Guest Editor: Phoenix Mellow
Costume designer extraordinaire
The background: My friend Kristi and I were having coffee when I asked her if she knew any cool women I could profile here. She suggested Phoenix, whom she represents at her agency Matchbook. Phoenix has a diverse background designing for film, television, commercials, and music videos, and since I used to do a little costume designing myself (for commercials and music videos) and am always obsessed with the way characters are dressed, I said great idea! Her signature eclectic style is featured in films Beneath, Sex Ed, Burn County, Moon Manor, and Sylvie’s Love (which earned a 2021 Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Television Movie, 2020 Chicago Indie Critics Best Costume Design Nomination, and 2020 Black Reel Awards Outstanding Costume Design Nomination). You’ve also seen her styling magic on Sex Lives of College Girls, AP Bio, Detroiters, and action series Chosen. She also earned a nomination for a Costume Designer’s Guild Award for Excellence in Short Form Design for Katy Perry’s "Hey, Hey, Hey", and "Small Talk". She was the assistant costume designer on Black Panther (which won an Academy Award for Best Costume Design), Coming 2 America, Dark Phoenix, Mad Men, Mindhunter, The OA Part II, Man in the High Castle, Watchmen, When They See Us, The Loudest Voice. Her made-to-order and costume buyer projects include Stranger Things, Hollywood, and film Don’t Worry Darling. Follow her on IG here.
Hometown: Wilmington, Delaware. Delawhere?
Self-described style: Like my full name, my style combines contradictory elements. I love to be bold but refined, colorful but simple, juxtapose feminine and masculine silhouettes, fitted and comfortable, timeless but forward, and a functional mix of urban and classic.
Style icon: Elvis is my #1. He broke the rules, created his own style path. He transformed himself over many periods in his life and always remained sexy and true to his image and music. I love the rockabilly-leisure Elvis all the way to the imperial- Vegas Elvis. He never held back, I love his unique flashy fitted outfits that were effortlessly cool. He always picked out the flyest ensembles head to toe and would rock pink like no other.
Three things I can’t live without: Denim. Beyond being my everyday workwear, I love all the various styles throughout history, the practicality and comfort of denim, and how sexy a well-fitted jean can make you feel. I can wear my denim jeans and denim jackets from day to night events by styling them with different shoes, tops, and jewelry. I own 42 pairs of vintage jeans :) and they are all very different despite being made of that same beautiful durable cotton twill. Denim lasts a lifetime and I will continue to patch them up until I die. I even have denim pillows on my couch!
Daily walks/hikes with my Dog, Levi. I wake up an extra 45 minutes early every day to get this mind-clearing exercise in. It's my medicine. I love getting the fresh air, having morning meditation, and laughing at Levi's floppy ears bouncing up and down hunting for squirrels.
My headphones and music. I love listening to various genres while doing different activities. It gets me in the mood and gives me energy for long days working, shopping, and researching. It puts me into a positive mental place. I'm listening to Sampha while writing this article!
Most fun project I’ve worked on: I loved working with Katy Perry on her music video "Small Talk". She loves getting into an extravagant character and never holds back on going big. The concept was her fabulous life as a show-dog mom. We had a ton of costume changes, I think it was the most she has ever had for a music video. A lot were vintage and over-the-top flashy feminine glamour. Also, there were plenty of dogs on set!!
Item of clothing I will never throw out: My mom's vintage 1970s cowgirl boots. I’m lucky that they’re my size and will always be necessary living near the desert in California. I can ride horses in them or just wear them to a party. They will be in style forever.
Dream project or subject: I would love to costume design a futuristic film. I'd love to design clothes completely new like another planet made from other worldly objects and materials . I am very good at fashion trend forecasting, so a film set on Earth in 60-70 years would also be exciting to develop.
Motto: I've got a few mottos but the ones I feel are the most important to me right now are...
Be authentically yourself and live your life without fear.
