Listen in for a masterclass on how to tell a story with 140 looks, on a $1M indie, across decades, with 10 days of prep time!

In this deeply moving and craft-rich conversation, host Catherine Baumgardner speaks with costume designer Maggie Whitaker about her extraordinary journey designing the film Fairyland. Whitaker traces her roots from a theater-first upbringing shaped by old movies, regional summer stock, and a love of history—training that quietly prepared her for the chaos and poetry of independent filmmaking.

The episode unpacks how Whitaker transitioned from decades of theater to film, learning to navigate asynchronous storytelling, brutal schedules, and microscopic budgets—while still protecting character, emotion, and truth. She offers a masterclass in designing the 1970s–80s queer San Francisco world of Fairyland, drawing from deep cultural research, personal archives, and lived community history rather than surface-level nostalgia.

Whitaker reveals how costume becomes a tool for identity: characters "trying on" versions of themselves through clothing, code-switching between safety and self-expression, comfort and risk. From thrifted Victorian pieces worn by broke artists, to plaid shirts that anchor emotional continuity, the clothes chart parallel arcs of father and daughter—love, rebellion, grief, and return.

Beyond design, the conversation explores mentorship, advocacy, collaboration, and leadership—how to fight diplomatically for your department, care for your team, and make meaningful art under near-impossible constraints.

The "Voice of Costume" is the first podcast created between working costume designers sharing stories, inspiration, struggles, and insights into the creative career of costume design. A behind-the-scenes podcast to showcase the voices of Costume Designers around the world. Listen in on this inspirational, one-on-one conversation with Catherine Baumgardner.

Audio available wherever you get podcasts.

https://voiceofcostume.com/

Creative leadership isn't control—it's vulnerability, collaboration, and choosing the right moments to stand firm.

In this vibrant and deeply reflective conversation, host Catherine Baumgardner sits down with costume designer Colin Wilkes, whose work brings emotional texture and visual storytelling to the Netflix adaptation of People We Meet on Vacation. Wilkes traces a creative journey rooted in rural freedom, theater, opera, and early storytelling—spaces where imagination and observation shaped a lifelong study of people, culture, and place.

The discussion dives into how costume design becomes a form of sociology: studying geography, music, art, class, and cultural behavior to make each vacation, city, and moment feel emotionally distinct. Wilkes explains how color palettes, fabric, silhouettes, and background wardrobes subtly signal time, place, and character psychology—often working below the audience's conscious awareness. From Barcelona to New Orleans, airports to weddings, every costume choice anchors the viewer in a believable world.

Wilkes also reveals the challenges behind the romance: tight schedules, weather disasters, international shipping, and constant pivots—while still protecting the emotional arc of the characters. The episode explores ego, collaboration, vulnerability, and leadership, emphasizing when to fight for a creative choice and when to let go. Ultimately, the conversation becomes a meditation on purpose-driven storytelling, trust in collaboration, and how clothing can quietly chart growth, intimacy, and connection over time.

The "Voice of Costume" is the first podcast created between working costume designers sharing stories, inspiration, struggles, and insights into the creative career of costume design. A behind-the-scenes podcast to showcase the voices of Costume Designers around the world. Listen in on this inspirational, one-on-one conversation with Catherine Baumgardner.

Audio available wherever you get podcasts.

https://voiceofcostume.com/

Power isn't shouted in this world—it's tailored. Discover how suits, fabric, and subtle choices quietly drive tension in a political thriller.

In this thoughtful and inspiring conversation, host Catherine Baumgardner sits down with acclaimed costume designer Jenny Gering, whose work spans The Americans and season three of The Diplomat. Gering reflects on her childhood split between tomboy freedom and classic Hollywood obsession, crediting old movies, vintage fashion, and storytelling as the roots of her creative instincts.

The discussion traces her unconventional path into costume design—one built on curiosity, saying yes, and discovering that seemingly unrelated skills can suddenly click into purpose. Gering offers a candid look at the demands of episodic television, describing The Americans as a trial-by-fire education in speed, research, and stamina, while emphasizing the importance of mentorship, collaboration, and problem-solving under pressure.

As the conversation shifts to The Diplomat, Gering unpacks the subtle art of designing for political thrillers: restrained palettes, repeated garments, and the careful use of tone and texture to differentiate characters without breaking realism. She explains how costumes must ground the audience in reality, making tension feel immediate and believable. Throughout, themes of humility, adaptability, ego-free collaboration, and lifelong curiosity emerge—offering invaluable insight for creatives navigating high-pressure storytelling environments.

The "Voice of Costume" is the first podcast created between working costume designers sharing stories, inspiration, struggles, and insights into the creative career of costume design. A behind-the-scenes podcast to showcase the voices of Costume Designers around the world. Listen in on this inspirational, one-on-one conversation with Catherine Baumgardner.

Audio available wherever you get podcasts.

https://voiceofcostume.com/