The result is a distinctive wardrobe that melds Rococo-era splendor (an homage to the real Marie Antoinette) with Y2K flair (when Siegel became famous herself as a socialite and model). The designer says his research began by paying a visit to Siegel at her home; he toured the ongoing construction site, specifically, her glamorously gauche closet. “Her closet is a two-story area—it’s got stripper poles, beds, and zebra-print carpeting in it, and thousands of pieces of clothes,” he says. Siegel’s personal style leans heavily on sequins, prints, and high-octane color. “She really enjoys texture and bodycon silhouettes,” says Cowan. “She’s not scared of anything—she loves the excitement of fashion. In the show, I wanted her to look like this exotic bird among pigeons.”
Cowan built most of Jackie’s wardrobe—Barbie-pink mini dresses and the teal marabou gowns— from scratch, many of the items modeled after real-life outfits that Siegel has worn. Chenoweth was a game collaborator. “My main concern was just making sure that she could breathe appropriately and do all of the quick changes,” says Cowan, “sometimes, she only has 20 seconds to change.”
It was a challenge, says Cowan, to focus less on what looked chic on Chenoweth, and more on what was right for the character. “This was the hardest thing for me—it was not about making every single look as cute and gorgeous as it could be,” he says. Cowan also had fun with sourcing special pieces too, like the lavish (fake) Hermès “Birkins” in a rainbow of colors that Chenoweth carries throughout the show. “We even customized one with the French flag in crystals.”
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