Podcast
The Art of Costume Podcast
Hosted by Spencer Williams & Elizabeth Joy Glass | The Art of Costume · EN
The Art of Costume Podcast is a podcast hosted by Elizabeth Joy Glass and Spencer Williams, dedicated to highlighting the best in costume design. Join us each week as Elizabeth and Spencer break down the costumes from some of our favorite films and television shows, meet the costume designers, and go behind the scenes to find out what the costumes mean to the story and how they were created.
30episodes
Episodes
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Twin Peaks, Fire Walk With Me & The Return
2d ago01:36:26Tap to summarizeThe owls are not what they seem… and neither are the costumes.This week on The Art of Costume Podcast, we reach the finale of our Dressing the Red Room: The David Lynch Series with the strange, haunting, and endlessly iconic world of Twin Peaks. Spencer and Elizabeth travel to the sleepy logging town where FBI Agent Dale Cooper searches for the truth behind Laura Palmer’s murder, unpacking the unforgettable costumes of the original series and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me.From Audrey Horne’s effortlessly cool schoolgirl style and Dale Cooper’s perfectly tailored suits to the deeply tragic world of Laura Palmer, our hosts dive into the fashion, surrealism, and visual storytelling that helped make Twin Peaks one of television’s most influential cult classics. Then, special guest costume designer Jennifer Starzyk joins the podcast to reflect on her experience working as a key costumer on Twin Peaks: The Return under costume designer Nancy Steiner. Jennifer shares stories of witnessing David Lynch’s creative genius firsthand, fitting Laura Dern, and even getting a taste of that famously good Lynch coffee.So pour yourself a damn fine cup of coffee and step into the Red Room.-------------------------------------CHAPTERS3:30 Summary5:16 Meet The Costume Designers7:57 Break9:01 Backwoods Wear11:52 The Teens - Bobby and Shelly15:15 Donna and James18:45 Audrey Horne20:59 The Sheriff's Departments24:01 Lucy26:13 The Townies31:14 Josie34:19 Agent Dale Cooper39:01 One-Eyed Jacks41:53 Fashion Show in Twin Peks43:41 Miss Twin Peaks Pageant47:25 The Black Lodge50:04 Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me50:44 Gordon Cole52:12 David Bowie?54:19 Bob59:51 Laura Palmer1:04:42 Break1:05:04 Introducing Jenn Starzyk1:06:03 Twin Peaks Memory Lane1:14:02 David Lynch Stories1:14:59 Twin Peaks: The Return1:17:25 Fitting Laura Dern1:22:01 What Defines David Lynch Style?1:25:48:18 Favorite Twin Peaks Characters?1:29:08:23 Break1:30:57:01 Stitch Rating1:31:23:17 One Costume to Rule Them All-------------------------------------
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The First Annual One Costume to Rule Them All Tournament - S5 Costumes
2w ago01:15:01Tap to summarizeSpring Break has arrived on The Art of Costume Podcast, and before we head into Twin Peaks, it’s time for a little friendly competition… or should we say, costume warfare.Welcome to our first annual “One Costume to Rule Them All” tournament, where the best costumes from last season go head-to-head in a bracket-style showdown. Spencer and Elizabeth debate, defend, and possibly spiral as iconic costumes battle it out for ultimate supremacy.Will the Goblin King Jareth cast a spell over the competition? Could Eric Northman’s tracksuit era reign supreme? Do the Gemstone siblings fly away with it in their angel jetpacks? Or will a contender from a galaxy far, far away or a Hollywood classic like Cleopatra or The Wicked Witch of the West claim the crown? From Peaky Blinders to Mr. Darcy and the vampire Claudia, no look is safe.Only one can win, and only one costume can rule them all.
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Blue Velvet
Apr 2101:00:49Tap to summarizeThis week on The Art of Costume Podcast, we continue our Dressed in the Red Room: The David Lynch Series with a descent into the dark, seductive, and deeply unsettling world of Blue Velvet.Join Spencer and Elizabeth as they unravel the film that redefined David Lynch’s career, tracing his journey from the chaos of Dune to this haunting portrait of suburbia gone wrong. From white picket fences to the shadows lurking beneath them, they explore how Patricia Norris's costume and production design shape the film’s disturbing duality, where innocence and depravity exist side by side.From Jeffrey and Sandy’s all-American charm to Dorothy Vallens’ tragic glamour and Frank Booth's terrifying presence, this episode dives into the looks that define one of Lynch’s most iconic and unsettling creations.
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Tristan und Isolde with Costume Designer, Clint Ramos - The Costume House with Spencer Williams
Apr 1400:25:44Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The Costume House with Spencer Williams, we step onto one of the most legendary stages in the world, the Metropolitan Opera, for a breathtaking new production of Tristan und Isolde.Spencer is joined by acclaimed costume designer Clint Ramos to discuss his work on this towering operatic masterpiece. Together, they explore how color, texture, and scale shape the production's emotional landscape, from Tristan’s deep connection to the sea to Isolde’s striking presence in rich, evocative greens. They also examine how the costumes interact with the Met’s grand stage, working in harmony with the movement of the set and the precision of the lighting to create a world that feels both monumental and intimately detailed, even through the Met’s HD Live series.The conversation also dives into Clint’s perspective as both a costume and set designer, and how that interdisciplinary approach informs his process. From the commanding presence of King Marke to the powerful and intentional use of white as a visual anchor, this episode is a masterclass in storytelling through costume at the highest level.
