Danielle Pearman Shares Her Journey Crafting Costumes for Sex Education Season 4
We’re still reeling from the end of the beloved show Sex Education. Recently, we had the pleasure of chatting with Danielle Pearman, the talented costume designer behind the fabulous looks of Season 4. She shared her inspirations and insights behind the costume designs for this season.
When Danielle first knew she got the job, she felt a mix of pride and nerves. Excited to dive in, she also felt the weight of the challenge: how to keep the consistency of previous designers’ work while infusing her own style seamlessly? As the characters transition to Cavendish College in Season 4, Danielle decided to adopt pieces with brighter palettes that reflect the new setting - a place of openness and freedom, compared to Moordale’s more subdued palette.
Eric: fashion and personal journey
Among the main characters, Eric’s wardrobe has always served as a reflection of his personal growth. In Season 4, we see him stepping into newfound confidence. While retaining some pieces from previous seasons, Danielle also purchased new ones that are of a similar style while exuding a sense of newfound maturity.
A pivotal moment in Eric’s fashion evolution was his attendance at the queer party. Surrounded by like-minded and supportive peers in a loving environment, he felt empowered to fully express himself. In essence, Eric’s journey through fashion reflects his journey of self-discovery and growth, making his character all the more relatable and inspiring.
Abbi and maeve: fashion and sustainability
Recognizing the growing significance of sustainability among younger generations, Danielle tried to avoid fast fashion and consciously selected brands with great ethos. For example, when conceptualizing outfits for Abbi, she drew inspiration from a friend who creates pieces from preloved quilted blankets, and we can see this inspiration materializing on Abbi’s quilted coat from Wildfolk Studio, a brand Danielle loves a lot.
Wildfolk Studio – Molly Coat
We can find this type of quilted patch pattern in other pieces as well:
In addition to incorporating designs from brands with great ethos, Danielle included numerous vintage pieces into the show’s wardrobe. Remarkably, nearly every item Maeve wore was vintage.
When crafting the costumes, Danielle carried on with the approach of mix-matching elements from various decades - the 70s, 80s, and 90s, to achieve a timeless and placeless fashion sense because the series is set in a fictional world, with an ambiguous time and location.
Moreover, given that the main characters are students from a younger generation, Danielle incorporated numerous vintage pieces and affordable clothing into their wardrobes.
More importantly, understanding that teenagers often experiment with their styles to express their individuality, Danielle aimed to infuse playfulness into the wardrobe choices, allowing the characters to authentically express their personalities through their attire. The goal was for the costumes to showcase their true selves rather than merely serving as items on the mannequin in a store window.
All these considerations make Sex Education Season 4 a great source of fashion inspiration for people looking for items that let them shine within a reasonable budget. As you delve into Sex Education Season 4, why not bring a piece of its unique style into your wardrobe? Explore Montage for a closer look at the fashion featured in the show and discover how you can make these standout looks your own!
FASHION • STYLE • COSTUME • CLOTHING • Danielle Pearman • sex education season 4 • TV SERIES