Talking ‘Hysteria!’ With Costume Designer, Debra McGuire

From the bandana headbands worn by Spud (Kezii Curtis) to the pastel colors rocked by Faith (Nikki Hahn), costume designer, Debra McGuire, has thought of every detail in the new horror series, Hysteria!. For more on the show, check out this interview with Debra below:

Rachel Bellwoar: As someone who’s worked on projects ranging from TV comedies like New Girl to Blockbuster movies like Sonic the Hedgehog, what initially piqued your interest about working on Hysteria!?

Debra McGuire: I was asked to design Hysteria by producers Jonathan Goldstein and Jon Francis Daley, who I have worked with on several projects. I remember the SATANIC PANIC and was interested in the story as having, weirdly, significant metaphors for today. I was also excited to do 1980’s and especially to work with this talented young (and not so young but fantastic!) cast.

Bellwoar: Hysteria! isn’t your first foray into the 80’s (Freaks and Geeks) or horror (Scream IV). What are some genre or period details that you knew you wanted to incorporate into your costumes?

McGuire: I didn’t want these costumes to be derivative of anything…I wanted to create new silhouettes. With young, offbeat kids who are into music, this gave me a lot of room for creativity. Turn of the century vibes, antique circus imagery, etc. Many garments were either vintage, designed in the workroom or embellished with interesting pieces.

Bellwoar: One of the first and most frightening images in the pilot is that of Faith’s kidnappers – specifically the masks they’re wearing. How did you come up with the design for those?

McGuire: This was a group effort spearheaded by our director who had very specific ideas. It was a matter of experimentation until we got it right and in the end I think the group effort succeeded. It was trial and error….but everyone kept going!!

Bellwoar: In order to get his crush’s attention, Dylan (Emjay Anthony) convinces his bandmates to help him start a fake cult. How did you go about merging their band’s aesthetic with clothes a cult would wear?

McGuire: This was a natural progression. Dylan had the most stretching to do because he had to evolve from a withdrawn kid to the frontman in the circus. It somehow ended up looking effortless…prodded along by his testosterone!

Bellwoar: Just like in real life, I love when characters have certain go-to accessories, like Spud’s bandana headbands. Are those planned or is it more a case of discovery and seeing what the actors gravitate towards?

McGuire: All of the accessories were planned. The headbands were a key part of Spud’s wardrobe and also a way to get his unruly hair from going crazy while drumming. Always a method to the madness.

Bellwoar: While certain characters, like Dylan and Judith (Jessica Treska), go through major wardrobe transformations over the course of the season, others, like Jordy (Chiara Aurelia) and Tracey (Anna Camp), have a strong sense of their personal styles. Was there a character you enjoyed putting outfits together for the most?

McGuire: Oh my! It was all so much fun! Even the church-going background. This is what is so exciting about doing a period show. Finding those “special” pieces or creating them in the workroom. There was no limit to what we could do!

Bellwoar: As anyone who’s seen Carrie can attest, school dances tend to be bad news in horror. What was it look coming up with the looks for the homecoming dance?

McGuire: Again, SOOOOOO FUN!!!! Give me a period prom or homecoming and I’m off to the races! We dug deep into vintage stores, costume houses, etc. Jordy’s dress was a Couture dress we found in a vintage shop in Athens, Georgia. My Assistant Designer, Erika Arnold, was a big help in leading me to the best haunts in Georgia and to orchestrating all these fabulous looks. She and I would literally shriek from excitement!!

Bellwoar: At one point, many of the adults in Happy Hollow start developing rashes. Was that something you had to consider and adjust for when designing the costumes – how much those rashes would be visible?

McGuire: Yes, of course. Some rashes had to be covered and then revealed. We considered this when dressing those actors. Usually the particulars were discussed during our production meetings.

Bellwoar: Thanks for agreeing to this interview, Debra!

Season 1 of Hysteria! is streaming on Peacock.