Influences from NASA and the Beloved Costumes of 'Loki' Season 2

Editor's Note: The following contains mild spoilers for Loki Season 2 Episode 3.

The Big Picture

Christine Wada, the costume designer for Loki, addresses the difficulties of ensuring a smooth progression across seasons while staying true to the established characters and storyline from the initial season.

Taking cues from NASA imagery, the TVA uniforms featured in the series incorporate distinctive elements to emphasize the unique traits of each character within the uniformity of the setting.

The costume designer expresses her excitement for Episode 3, featuring the World's Fair setting, and her joy in creating costumes for Sylvie and Loki. She also reveals a future interest in directing. Amidst the time travel chaos, conspiracies, and new variations, one striking aspect of every episode of Loki is how seamlessly the show transitions between different time periods. From the TVA's brutalist style to 1980s midwest America, and even to the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, each week brings us a new setting without hesitation. The show certainly doesn't hold back when it comes to capturing the unique look of each time period. In Season 2, Loki, Mobius, and the rest of the TVA find themselves struggling to handle the aftermath of He Who Remains' death. As they frantically attempt to repair the central timeline at the core of the TVA, they must embark on a journey through time and follow leads that could potentially save their organization from destruction.

Looking at the series' sumptuous costuming, we interviewed costume designer Christine Wada regarding her contributions to both seasons of the show. She discussed her sources of inspiration for the TVA uniforms, the styling of characters such as Sylvie (Sophie Di Martino), Loki, and Ravonna Renslayer (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), her favorite characters to dress, overlooked details from the series, and her potential interest in directing. Wada, recognized for her work on Our Flag Means Death, Bridesmaids, Altered Carbon, and more, collaborated closely with Loki's team.

Image via Disney+

As the costume designer for both seasons of this show, can you discuss the challenges you face in working with the show and transitioning from the first season to the second?

CHRISTINE WADA: The main challenge is ensuring that I don't elevate my work to a level that disrupts the carefully crafted world established in the first season. I want viewers to feel a seamless continuation from season one, rather than a drastic change. Although this is my first time designing for a second season, I initially felt the pressure to surpass previous designs. However, I quickly realized that the audience has developed a strong connection to the characters and the world they inhabit. Therefore, my primary focus is to honor that connection and maintain the storytelling consistency. It can be difficult, as I strive for a seamless and authentic continuation of the same story.

When we're at the TVA, they all have a very similar appearance, but I've noticed that everyone's clothing has subtle details that make them unique. How do you go about customizing the uniforms or costumes for each character in this uniformed space?

WADA: Well, during the research for the first season of Loki, I looked at a lot of NASA photographs and what people were wearing during events like the moon launch and in the control and command center. I observed the different variations in attire. Even though there's a dress code, people still find ways to personalize their outfits. It's like giving a school uniform to a child—they always find ways to make it their own. So, in my approach, there's an understanding that the TVA can strip away your past and turn you into a worker bee within their social structure, but there's always a natural inclination to personalize. Additionally, I consider hierarchies and aim to create different levels of hierarchy within that system.

I found it fascinating that all the characters in the show wear ties with square bottoms. The costumes throughout the season have been incredible, particularly in the recent episode set at the World's Fair. Personally, I think Ravonna's costume stands out the most and she looks amazing in it. Is there an episode that you were particularly excited to see come to life?

WADA: Episode 3 was definitely the one I was most excited about. There are other episodes that I can't discuss, but I was really looking forward to seeing how everything would come together, especially with the Midway. We put a lot of effort into ensuring authenticity to the World's Fair while still maintaining the Loki vibe. I believe we successfully achieved both aspects. Additionally, I really enjoyed working on the '70s setting as it served as a great transition from the TVA. After spending so much time in the TVA in Episode 1, it was thrilling to dive into a completely different and glamorous world. It felt right for the story and was a lot of fun to work on in terms of creating the costumes. It was especially enjoyable to give Wunmi a glamorous moment.

Image via Disney+

Indeed, she certainly did! Her attire in that particular scene was truly impressive. In terms of outfitting this ensemble, each character has their own distinct persona, as we previously discussed. How do you tackle the process of developing their individual wardrobes? Do you assign a specific color scheme to each actor or character, or do you follow a recurring theme?

