Shop your true style potential with the costume designer of Apple TV+’s ‘The Big Door Prize’
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What if you could know your true life’s potential—would you want to know, or would you let fate determine where you end up? That’s the premise of the latest Apple TV+ series, The Big Door Prize. Starring Chris O’Dowd and Gabrielle Dennis, the comedy series follows the citizens of a small town called Deerfield, where a machine called the “Morpho” allows users to discover their full potential. Schoolteacher Dusty Hubbard (O’Dowd) finds that he has already achieved his potential, but quickly discovers that he’s in the minority as his family, friends and students find out they could achieve far more than him.
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The series is lighthearted and funny at times but also asks viewers to consider their own life’s potential. We sat down to chat with the series’ costume designer, Colin Wilkes, to learn more about her approach to dressing these quickly changing characters, and how we can all dress to fulfill our own true potential.
Watch ‘The Big Door Prize’ on Apple TV+
Dressing for your true potential, with costume designer Colin Wilkes
Designing costumes for The Big Door Prize was a welcome challenge for Wilkes, who previously dressed the costumes in Palm Springs (2020). “I really like quirky character-driven comedies that have these underlying existential questions,” says Wilkes. “I really wanted to create a world that felt isolated from our world at large—not using big brands that you would recognize, not having TikTok fashions that are easily recognizable. I wanted to really explore the characters through their costumes, and the way that they were also finding themselves.”
Dressing characters whose paths change drastically within the course of a single season—and sometimes within the course of a single episode—could have resulted in a wide range of costumes for each character, so Wilkes thought carefully about how to ground each character. “I thought about the whole character arc, even when we didn't totally know where they were going. I needed to root them in a starting place.” The starting place in this case was distinctive color stories for each character in the series.
When it comes to dressing for your own full potential, Wilkes encourages everyone to step outside of their comfort zones. “It is a really satisfying thing to be able to freely explore your individuality and who you are by the way you dress,” she says. Whatever your potential and your motive, we’ve listed some ways to add edge, joie de vivre and assertiveness to your wardrobe.
Want to be more edgy with your style?
“Be bold and make big choices” with your style, says Wilkes. “Being unique and experimenting and going the extra mile to feel something in the way you dress is liberating and freeing.” For a fearless style statement that’ll have you towering over everyone else, reach for the Lamoda Videogames extreme platform heeled shoes. This staggeringly high stacked platform heel will pair beautifully with the season’s trendy flares, while offering a splash of color in an unexpected place. Shop the style in women’s shoe sizes 5 to 10.
The Vegan Leather Midi Skirt from Banana Republic Factory is a classic design oozing with ‘70s style. Show off your edgier side by pairing the jacket with a white T-shirt and a silk scarf tied around your neck. Or for a vintage-inspired look, opt for knee-high boots and a light turtleneck sweater on top. The skirt is available in three colors in women’s sizes 0 to 20.
$84.97 at Banana Republic Factory (Save $25.03)
Leather pants will always be endlessly cool in our books, and even now they’re a sign of edginess and fashion-forward sensibilities. For a twist on the classic, reach for the Black Orion Jeans from Eytys. Though they look like shiny black leather, the jeans are actually made from waxed denim, offered in a stylish bootcut design. Pair the jeans with an all-black ensemble for a look that’ll show a wilder side to you than people are used to seeing. Shop the style in men’s waist sizes 28 to 36.
Want to be more carefree with your style?
“What’s so fun about comedy is that you can take a lot more creative license with costume,” says Wilkes. This included leaning into the “full potential” of each character, whether that meant a sweater that read “Royalty,” or a dynamic wardrobe of costumes and shoes for Izzy, Dusty’s effervescent-yet-demanding mother-in-law. Tapping into a carefree spirit with your clothes can be a challenge but it doesn’t have to be. The Morina Ankle Dress from Cleobella features a bold blue gingham print and dramatic puff sleeves and a flowing midi-length. The dress has the sweetness of a country dress, but doesn’t take itself too seriously. Shop the dress in women’s sizes XS to XL.
The Got a Text Thong Sandals from Melissa are puffy, pink and ready to make a statement. These platform flip flops are available in four colors in women’s sizes 5 to 10, and add a touch of bohemian flare to any outfit. We’re particularly fond of the Barbiecore pink version, which would pair beautifully with the dress listed above or a barrel midi skirt.
Want to add an easy, unfussy pattern to your wardrobe? Look no further than the Wallace & Barnes viscose-cotton blend camp-collar shirt in patchwork. The shirt is made from a trendy patchwork textile, available in both shades of brown and blue—and will look fantastic paired with black jeans and white sneakers. Shop the style in men’s sizes XS to XXL.
Want to be more assertive with your style?
Not reaching your full potential is one of the existential questions left by The Big Door Prize. And oftentimes it means that the characters are being more outspoken and definitive in their opinions and actions as the season progresses. To add some assertiveness to your everyday look, try a well-tailored suit from Brooks Brothers. The Regent Fit Wool Micro Houndstooth 1818 Suit is cut close to the body to highlight your shape, while the neutral color and classic cut convey power and confidence. The Regent Fit 1818 Suit is available in regular, short and long lengths in men’s sizes 38 to 48.
The Sheath Dress in Good Wool from Theory is the perfect dress to go from day to night and is right at home in the boardroom and the bar alike. This classic design is available in four colors in women’s sizes 00 to 18, and requires nothing more than a pair of shoes and some stacked bracelets to complete a stylish, powerful look.
There’s nothing that says confidence quite like a pair of classic black pumps, and the Vala Pump from Steve Madden might be one of our favorite pairs. The style features a 4-inch stiletto heel and a synthetic patent leather upper. The shoes would pair beautifully with the Theory dress listed above, but these heels will be a workhorse in your wardrobe that you can wear for years with any number of ensembles. Best of all, the pumps are available in five colors in women’s whole and half shoe sizes 5.5 to 11.
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This article originally appeared on Reviewed: Designing costumes for ‘The Big Door Prize,’ and how to get the look
