A Sneak Peek at the Costumes for 'Younger' Season 6
Any true Younger fan will tell you that alongside all of the drama that takes places in each of the characters lives (Sutton Foster's Liza Miller finally finally! chose Charles! Hilary Duff's Kelsey Peters is the new head publisher of Millennial...but where does that live a now retired Charles?) the best thing about the show is everyone's costumes.
With the leads navigating new territory and taking on new responsibilities, the wardrobes, created by head costume designer Jackie Demeterio, help chart the characters’ new exciting trajectories. Well, except Charles, who’s adjusting to the life of leisure in his fancy townhouse or Liza’s Williamsburg loft-and leaving his tailored corporate gear in the closet. “I can’t believe I’m not putting a suit on him [this season],” says Demeterio, in the costume closet on the Long Island City set of Younger. “He’s not in the office, so he’s in his sexy lounge knits” or not in much at all.
Ahead, the longtime costume designer, who’s dressed Liza, Kelsey, Diana, and the gang along their winding paths, gave us a sneak peek into what to expect for season six-but don't worry, no spoilers.
Liza Miller (Sutton Foster)
Liza is a bonafide power player at the start of the season, and she’s come clean-willingly or not-about her real age to the important people in her life (except former boss Diana.)
“She’s coming into her own,” says Demeterio, who's continued to refine Liza’s wardrobe from ultra-trendy, thrift store-esque layers to more confident and “stripped down” looks as she settles into her new gig. “It’s definitely simpler-like it’s a dress,” Demeterio says. “It’s not a dress and a denim jacket and a thigh high boot.”
Early in season six Liza debuts pieces like an A-line No. 21 black shift dress with a jewel embellished collar, a sleeveless flowy horse-print Chloe maxi, and a navy long-sleeve knit Louis Vuitton dress with denim trim. They're the perfect mix of two worlds, says Demeterio. "Totally current and not over the top. It had the denim element, but in a super sophisticated way,” adds the costume designer. “It was such a now Liza look to me.”
But that doesn't mean Liza’s “little quirks” are going away. “She has that Mary Tyler Moore personality. She’s animated, so I try to reflect that into her wardrobe as well,” says Demeterio. Playful, but elevated elements, such as bright aqua suede Manolo Blahnik pumps and a brown Chloé Tess mini saddle bag with a deep blue scarf threaded along the shoulder strap, are worked into Liza’s now streamlined looks.
Kelsey Peters (Hilary Duff)
Now that she's the head of Millennial, Kelsey is the youngest publisher in New York City. And with rumors swirling in the media circles about how she got her new gig, Demeterio felt a power suit theme was in order, but with a Younger twist. “This season, definitely, she’s the one in charge,” says Demeterio. “I started her with a bit of power dressing.”
Instead of wearing buttoned-up corporate suiting, Kelsey layers a short-sleeve, cropped and “power-shouldered” Vivienne Westwood blazer, with dainty dashes and dots in place of pinstripes, over an exaggerated collar Saint Laurent cream blouse tucked into a long Alexander McQueen pencil skirt. “That was a strong look. It’s shifted. She wants to be serious,” says Demeterio, who pared down Kelsey’s accessories, too.
The costume designer also needed to account for scripted moments for the team, similar to real-life professionals who need versatile wardrobes to accommodate busy, multitasking schedules. “They’re at Millennial, and then they’re going out to a bar,” explains Demeterio, of the Younger versions of work-to-play outfits, like Kelsey’s white Gabriela Hearst trouser-suit with long, flapper fringe on the bottom hem of the blazer, which we see later on. “It’s a cool suit and it’s a fun take on an office look,” says Demeterio.
Diana Trout (Miriam Shor)
Last we saw Diana, she was hugging a sewage-covered Enzo, as he emerged from a fatberg-destruction mission-yellow and white Dries Van Noten trench be damned. And while she’s in a settled relationship outside of the office, dynamics at work have gone askew. With fellow Charles no longer in the office, she’s the lone Gen X sellout exec surrounded by millennials.
“She’s kind of overcompensating this season,” says Demeterio. “She’s trying to find her way and this is a whole different vibe at the office.” Let’s just say Diana’s signature necklace game is stronger than ever this season-think a triple-strand, oversized pearl necklace accented with a massive mod flower and crystals, plus shoulder-grazing deco-style earrings and a massive bejeweled floral ring that’s about the size of a rugby ball-all in one look.
“She definitely is armoring up. The necklaces again this season have been the hunts,” says Demeterio, who sources from designer houses, department stores, vintage dealers, the Albright Fashion Library, and online, including FirstDibs.com.
Even Diana’s off-the-clock accessories situation is fire. You'll see collarbone-dusting fishbone earrings showcased with an off-the-shoulder sequin Roland Mouret top and skirt set for a cocktail gala. She also wears a notable, spiky gold statement piece with a fuschia pleated Givenchy dress (turned into a tunic), for a visit to an old, familiar haunt. “That was like a chest plate,” laughs Demeterio. Actress–director Shor is always game for taking Diana’s jewelry situation up about 5,000 notches, though. “She will stay in a fitting for eight hours if she could," says Demeterio. "She loves it.”
Lauren Heller (Molly Bernard)
Now ensconced at Millennial, Heller Good PR founder Lauren is toning her look-but only as much as a publicist who wore a woven ribbon cone bikini ‘fit to a book launch party would know how to do. On her first day at Millennial the publicist wears a bedazzled necklace that reads “CRAZY,” but Demeterio gave the social media savvy PR a power suit twist, too. A Vivienne Westwood short blazer and cropped trouser mismatched-stripe set (and vintage watch-style choker around her neck) "was her dressing for the office," says Demeterio. "Like ‘I’m going to talk to Diana, I need to have my suit on. But her suit is not traditional. It almost looks like a Savile Row something, but it’s not.”
Demeterio promises that Lauren's shoe game is especially strong this season. “She’s got all these crazy Margiela boots and there’s this one pair... literally, the cast was like, ‘We do not know how we feel about these shoes,” laughs Demeterio about Lauren’s exposed pedicure in MM6 nude mesh boots. “That’s her quirk though. That's the shoe she chooses with an outfit that’s put together. There’s always this one thing that’s a little different.”
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