‘Feud’ Costume Designer Teases Joan Crawford and Bette Davis’ 1960s Style in FX Drama
Charlie Carballo
Executive Digital Director
Tensions between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford ran so high on the set of 1962’s “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?” that the screen queens became lifelong enemies.
The bitter rivalry between the actresses is so legendary that “Glee” and “American Horror Story” producer Ryan Murphy will tell the tale in “Feud,” a new anthology series set to air next year on FX.
Jessica Lange stars as Crawford, and Susan Sarandon portrays Bette Davis.
Speaking to Footwear News on Saturday at the Metropolitan Fashion Week award ceremony in Burbank, Calif., the show’s costume designer Lou Eyrich teased how she plans to tell the drama from head to toe.
“We’re trying to re-create as accurately as we can through the research of their actual characters, but Ryan [Murphy] wanted a lot of color, so we’re cheating a bit by adding color,” Eyrich shared with FN.
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For the footwear, Eyrich said she had to source replicas of shoes from the 1960s from new brands because of issues with vintage materials and construction.
“The shoes — unfortunately, the ‘60s shoes are very uncomfortable. The leather is all dried out and the insoles curl,” she explained. “The authentic ‘60s shoes are very narrow, and most women can’t fit into them today.”
The event held on the Warner Bros. Studios lot celebrated some of the year’s most outstanding costume designers — and Eyrich was among the winners, scoring an award in the TV category for her work on “American Horror Story: Hotel.” Thierry Mugler won the Live Performance category for his work on Cirque Du Soleil ‘s Zumanity and Tony Acosta Jr. won the Motion Pictures category for “Captain America: Civil War.”
It’s yet another statue to add to the mantle for Eyrich, who recently won the Primetime Emmy Award in costume design for the FX drama series.
“I didn’t expect it, and I should’ve written a speech,” Eyrich recalled of the big night last month. “The next day I walked by my kitchen and my son put it in this row (of statues). We made a pact as a family, that if I won, that would be the spot — next to my two awards. It’s a family affair.”
