Eye-catching, seamless, flowing energetic, all words that can describe the talent performing week after week on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. The same words, however, can be used to speak about the fashion seen on the show. Emmy award-winning costume designer Randall Christensen is on his seventh season of the show. Christensen is the sole costume designer for the series. Cut-throat deadlines and unique moveable fabrics are his forte.
As the owner of Randall Designs he has been a staple in the professional dancing circuit for many years, but it is his quick thinking and ease of creation that makes him a stand-out in the costuming industry in general. Lynn Furge spoke with Mr. Christensen amidst the sequins and the spandex, just days before the kick-off of Season Eight in this exclusive Nolcha interview.
Lynn Furge: Where do your design influences come from?
Randall Christensen: I'm influenced by today's fashion, of course. A big influence is the old Hollywood musicals! They're an infinite source of inspiration. What a great era that was! Also, Bob Mackie, Nolan Miller, Roberto Cavalli, Jean Paul Gaultier are great motivators! When the season is in full swing and we have 10 to 15 minutes to design the couples' next costume - I'm searching EVERYWHERE on the internet for inspiration. Who knows where it all comes from, but it's all great fun.
LF: How do you alter the general fashion design principles when creating “costumes” and not ready to wear?
RC: I take in the "essence" of the idea/lines and incorporate them with the dance fit rules that are necessary. So much of today's fashion looks great, but would never work on the dance floor as it’s all too risky! The cuts are totally different - the sleeves need to be cut so that the arms can be raised overhead without pulling on the body of the costume. We build bodysuits into the costumes, with the bra built in, along with any other support/control fabrics taken into consideration. The mens' costumes are even more of a challenge! Their shoulder line (we call the "topline") is so important. The shoulders HAVE to lie flat! Tailoring the shoulders on the men is crucial. Everything for the men is custom made as well. Even the dress shirts, as they have to be cut so that the men can raise their arms overhead without pulling on the body of the shirt.
LF: What advice do you have for designers that are interested in costuming?
RC: Ask every question that pops into your head. There is never a "dumb" question! Except the one(s) you don't ask. Don't get intimidated. You're not expected to know everything. And.....listen! You get more information from listening.
LF: Where is a great place to start?
RC: Wherever there's an opportunity! I was fortunate to have an existing company that was contracted to do specific costumes/gowns for specific scenes in movies or television. That's how I got my foot in the door. Also, try apprenticing with a designer, even if you're already a designer, you need to "learn the ropes."
LF: Do you follow any trends you see on the runway when creating for stars?
RC: Absolutely! It's great fun to take current fashion elements of today and incorporating them into our costumes. And, I think the audience connects with that too.
LF: Who have been your favorite star to dress thus far and why?
RC: Brooke Burke was phenomenal! Kristi Yamaguchi was a dream, and already used to the bling and spandex! Joey Fatone was a blast, and so open to wear almost anything. I have been really quite fortunate to have some fun celebrities to work with, all of whom trusted me and the department to take good care of them.
LF: How do you come together with celebrities and dancers each week to create the beauti ful and elaborate costumes they wear on television?
RC: Since the music plays such a vital role in each couples' performance we are a bit handicapped as to being able to get a jump start on the next week's costumes. After the Results Show on Tuesday the couples are given their music and dance assignment for the following week. Everyone makes a MAD DASH up to the Wardrobe Department to reserve their colors for the following week. I try to keep each couple in their own unique color, so everyone wants to be the first to reserve their own color. I have had couples calling me on their cellphones as they're making their way upstairs, just to reserve their color! Once I meet with a couple we start researching on the internet, magazine clippings, and any other type of media to pull as many visuals as possible, mainly to show the celebrity what we are striving to create. The professional dancer and I speak our "dance language" with each other and then I translate what (we were saying) to the celebrity. You see, I consider the professional dancer to be the director of their "scene" aka-dance. They have a vision of the mood and image that he/she wants to create, as well as knowing their celebrity's stronger and weaker points - dance wise.
The next morning the two Assistant Costume Designers and I meet downtown and shop the ENTIRE SHOW by 5pm that very day! We have to rush everything to our tailor and our women's cutters before the day's end. I go over each sketch with our cutters and leave it in their hands to cut everything that night and the following day (Thursday). Everything is sewn and ready for preliminary fittings that very next day (Friday). They alter and finish the costumes on Saturday, then the FINAL fitting is done on Sunday, after each couple has blocked their routines for the camera, orchestra and director.
Each couple gets to do their first and ONLY rehearsal in their new costumes only a few hours before we go live on show day! So, during the dress rehearsal we have a rack of robes, in case we need to do an adjustment on a costume, we can give that dancer/celeb a robe to finish the dress rehearsal. We run the costume upstairs where our workroom makes the necessary adjustments/alterations. There have been times when I have advised the lady dancer/celeb. NOT to sit back on the sofa in the interview room, because they could STICK to the sofa, from the rhinestone glue being wet! Quite exciting, to say the least!
LF: What are your secrets for disguising certain body imperfections?
RC: Since we are dealing with costumes and not ready-to-wear, we have it much easier to disguise those imperfections. We can drape fabric over that area or ruche the fabric, add a flower, a piece of contrast color fabric- it is just a bit easier on a costume to do this. And, thank goodness we have lycra bodysuits underneath it all! Build in Spanx, how much better does it get?
LF: How long does it take to make each costume?
RC: There is such a wide span of designs, but I think on average-beading and jeweling included it would be around 30 to 40 hours easily.
LF: Any predictions for this season of Dancing With The Stars?
RC: We have such a diverse group of celebrities and dancers, for that matter. I just know it is going to be one heck of a fun and challenging season. I see classical minded people, risk takers, there are a few wild cards, lots of unpredictable scenarios possible. Let's just hang tight and see...
Check out more about Dancing with the Stars and Christensen's weekly creations on-line now @ http://www.abc/DancingWithTheStars.com
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