STYLE'Carrie Diaries' Costume Designer Reveals Favorite Look From This Season
Jan. 21 2013, Published 1:11 p.m. ET
The Sex and the City spin-off series, The Carrie Diaries, features the one and only costume designer extraordinaire Eric Daman (he previously worked on Gossip Girl) and to show our excitement for the new show we scored an interview with the genius stylist. Find out what he's got in store for young Carrie Bradshaw and what he has to say about 80s fashion below and don't forget to follow him on Twitter since he'll be giving viewers an inside look at the designers he's using, and the stores he's shopping at!
OK!: How did you prepare for your new role as costume designer for The Carrie Diaries?
Eric Daman: I refreshed my 80s fashion sense (having been a fashion curious teen in the '80s was an added bonus) by rewatching all of the John Hughes classics and getting out my high school yearbooks. Fortunately there is a lot of '80s-inspired fashion trending right now, so having an aspirational authenticity to the look is realistic. A lot of '80s fashion wasn't the cutest or most flattering, but by keeping the shapes and fabrics contemporary, the look feels very retro-moderne and cool. We are working with classic '80s colors and prints, but in more slimming shapes and silhouettes—not giant shoulder pads and oversized bulk.
OK!: What was your favorite look Carrie ever wore in Sex and the City?
ED: The Dirndl dress she wore to a picnic with her besties.
OK!: Is the splatter paint bag teen Carries "it" accessory like her nameplate necklace is when she is older?
ED: The Mark Cross bag is definitely an "it" accessory. Teen Carrie also wears a signature "C" initial pendant by Alex Woo that is a prelude to the nameplate.
OK!: What's it been like working with AnnaSophia Robb?
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ED: An absolute dream. She is so wide-eyed and enthusiastic about it all. In the fittings (and on set) she really embodies Carrie Bradshaw.
OK!: How did you incorporate influences from the 80s into the clothes?
ED: We wanted to create an authentic look, not an overtly kitschy '80s look. Our young CB's style will be idiosyncratic, but quieter then the Carrie we already know. She is at an age where she is experimenting and creating her individual style, so I mixed 80s-inspired items with pieces from her "mother's closet" that feel more '60s and '70s. Think knee-high Chloe boots and high-waisted light-blue floral jeans.
OK!: What is your favorite look Carrie wears in the new season?
ED: In the first episode I got to put her in an original Scaasi fuchsia, off-the-shoulder, polka dot dress... We completely rebuilt it to suit AnnaSophia's petite frame and give it a contemporary flair and fit. It's the perfect Carrie Bradshaw dress for her first night out in NYC!
OK!: What are your secret places for finding amazing fashion items?
ED: A lot of East Village thrift and consignment stores like No Relation, Amarcord, Screaming Mimi's, and Tokyo 7. The best new discovery has been Etsy.com.
OK!: Who do you think has great style in Hollywood today?
ED: Lou Doillon. Oops, I guess that would be Paris.
Catch The Carrie Diaries Mondays at 8/7C on The CW! Did you watch the season premiere? Are you a fan of the new show? Leave a comment below!
