Pluribus: The Official Podcast S1E6: Jennifer Bryan
Dec 11, 2025
Costume designer Jennifer Bryan, known for her work with Vince Gilligan, dives into the world of Pluribus. She discusses the challenge of dressing a global cast and how she created Carol's iconic yellow leather jacket. Bryan shares insights on the glamorous wardrobe of Mr. Diabaté, influenced by Vegas and the Rat Pack. She also highlights the significance of clothing in portraying character evolution, with Carol's transition from tailored suits to slouchy outfits reflecting her decline. Authenticity in cultural representation is a key theme in her designs.
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Make Sci‑Fi Look Ordinary
- Vince Gilligan wanted the show to avoid looking like genre costuming and instead feel ordinary at first.
- Jennifer Bryan designed clothes to subtly signal change and uniqueness without overt sci-fi tropes.
Clothes Lose Cultural Signals
- After the joining, culture and status lose meaning so clothing becomes a daily message rather than a signal of origin.
- Bryan treated the Others as one character and mixed global elements to show functional, non‑ornamental dress.
Dress Backgrounds Like Characters
- Treat background groups as characters to give them narrative weight and visual distinction.
- Elevate extras' costumes so they communicate backstory and separate them from non‑Others.