Unleashing the Eccentric Ensembles: Unveiling the Outlandish Costumes of The Righteous Gemstones

The Righteous Gemstones is making a strong comeback in season 3, introducing new power dynamics, challenges, and chaos within the super church world. The season will consist of nine episodes, consistent with previous seasons. The beloved principal cast members, including Danny McBride as Jesse Gemstone, John Goodman as Dr. Eli Gemstone, and the hilarious Edi Patterson as Judy Gemstone, all make their return.

Adding to the talented team behind the scenes is costume designer Christina Flannery, who joins the Gemstone family for the third season. As a dedicated fan of the show, Flannery fearlessly brings her own touch to the series, creating unforgettable looks for characters such as doomsday preppers, Smut Busters, and the Gemstone family itself. Utilizing a combination of designer clothing and custom-made outfits, Flannery pays homage to the original series costume designer Sarah Trost while adding her own unique flair to the mix.

Christina Flannery spoke with Screen Rant about joining the show for its third season, collaborating with Danny McBride, and more.

Christina Flannery on The Righteous Gemstones

Screen Rant: When embarking on a third season, what is the appropriate approach? Did you have any discussions with the previous costume designer? The blend of anticipation and unfamiliarity must be quite intriguing.

Christina Flannery mentioned that she had previous experience with a similar situation while working on season four of The Chi a few years ago. After finishing season two of The Righteous Gemstones, she promptly contacted her agents requesting opportunities similar to the show. Surprisingly, her wish was granted when her agent informed her that The Righteous Gemstones wanted to meet with her. Despite coming in late, she was ecstatic about the opportunity. In addition to her personal connection with Sarah, Christina admired certain wardrobe pieces on the show. As a designer, she noticed a significant difference in the wardrobe for this season compared to the previous ones. Danny initially tested her abilities, but once he was satisfied, he gave her creative freedom. This aspect of the job is enjoyable but also presents a challenge of maintaining clarity for the viewers while adding her own unique touch.

This season featured several captivating storylines that I was able to enhance. Take Keef, for instance. In the first two seasons, he had a strong Christian youth pastor vibe with a rock and roll, Creed influence. But I thought, why not transform him into a hype priest? Maybe he would draw inspiration from popular figures like Justin Bieber and trends on TikTok. This is reflected in the shoes he wears, such as Fear of God and off-white, which you often see them sporting.

As for Judy, her background of being on tour allowed me to explore what she would wear in that setting. I imagined that she would choose outfits that reflect her inner desire for glitz and glam, just like the little girl Judy always dreamed of.

When it came to Danny, I wanted to maintain the same world but introduce a touch of luxury by incorporating Versace and Dolce & Gabbana. Since they are millionaires and the leaders of the church this season, I wanted to amplify their wealth and influence. Therefore, I pushed the boundaries even further to showcase their opulence.

I really admire an Instagram account called PreachersNSneakers, and I noticed that you also follow them. Did they influence you in any way?

Christina Flannery: I was slightly disappointed because it seemed like they weren't posting as frequently when I started following them. So, what I did was explore the accounts they follow and the ones they mention. If you check out my Instagram, you'll find that I follow many megachurches.

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My daughter's grandparents attend a megachurch, and she would send me videos of the preachers wearing Supreme and other similar brands. In my daughter's strange videos, she would take little snippets for me.

During the first episode of this new season, I was particularly struck by the variety of costumes. From a secret society to a racing sequence, various church groups, and even an infomercial, it must be challenging to find what you're looking for in a show that visits so many different locations.

The key to being a successful costume designer lies in having an exceptional department. I was fortunate to have an amazing team; it felt like a perfect match. Every individual put in their utmost effort for that show.

A significant portion of the costumes were created from scratch. It was a lengthy process to ensure they aligned perfectly with the production design. The outfit for Gemstones track had a unique blend of Dale Earnhardt and Elvis vibes, resulting in a truly intriguing collaboration. We spent months exploring various locations and sending fabric samples to achieve the desired outcome. Additionally, we sourced a considerable amount of costumes from The RealReal. With its extensive collection of clothing spanning 725,000 pages, it was a continuous exploration process.

I died when I saw the Smut Busters T-shirts. How did those outfits come together?

Christina Flannery initially found the costumes to be too basic, consisting of a logo T-shirt and jeans. However, as a costume designer, she couldn't settle for simplicity. Thus, they ventured into finding unique T-shirts, exploring various options until they stumbled upon Zubaz. This brand became an integral part of the costumes, with each person donning Zubaz pants. Additionally, they ensured that every person's sock matched their shirt, and the children wore Velcro shoes reminiscent of old men. To add a touch of humor, the office dedicated a day to embellishing the shoes with Sharpie markers, writing amusing phrases like "Jesus loves you." While these details may go unnoticed, they contribute to the overall authenticity of the costumes.

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I absolutely adore those costumes. I think it was either Jake (Kuykendall) or Shaina (Hedlund) who created the graphics for Smut Busters. They did a few different ones. We were sort of inspired by the show Double Dare, so there's a subtle reference to that. It's fantastic. It's delightfully disgusting.

Is there something specific that you enjoyed creating the most for this season?

The Baby Billy oyster costume is by far the best costume I have ever created. I am absolutely obsessed with the stationary oyster shell and the amusing story behind its creation. This costume has it all - it's like a one-stop-shop for the perfect character. Without a doubt, it is my favorite.

Although I must admit, the Cape and Pistols costumes are also stunning. The sashes and intricate details on the guns, visible when the cape is closed, make them truly beautiful. However, nothing compares to the Baby Billy oyster costume. It holds a special place in my heart, to the point where I jokingly say, "just bury me in the oyster shell and I'll be content."

About The Righteous Gemstones

The Righteous Gemstones is a comedy series on HBO, created by and starring Danny McBride. It follows the Gemstone family, who lead a televangelist series to raise funds and enjoy a luxurious lifestyle. John Goodman plays the role of Eli Gemstone, with Danny McBride, Edi Patterson, and Adam DeVine portraying his children. Catch the latest episodes of The Righteous Gemstones on HBO, airing on Sunday nights, and stream them on Max.