for all collaborators. --- Annie Spong Links IMDB: Annie Spong Instagram: @annie__intimacycoordinator Website: AnnieSpong.com Podcast: Romancing the Screen Podcast Website: Annie @ IntimacyCoordinator.me SAG-AFTRA: Intimacy Coordinator Resources SAG-AFTRA: Sex, Nudity and You PDF SAG-AFTRA: Quick Guide for Scenes Involving Nudity and Simulated Sex PDF SAG-AFTRA: Recommended Standards for Qualifications, Training & Vetting of Intimacy Coordinators PDF SAG-AFTRA: List of Certified IC's Website: Intimacy Directors & Coordinators YouTube: Annie's Intimacy Coordination Class at the CDG --- Modesty Garment Links: Covvier Intimask Unclockable K-Tape The Costume Source --- TFACD Links: Patreon: Tales From A Costume Designer Instagram: @talesfromacostumedesigner Twitter: @talesfromaCD TikTok: @talesfromaCD --- Whitney Anne Adams Links: Website: whitneyadams.com IMDb: Whitney Anne Adams Instagram: @WAACostumeDesign Twitter: @WhitneyAAdams TikTok: @waacostumedesign --- Union Links: Costume Designers Guild IG: @cdglocal892 United Scenic Artists Local 829 IG: @unitedscenicartists IATSE IG: @iatse ---

    1h 15m
  6. BOOK CLUB: THE COSTUMES OF HOLLYWOOD with Co-Authors Coleen Scott and Larry McQueen

    09/08/2025

    BOOK CLUB: THE COSTUMES OF HOLLYWOOD with Co-Authors Coleen Scott and Larry McQueen

    This week episode is a special Book Club episode digging into the brand new book The Costumes of Hollywood with co-authors Coleen Scott & Larry McQueen! We cover Larry's extensive collection, the creation of the book, the importance of preserving Hollywood history and maintaing the legacy of Costume Designers and their teams, advice for Costume Designers on archiving their own pieces and so much more!    The Costumes of Hollywood details the design, creation, and influence of over 100 ensembles from some of the most iconic designers, films, and roles in Hollywood history, spanning the 1920s through the early 21st century. All costumes featured are from The Collection of Motion Picture Costume Design, one of the world's largest private collections, curated over thirty-five years by leading Hollywood costume historian and archivist, Larry McQueen.   The book presents full costumes on display in addition to close-ups, and rarely seen interior details of some garments. Iconic costumes, including many with Academy Award nominations, from Some Like It Hot, Hello Dolly, Cabaret, Rear Window, Ben Hur, Mildred Pierce, Angel, Masters of the Universe, The Piano, The Hunger Games, and so many others are featured. This book gives the audience a rare and heretofore unpublished insight into what collecting, restoring, and reproducing entails, and highlights differences between private collecting and museum-backed collections. The Costumes of Hollywood details the significance of the designer, costume, and wearer via thorough research, interviews, and Larry McQueen's behind-the-scenes knowledge of collecting and working as an archivist in Hollywood.   Within the entertainment field, this book will be of interest to professional costume designers and technicians in film, theatre, and performance, as well as students of film production, history, and costume design and construction. The Costumes of Hollywood will also enrich and entertain anyone with an interest in costume design in film and collecting.   — If you want to support me and this podcast, please subscribe to the Patreon - we have tiers starting at just $3 and you will get access to extended cuts of every episode with more even more stories.  --- The Costumes of Hollywood: Highlights from The Collection of Motion Picture Costume Design Written by Coleen Scott & Larry McQueen --- Larry McQueen is a leading Hollywood costume historian and archivist. He has held the position of consultant for Camden House Auctioneers, Inc. in Los Angeles; Christie's East, New York: Christie's London; Butterfield and Butterfield Los Angeles/ San Francisco; Entertainment Rarities; and Julien Entertainment.   As consultant, he has been responsible for the authentication of film costumes and the estimation of their value. From 1999-2012, Mr. McQueen worked as an archivist with MGM/ UA in creating and maintaining a prop and costume collection of MGM films. In addition, his collection has worked with private estates and costume houses such as Lucille Ball, Jane Withers, Edith Head, Wayne Finkleman, Julie Newmar, Debbie Reynolds, Western Costume Company, Eastern Costume Company, CRC, American Costume Co., and others in researching items and their valuation. Mr. McQueen's private collection of film costumes is one the finest, and consists of over 600 costumes worn in films and television from 1920 to present. Portions of his collection have been exhibited in museums across the globe including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, The Fashion Foundation in Tokyo, and The Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Website: www.filmcostumecollection.com.   Coleen Scott is a costume designer and historian with an MFA in Costume Design from Boston University, where she received the Kahn award upon graduation. She has worked for over 25 years in theater, opera, film, and television. She has worked with Academy Award-winning costume designer Ann Roth as well as designers Stephanie Maslansky and Tina Nigro. She frequently works with her creative partner and photographer, Ben Trivett, doing styling, set decoration, and photo tech for celebrity and editorial portrait photography.   Coleen taught Costume Production and Makeup for Stage and Studio at Saint Ann's School in Brooklyn, NY for thirteen years. Her book The Costumes of Burlesque was published by Routledge in 2019. She is a proud member of lATSE, USA 829, USITT, and is Chair of The Costume Society of America's Western Region. Coleen is tenured faculty in the Theatre Arts and Fashion Department at Santa Rosa Junior College in California heading the Costume Design, Technology and Makeup programs. Website: www.coleenscottdesign.com.     CoH Links: Book Link @ Routledge Website: The Collection of Motion Picture Costume Design Podcast (Apple Podcasts): The Costumes of Hollywood Podcast Podcast (Spotify): The Costumes of Hollywood Podcast Instagram: @CostumesofHollywood --- TFACD Links: Patreon: Tales From A Costume Designer Instagram: @talesfromacostumedesigner Twitter: @talesfromaCD TikTok: @talesfromaCD --- Whitney Anne Adams Links: Website: whitneyadams.com IMDb: Whitney Anne Adams Instagram: @WAACostumeDesign Twitter: @WhitneyAAdams TikTok: @waacostumedesign --- Union Links: Costume Designers Guild IG: @cdglocal892 United Scenic Artists Local 829 IG: @unitedscenicartists IATSE IG: @iatse ---

