Jenna Ortega looked unique at the Golden Globes in a flowing nude Gucci, which made us go back and look at the show that relaunched her – Netflix’s Wednesday. No surprise that famed costume designer, Colleen Atwood, is behind the look of the smash hit that had Jenna Ortega nominated for a Golden Globe. (Scroll down to see Ortega at Paris Fashion Week.)

 

You may know the Washington native costume designer, from her collabs with director, Tim Burton – Sleepy Hollow, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street to name just two of the dozen pairings this team have distinctively delivered.

 

The four-time Oscar winner, (Chicago – 2002, Memoirs of a Geisha – 2005, Alice in Wonderland – 2010 and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them – 2016) excels at the macabre and is effective in the use of black and white imagery in color.

 

Let’s recap Ortega’s style and Wednesday’s genius.

Jenna Ortega, is a child actress who started in The CW series, Jane the Virgin (2014-2019) as the young Jane. After Stuck in the Middle (2016-2018), she transitioned into more mature roles in You (2019) and Yes Day (2021), both on Netflix.

As Wednesday Addams, she garnered critical and commercial success in the Netflix series: Wednesday. The Goth look depicted in The New Yorker by cartoonist Charles Addams back in 1938, was the perfect marriage of content, star and costume designer.

Above: The edgy costumes include fashion and popular culture. From the clever black and white helmet and goggles, with the black and white jacket, to the Catwoman-like canoe outfit, the costume design is inspiration for any would-be fashion influencer.

Above (l): At the LA premiere of Wednesday, Ortega channeled Morticia, played with a dose of snark by Catherine Zeta-Jones (r), donning a plunging fitted gown with a black ‘bride’s veil’.

 

Below: Indeed, the gown echoed the much-discussed Alaïa gown showcased in the series’ school dance.

 

The supporting characters in Wednesday are creatively actualized, with (Above) Gwendoline Christie as Principal Weems of Nevermore School, appearing as we’ve never seen her before.

 

The structured clothing and rich texture of her costumes, paired with classic coifs, clean make-up and retro red lips, leverages power dressing to a new height.

 

“Enid, (Emma Myers) is from the lupine branch of the family, so I used furrier textures on her that were soft, but sort of bristly,” Atwood told People magazine of Wednesday’s bestie, who is clothed in Paris Fashion week’s palette of pink. The hue which centers on bright lipstick and could be a harbinger of the upcoming Barbie is sure to become a fashion fav this season.

 

Bianca Barclay is a Siren. Her luminous eyes echoed in hues that magnify their impact. At the school dance her dress is made of flat blue Palettes that catch and reflect the light.

A review of Wednesday would be incomplete without the mention of Gomez (Luis Guzmán).

 

Atwood has adhered to the classic pinstripes of the original suit worn by Gomez  as seen in the 1964 TV series The Addams Family, but made the suit more fitted, with padded shoulders. His hair is a masterpiece – centered and crimped.

We can’t wait to see the creative inspiration of Season 2 of Wednesday. Until then keep an eye on Jenna Ortega who is taking red carpet fashion to new heights.