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Through its unique clothing choices and makeup looks, HBOโsย Euphoriaย is a perfect encapsulation of Gen Z as we know them today.
By now youโve probably heard ofย Euphoria, the brand-new series thatโs changing television with its controversial themes of depression, addiction and sex in the age of social media.
Costume designer Heidi Bivens has called the showโs style a โtime capsuleโ of how teens dress today so, to celebrate the UK launch ofย Euphoriaย yesterday, letโs take a look at how itโs sparking a Gen Z fashion and beauty movement.
Written, created and directed by Sam Levinson, the coming-of-age drama is as concerned with aesthetics as it is with the story, breaking barriers with beauty through a hyper-visual lens.
From Rueโs laid-back gender subversive vibe and Julesโ elaborate outfits, to Katโs transformation into a badass dominatrix, and Maddyโs revealing-meets-refined style, thereโs a reason weโre obsessed with what all the characters are wearing.
Showcased by some well-known names like Zendaya and Jacob Elordi as well as the young, up-and-coming cast that includes Barbie Ferreira and Hunter Shafer, the entire wardrobe is an eclectic combination of designer pieces, vintage finds, and streetwear looks that are perfectly tailored to suit the unique personalities of the teens they play.
When asked what inspired her choices, Bivens replied: โin general, all my references printed on the wall of the costume office were modern pictures of teens today. Instagram is a goldmine for current style references and inspiration.โ
Euphoriaย has taken a step back from the common tendency of TV shows aimed at teenagers to provide viewers with unrealistic expectations of what they should look like. It goes without saying that we are heavily influenced by what we see on screen and it becomes pretty unrelatable when a 25-year-old is playing a 16-year-old dressed head to toe in Chanel.
Now, we have a great example of how modern fashion has been democratised in terms of how itโs marketed to us and also the way in which we shop. Thereโs a real sense of normalcy inย Euphoriaย and instead of striving to create new fads, Bivens has successfully replicated a phenomenon that already exists โ what weโre all wearing right now.
Representing high street and mid-range brands as well as alternative fashion labels, Bivens gives us a seriously wide variety of looks we very easily have access to. She also makes it even simpler by referencing apps like eBay, Etsy and Depop to highlight the rise of โdirect-to-consumer retailโ which has redefined exclusivity and means we can wear what we want, when we want.
Whatโs interesting, is that every single item that we see on the show can be found online, and almost all of it has alreadyย completely sold out. Instead of trawling the internet for several hours to find the exact cut-out two-piece Maddy infamously wears in the carnival scene, you can find it at the click of a button thanks to Bivens decision to be more inclusive with her costume design ideas.
โWhile we were working hard putting each episode together, I didnโt have the foresight to realize how much interest there would be in all the details of the costumes,โ she says.
But itโs not just the clothing that seemingly takes centre stage inย Euphoria. It would be an understatement to say that Doniella Davyโs work to โblend gen z brilliance into tv magicโ has been the catalyst for a makeup movement โ itโs totally revolutionary.