    1h 41m
  7. 08/25/2025

    KATHLEEN FELIX-HAGER - Costume Designer

    This week's episode features the fantastic costume designer Kathleen Felix-Hager. We dig into her start in the world of costumes on the epic film Waterworld, the love for our costume teams, using her grandmother as one of her inspirations for Jean Smart's Deborah Vance in Hacks, the unexpected logistical issues that come with cross-boarding, the joy of contemporary research, what we look for when we're hiring new staff members, and so much more!  --- *We had some cute puppy barks and gardening noises in the background, so don't be alarmed if you hear them a few times!  --- If you want to support me and this podcast, please subscribe to the Patreon - we have tiers starting at just $3 and you will get access to extended cuts of every episode with more even more stories.  --- Costume Designer Kathleen Felix-Hager Credits include: Dexter, Veep, Hacks, Space Force, Happiest Season, Downhill --- Kathleen Felix-Hager is a costume designer, currently working in both television and feature film. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she began her career on the film Waterworld, and fell in love with the art of storytelling through costumes. She has designed the costumes on several award-winning television shows, including Dexter, Veep and Hacks. She received an Emmy for Contemporary Costumes for her work on Hacks.   Photo by Chris Hager   --- Kathleen Felix-Hager IMDB: Kathleen Felix-Hager Instagram: @kfhager Website: Kathleen Felix-Hager --- TFACD Links: Patreon: Tales From A Costume Designer Instagram: @talesfromacostumedesigner Twitter: @talesfromaCD TikTok: @talesfromaCD --- Whitney Anne Adams Links: Website: whitneyadams.com IMDb: Whitney Anne Adams Instagram: @WAACostumeDesign Twitter: @WhitneyAAdams TikTok: @waacostumedesign --- Union Links: Costume Designers Guild IG: @cdglocal892 United Scenic Artists Local 829 IG: @unitedscenicartists IATSE IG: @iatse ---

    1h 1m
  8. 08/11/2025

    BOOK CLUB: BREAKING INTO NEW HOLLYWOOD with Co-Author Ada Tseng

    This week episode is a special Book Club episode digging into the brand new book Breaking Into New Hollywood: A Career Guide to a Changing Industry with Co-Author Ada Tseng. Come listen as we highlight the special features in this book and what went into bringing it to life. I'm honored to be featured in the Costume Design section of this book (along with this very podcast!) and it was a blast to turn the tables on Ada who interviewed me — now I get to interview her!  --- If you want to support me and this podcast, please subscribe to the Patreon - we have tiers starting at just $3 and you will get access to extended cuts of every episode with more even more stories.  --- Breaking Into New Hollywood: A Career Guide to a Changing Industry Written by Ada Tseng & Jon Healy. Presented by the Los Angeles Times. --- Ada Tseng is the co-author of the upcoming book Breaking Into New Hollywood, with Jon Healey. She co-hosts the Asian American pop culture history podcast, Saturday School, with Brian Hu. A former editor at the Los Angeles Times, Ada covers culture, lifestyle, health, style and travel. Her bylines include National Geographic, Center of Asian American Media, Women's Wear Daily, HowStuffWorks, The Washington Post, Public Radio International, NBC, LA Weekly, Asia Pacific Arts, Audrey Magazine and more.   Headshot photo by Leo Wu @wugrapher   The Los Angeles Times Published since 1881, The Los Angeles Times is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the United States, as well as the largest newspaper in the western United States.   Ada Tseng & Book Links: Simon & Schuster: Breaking into New Hollywood LA Times: Want to break into Hollywood? Read this book Instagram: @adatseng88 Saturday School Podcast Substack: Ada Tseng --- TFACD Links: Patreon: Tales From A Costume Designer Instagram: @talesfromacostumedesigner Twitter: @talesfromaCD TikTok: @talesfromaCD --- Whitney Anne Adams Links: Website: whitneyadams.com IMDb: Whitney Anne Adams Instagram: @WAACostumeDesign Twitter: @WhitneyAAdams TikTok: @waacostumedesign --- Union Links: Costume Designers Guild IG: @cdglocal892 United Scenic Artists Local 829 IG: @unitedscenicartists IATSE IG: @iatse ---

    1 hr
5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Join professional costume designer Whitney Anne Adams as she interviews fellow costume designers, costume department members and filmmakers from across the industry. Questions for future guests can be submitted at the TFACD Patreon page.

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