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Dune (1984) - David Lynch Series
Apr 701:08:59Tap to summarizeThis week on The Art of Costume Podcast, we kick off our three-part series, Dressed in the Red Room: The David Lynch Series, by traveling to Arrakis—but not as you know it. Things are stranger here. Much stranger. We’re diving into Dune (1984), David Lynch’s bold, baffling, and utterly unforgettable take on the sci-fi epic.Join Spencer and Elizabeth as they unpack Lynch’s complicated relationship with the film, the bizarre brilliance of Bob Ringwood’s costume design, the iconic stillsuits, and the otherworldly regalia of the Bene Gesserit. And yes… we have to talk about Sting’s infamous near-miss jockstrap moment.It’s weird, it’s wonderful, it’s a little unhinged—so step into the spice-filled unknown and experience a vision of Dune you truly have to see to believe.
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Pulp Fiction with Costume Designer, Betsy Heimann
Mar 2400:47:24Tap to summarizeA hitman, a boxer, a gangster’s wife, and a pair of bandits walk into a diner.This week on The Art of Costume Podcast, Spencer and Elizabeth step into Quentin Tarantino’s iconic, nonlinear world of Pulp Fiction. Joined by legendary costume designer Betsy Heimann, the trio dives into the costumes that helped define one of cinema’s most influential films.From Vincent Vega and Jules Winfield’s now-iconic “dressed to kill” suits to Mia Wallace’s effortlessly cool, endlessly referenced style—and of course, the legendary Jack Rabbit Slim’s Twist Contest—this episode unpacks how costume helps tell the stories of these characters in a film built on attitude, detail, and pure cinematic cool.It’s sharp, it’s stylish, and it’s a little dangerous—so grab a milkshake, a royale with cheese, mind the briefcase, and join us for a very cool conversation about one of the most iconic films ever made.
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The Bluff with Costume Designer, Antoinette Messam | The Costume House with Spencer Williams
Mar 1900:38:12Tap to summarizeIn this episode of The Costume House with Spencer Williams, we journey to the shores of the new film, The Bluff.Spencer is joined by returning guest of the podcast, costume designer Antoinette Messam. Set against the backdrop of a Caribbean island under siege, The Bluff follows a woman whose hidden past resurfaces as a ruthless crew of pirates arrives—sparking a powerful story of identity, resilience, and confrontation.Together, they explore the rich research that shaped the film’s distinct visual worlds, from the clothing of the island’s community to the striking, weathered looks of the pirate crew. From the commanding presence of Bloody Mary’s cuirass to the way blood, salt, and sand transform the costumes on screen, this conversation dives into the textures and elements that define the film’s aesthetic. And yes—there’s also a red carpet moment that every costume nerd will appreciate.
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Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood
Mar 1000:55:56Tap to summarizeIt’s Oscar week, costume nerds, and on this episode of The Art of Costume Podcast, we’re heading back to the sun-soaked streets of 1969 Los Angeles to explore the Academy Award–nominated costumes of Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood.Join Spencer and Elizabeth as they break down the unforgettable looks of Rick Dalton, Cliff Booth, and Sharon Tate, the eerie style of the Manson Family, and even the costumes from the Western television series unfolding within the film itself. Along the way, Spencer shares some behind-the-scenes stories from Jay Glennie’s new book, dives into a bit of Hollywood lore, and—because it’s Oscar season—offers another passionate awards-season rant.Plus, this episode features special featurette clips from the film’s costume designer and Academy Award nominee Arianne Phillips, giving us a closer look at the craftsmanship behind one of modern cinema’s most memorable films. Join us as we journey back to the summer of 1969. 🎬✨
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Two People Exchanging Saliva with Directors Alexandre Singh & Natalie Musteata | The Costume House with Spencer Williams
Mar 500:42:12Tap to summarizeIn a first for The Art of Costume, this episode of The Costume House with Spencer Williams steps beyond costume design and into a larger conversation about filmmaking itself.Spencer is joined by directors and writers Alexandre Singh and Natalie Musteata, the visionary duo behind the 2026 Academy Award–nominated short film Two People Exchanging Saliva. Set in a surreal society where kissing is punishable by death and goods are purchased with slaps to the face, the film follows Angine, a woman navigating desire, repression, and absurd social rituals within the fluorescent aisles of a department store. Together, they explore the film’s layered metaphors of intimacy, desire, identity, and repression, unpacking the surreal systems that govern this meticulously constructed world. From production design and visual references to the crucial role costume plays in shaping character and psychology, the conversation reveals how every aesthetic choice sharpens the film’s biting social commentary. Sharp, strange, and deeply intentional, this conversation opens The Costume House to a broader creative lens—one where every detail matters. Watch "Two People Exchanging Saliva" at this link: https://youtu.be/RuOEEu--j2Y?si=5hcg-kKQDxO_wQqn
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Wuthering Heights
Feb 2401:09:00Tap to summarizeCostume nerds... It is time. This week on The Art of Costume Podcast, we brave the windswept Yorkshire moors for Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi.First, Spencer and Elizabeth call to order the gathering of costume nerds to discuss the debate regarding period films and costume accuracy. Then our hosts dive headfirst into this passionate, chaotic, and beautifully toxic love story, unpacking Heathcliff and Catherine’s destructive devotion, the moody atmosphere, and, of course, the stunning costumes designed by Jacqueline Durran. It’s stormy, it’s dramatic, it’s a little unhinged—and we absolutely have thoughts.
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