Stephanie Maslansky is a superhero in her own right. Known for her designs in the first seasons of Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and highly anticipated The Defenders it's safe to say Maslansky has left her mark on the Netflix/Marvel universe. Despite her understandably busy schedule, preparing for The Defenders no doubt, we were lucky enough to score some answers to our questions about the recently released Iron Fist. Read the interview below for an insight on her looks for Danny Rand, Colleen Wing and more!
TM: Can you describe the look you created for Danny Rand and how you borrowed from the comic books?
SM: There are several “Danny Rand” looks in Iron Fist, the live-action TV series. The evolution was from a very stretchy, super fitted style grounded in the 70’s with exaggerated plunging neckline and overly sized collar. Then came the updated comic illustration in which Danny wears a slick matching tracksuit, but it’s still a bit too stylized to feel grounded enough for us. His current fighting style required adaption from the comics into a modern authentic look. It had to reflect now: 2017. I can’t speculate whether Danny will ever don a mask, however I can say that we hope fans are pleasantly surprised to see his look evolve in ‘The Defenders’—and that’s all I can say about that right now! Due to the intensity of the martial arts throughout Iron Fist, Danny had to be comfortable, but also look bad-ass. And he had to disappear when tracking Madame Gao. We chose gear with an athletic bent: track pants and a hoodie—slim fitting, but loose enough for movement (and stunt pads!). The fabrics are stream-lined and technical, unlike the old-school hoodie worn by Luke Cage. We didn’t want a super-slick look, but we wanted Danny to lean toward comfort and edginess.
TM: Colleen Wing has a very athletic/tomboy vibe, why did you decide to go in this direction when designing her looks?
SM: A lot has to do with Jessica Henwick’s overall awesome beauty; what we landed on was a natural style that simply worked for her and the character. She conveyed strength and uniqueness, while becoming more vulnerable as the series unfolded. Colleen had to be comfortable, but ready to fight and move gracefully. Her singular style is easy, yet edgy. Her Souvenir jacket is vintage and one of a kind. I imagine the back story is that her Grandfather gave it to her. She wears a collarless jean jacket—a nod to Asian style with hand-embroidered vintage patches.
TM: How did you work to style characters that have crossed over from other Netflix/Marvel shows to create continuity within the world of 'Iron Fist’?
SM: I try whenever possible to maintain a consistent look. Admittedly a bit easier with men than women in general. Madame Gao keeps to the same silhouette. Claire Temple’s look remains easy/no-nonsense/sensual. Luke Cage’s look is humble and classic working man’s hero--defined by his zip-hoodie. It’s important that these characters be recognized immediately no matter what series they’re in.
TM: How did you work to create the costumes to withstand the many fight sequences within the season?
SM: Tricky, but very doable! Whether we purchase or custom-make clothing, stretch is our friend. Fortunately the current technology and style adds fibers to fabric allowing for that. Additionally we add spandex gussets under the arms and between the legs for added flexibility. The spandex often must be hand painted to match the garment’s fabric. We’ve had to paint it to look like textural wool suiting, for example. When we buy or build multiples, the costumes are 1 to 3 sizes larger than normal to accommodate padding and harnesses worn by stunt doubles.
TM: Joy Meachum has such an amazing corporate work wear style. What were you trying to communicate through her wardrobe?
SM: As an attorney and Ward’s equal partner running Rand Enterprises, I wanted Joy to effortlessly convey authority and power by the way she dresses. She communicates confidence, sophistication, and knowledge of fashion, designers, and style. She’s one of those people that appears to have it all--even intimidatingly so. However, there is also a deep sadness about the early loss of both parents. In a way, she could dress partly to over-compensate for this.
Written by rand01 on Apr 17, 2017
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