All Ze Details: Oscar de la Renta

Photo Courtesy Meredith Markworth-Pollack

The CW Network’s TV Series, Reign, currently on its second season is constantly gaining a dedicated following from fans around the world, but it may not only be from actors Toby Regbo, and Torrance Combs - who are both easy on the eyes; it is the fashion that is making a mark in television – which keeps women and men intrigued alike, every Thursday. Meet Meredith Markworth Pollack, the force behind the costume design on the hit television series, Reign. Discover the designers she selects for 16^th century inspiration, what she is inspired by to develop the style of Reign, and she explains her own personal style offset.

Before the TV series, Reign, started what did you use as inspiration to develop Queen Mary’s (Adelaide Kane’s) wardrobe? What inspired you – historical documents, music, art, runways?

I immediately read Queen Mary as both a warrior and a romantic. Beginning with the pilot she is torn between her relentless position at French court as a Queen and her compassion as a lover. I wanted to depict this through her wardrobe, mixing sharp lines and a dark palette with softer pieces - like lace and delicate beading. Through research on Mary, Queen of Scots I found she wore quite a bit of black, some say she introduced the trend. Wearing black really sets a defiant tone and I wanted Mary to exemplify this. I was also very much inspired by Alexander McQueen. I found that the collections depicted the feminine and masculine aesthetic I was reaching for.

Is music part of the costume design inspiration for the series?

It's funny you ask about Music - no one ever asks if music inspires costumes, and for me it definitely does. We shot the pilot in Ireland in March and I had very little prep time there. I landed in Dublin and it was miserable and rainy. My assistant and I were working on pretty much no sleep and lots of coffee. We were holed up in this studio outside of town and listening to Feist and Anna von Hausswolff on repeat. They both have strong, timeless female voices but aren't overly feminine with their sound and lyrics. This is how I see our women on Reign, embracing their femininity but not defined by it.

Who is your favorite character to style wardrobe for on Reign? What character relates to your own personal style?

I can honestly say I don't have a favorite character to dress; they all have aspects to their wardrobe that are unique and bring a different creative edge than the others. With that said, I think Mary and I have the closest personal style. I own a lot of black.

As Lola has grown into being a mother, have you seen her sense of style change or adapt in any way?

We've actually changed Lola's wardrobe quite a bit from season 1 to season 2. Hopefully it's subtle enough that it won't bring too much attention to her. But her title and purpose at court has changed significantly now that she has had Francis's baby. She has a new power, wanted or not, and her wardrobe depicts this. She is a bit less frilly and more structural, serious. She is also a Mother and her clothes are more practical at times.

What are your favorite designers and brands to work with for the set? I love the fashion on this particular show and I often see BHLDN, and Alexander McQueen to name a couple of my favorites.

I love Alexander McQueen, but also Temperley London, Oscar de la Renta, Marchesa, ROCHAS, Biyan, BHLDN, Anthropologie, and Free People have been very good to us. There is a very fine line with using contemporary designers, but I look for pieces that have a vintage flair, whether it's through the silhouette or the fabric; I really look for timeless pieces.

Are you always happy to work on the set and walk into the Reign “closet” surrounded by all of the costumes? Are the costumes on set inspiration themselves? When you walk into a vintage store, a runway show, or fashion presentation – do you ever see a piece that you get incredibly inspired by, and just think “This has to be on the set of Reign!”?

Reign is pretty much a dream job. Everyone in our department is very, very happy to be here. It's such a creative, unique project and everyone brings something special to the table. We also have a very distinctive look and yes- we are constantly looking for "Reign" pieces, sometimes intentionally, sometimes not. I also get quite a bit of resources and inspirations from friends and people in the industry. We have about five different vintage collectors and three fabric buyers all around the States and Canada specifically buying for us.

Have any travels you’ve had personally, or with Reign inspired any of the looks? Do any styles you see globally, or in exhibits internationally, inspire you?

My traveling has been limited the past year and half while shooting Reign because we shoot 9 months out of the year and I had a baby during my three months off. However I managed to slip away to Mexico City last December and was very much inspired by Casa Azul - Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera's house, which is now a museum. There was an exhibit curated by Vogue up of Frida's clothing. Although it is a completely different style and (obviously year) than 16th Century France - there was a detail in the craftsmanship of her headpieces, and wardrobe that I found very inspiring.

What is your favorite fashion piece, from that period (16^th century), to style with on set?

For our women, we often play with corsets, which is a nice historical touch. However at the time corsets were worn under the garments to help bring in the waist. We play with them, as actual pieces in the costume. Strapless, off the shoulder, waist cinchers - we try many different silhouettes. We often hand stitch appliques or beading on to the corsets to give them a lavish, baroque feel. For Men, we make leather doublets, which are another nod to the period. We have a great leather resource here in Toronto who imports everything from Germany. The leathers are amazing, and I love to play around with them. The textures and colors make a nice rugged look for our men.

Don't miss the mid-season finale of Reign on CW, Thursday 9/8C

Also view this fashion editorial in The Victoria Advocate .

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