WADA: Absolutely, the character's essence plays a significant role in their choices. Take Tom, for example. There are certain aesthetic preferences that Loki inherently embraces, which are deeply embedded in his character and even in Tom's physicality. Details like turning up the collar and the perfect fit of his attire always reflect Tom's unique persona. On the other hand, Sylvie's character demands a constant sense of urgency and movement, which is reflected in her clothing choices. The aged look of her garments is crucial as it signifies a rich history. Additionally, her character exudes a confident and somewhat gender-neutral demeanor, always prepared for a battle. Even if she aspires for a regular life, there's always a lingering edge to her presence. Personally, I find her androgynous allure quite captivating.

In this season, I particularly adore the oversized coat she wears. It's adorned with a charming houndstooth pattern and not only provides comfort but also signifies her readiness to depart at a moment's notice.

WADA: Absolutely. And her attempt at living a normal life as Loki is commendable, with the houndstooth pattern referencing the '80s.

Definitely. The costume is fantastic, and I love how she effortlessly transitions back to her old outfit. It's a clear indication that she's always prepared for action.

WADA: In response to Renslayer, I believe she has consistently embodied the notion of strength in relation to both masculinity and femininity, exploring silhouettes that represent strength in a way that can be both masculine and feminine. With her costume this season, the color choice subtly embraces this concept, bridging the gap between the two. Moreover, the suit itself is derived from a bicycle-riding suit of that era, specifically culottes, or pants. I find that fascinating as I initially did not recognize them as such.

WADA: Yeah. They existed in the era, but women didn't really wear pants in that era, except for those.

Image via Disney+

There is a wide variety of styles in this show, both in Season 1 and Season 2, due to the time jumps. Besides relying on historical documentation, do you seek inspiration from other sources? Is there something specific that you always turn to for a creative boost?

WADA: I find fabric stores to be a great source of inspiration. Textiles provide me with a lot of ideas, as well as art for color palettes and textures. Towards the end of Season 1, I focused on a brutalist aesthetic, which helped shape the details in the TVA uniform that you noticed. Additionally, consulting with the production designer plays a significant role in my references. I also enjoy delving into real-life inspiration, such as studying notable figures from history, which serves as a starting point for my designs.

It is incredibly enjoyable to witness your unique spin on it. Since these characters do not exist in contemporary times, they possess subtle elements that are not necessarily modern, but rather detached from any specific era. I found great pleasure in observing these distinct qualities. Considering the abundance of characters in this show, is there a particular character that you find most enjoyable to dress or create design concepts for?

WADA: Well, that is a difficult question to answer because I believe that each and every one holds a special place in my heart. As a costume designer, my passion lies in the present moment, so I am constantly enamored with each costume I create. [Laughs] However, it has been truly delightful to accompany Tom and Sophia on this journey, navigating through both Season 1 and Season 2.

I adore the green accents on all the Lokis. It's my favorite aspect to seek out, like noticing the green piping and how it adds to their individuality. Do you have a preferred piece from Season 2? I mean, there are so many to choose from. Personally, I really admire those culottes, but was there anything else that caught your eye?

WADA: I absolutely adored Tom's retro 70s tuxedo, but I also had a great appreciation for General Dox's uniform in the war room. It might not be very noticeable on camera, but the intricate details on her shoulders are actually the Timekeepers. They are beautifully beaded, resembling the heads of the Timekeepers.

Image via Disney+

Oh, wow. Oh gosh, I need to go back and take a look at that.

WADA: It's difficult to fully appreciate the details of the costume from that perspective, but there are intricacies in its craftsmanship that are simply magnificent. It is just unfortunate that we are unable to examine it more closely.

I always feel this way. When I see pictures of displayed costumes, there are countless little elements that I wish could be observed more closely. It would be wonderful if the camera could linger there for a few minutes. Recently, I had a conversation with Kasra [Farahani], and I also spoke to Dan Deleeuw last week. Although their roles in this show do not involve directing, they are directors themselves. Are you considering pursuing directing in the future, or are you content with your work in costume design, given the responsibilities you already have?

WADA expressed a strong desire to direct, specifically mentioning their interest in directing Season 2 of Our Flag Means Death. They emphasized the importance of knowing the characters well in order to effectively contribute to their development, particularly as a costume designer. By intimately understanding the characters, one can make informed design choices. In conclusion, Loki Season 2 is available for viewing on Disney+.

Loki

Release Date June 9, 2021Cast Tom Hiddleston, Owen Wilson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Richard E. GrantMain Genre SuperheroGenres Superhero