Pay Equity Now! With Costume Designers Ariyela Wald-Cohain and Whitney Anne Adams

Pay Equity Now! With Costume Designers Ariyela Wald-Cohain and Whitney Anne Adams

Author: Marie Lodi and Blaire Bercy February 26, 2024 Duration: 40:07

Did you know that costume designers, the majority of whom are women, are paid nearly 30 percent less than other, male-dominated creative department heads? Despite costume design being a pivotal part of storytelling in cinema, it has been historically dismissed as "women's work," leading to the artisans being underpaid and under-appreciated in their industry. 

In this very special episode, we're covering the Pay Equity Now movement! Blaire chats with costume designers and friends of the pod, Ariyela Wald-Cohain and Whitney Anne Adams, who are co-chairs of the Costume Design Guild's Pay Equity Steering Committee, about this important initiative. Tune in now and learn how to support costume designers' fight for pay parity, because without them, there would be no us! #CDGPayEquity #NakedWithoutUs

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Ariyela Wald-Cohain on Instagram

Whitney Anne Adams on Instagram and Tales from a Costume Designer Podcast


Ever wonder how a single costume can define a character or why a specific music video look becomes instantly iconic? That’s the territory explored in Makeover Montage: A Fashion in Film Podcast, hosted by fashion and beauty writer Marie Lodi and producer Blaire Bercy. This isn’t just a surface-level glance at what’s on screen. Each episode, these two costume design superfans and avid movie-watchers dive deep into the sartorial details of a chosen film, television show, or music video. They pull apart specific outfits, trace the origins of trends, and uncover the fun, often overlooked facts behind the glamour. Their conversations feel like listening in on two deeply knowledgeable friends who are just as likely to geek out over a perfectly tailored suit in a noir classic as they are to analyze the cultural impact of a pop star’s video aesthetic. Along the way, Marie and Blaire naturally weave in their own current obsessions from the wider worlds of fashion, beauty, and pop culture, making every discussion feel fresh and connected. The result is a podcast that celebrates the artistry of wardrobe and makeup as essential, powerful storytelling tools, offering a richer way to see and appreciate the visual media we love. Whether you’re a film buff, a fashion enthusiast, or just curious about the stories behind the style, this series provides a consistently engaging and insightful listen.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Makeover Montage: A Fashion in Film Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Gingerbread-Blonde Wigs and Magical Chiffon Capes in Bewitched (2005) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:26
Costume design breakdown of Bewitched (2005) starring Nicole Kidman, Will Ferrell, and Shirley MacLaine — directed by Nora Ephron and costume design by Mary Zophres. We're wrapping up Freaky Witch Month with the sweetest…
Cursed Buttons and Corporate Blouses in Drag Me to Hell (2009) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:08
This week, we're diving into the gloriously gross horror of Sam Raimi's Drag Me to Hell (2009), the ultimate cautionary tale about ambition, where one wrong decision will get you promoted to HELL! Costume designer Isis M…
Brooches, Bangs, & Deranged Auntie Energy in Weapons (2025) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:13
Freaky witch month continues! Smear some red lipstick and snap some twigs because we're worshipping at the altar of Gladys, Amy Madigan's instantly iconic nightmare auntie in Weapons (2025). Costume designer Trish Summer…
Runway Hexes and Witchy Statement Coats in Beastly (2011) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:12
Embrace the suck! We're hexing high-schoolers this week with Beastly, a 2010s retelling of the fable Beauty and the Beast starring Alex Pettyfer and Vanessa Hudgens. Costume designer Suttirat Anne Larlarb conjured up typ…
From Von Dutch to Von Furstenberg in Freaky Friday (2003) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:16
We're in early-2000s Los Angeles with Freaky Friday! When a rebellious teen (Lindsay Lohan) and her uptight mom (Jamie Lee Curtis) swap bodies, they also swap styles—from studded belts, raglan tees, and guitar-pick choke…
Happy 30th Anniversary to Clueless! (Justice for Amber) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:31:17
As if! Happy 30th anniversary to Clueless!!! To celebrate, Blaire and Marie reminisce about watching Clueless for the first time when they were youngins, and how life-changing Mona May's costumes were. Marie catches us u…
Feather Fans and Hardware Store Glam in Burlesque (2010) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:50
Wagon Wheel Watusi! This week, we're shimmying into Burlesque (2010), the bedazzled fever dream of a movie musical starring Cher and Christina Aguilera. It's all rhinestones and ringmaster vibes, and we're here for every…