Okay Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans! I've had the chance to catch up with the amazing costume designer for the show, Cynthia Bergstrom. Her resume not only includes Buffy, but the first "Scream" movie, plus TV shows Private Practice, Medium, CSI: Miami and Ringer.
Cynthia Bergstrom |
I met Cynthia over 16 years ago and this woman is the single reason I have my handmade jewelry business, Peggy Li Creations. She took a chance on my jewelry designs and the rest, as they say, is history. It was super fun to chat with her and have a chance to reflect on that time in our lives. I am so grateful to learn even more about this amazing person and am thrilled to share her story with you.
Cynthia, thank you so much for taking the time to revisit the
Buffy years with me! Are you surprised that after all these years, Buffy still
has fans asking about the fashion on the show?
Yes and no. I am not surprised that Buffy fans are still enjoying
the show but yes, I am surprised that there are still questions about the
costumes. I still get letters, emails, Tweets, etc. with questions.
I love it.
Buffy and Willow. I want that jacket. |
For Xander, his iconic moment was the Halloween episode. I think it
was season 2. Each of the characters fell into a spell that propelled
them to believe they were indeed the personality/persona of their chosen
costumes. Xander was a Vietnam vet…I think Vietnam, definitely a combat
soldier. This was the first time we were able to see him in clothing that
was more masculine as was the personality portrayed. It was fun &
interesting to see silly, goofy Xander as a strong, driven man. Quite the
transformation. Spike’s iconic moment was when we saw who he was in the
past, before he became a vampire. That was great! His original
persona was a gentle loving bookish gentleman from the late or mid 1800’s.
We then see later how he grew into his Spike character and look as we
flashed back to the ’70’s. Fun stuff. For Willow, it was always the
cute fluffy sweaters. People loved those sweaters. Bunnies,
Butterflies, etc. Pink & Fuzz. She was really easy to costume.
As I moved onto to other shows I was still seeing pieces that would work
for Willow. I had many of the same assistants from Buffy with me…we would
see a piece and giggle about how that was a “Willow” outfit. Buffy…her
most iconic look was her fight clothes. Years ago after I started putting
her in her ‘fighty clothes’ I was approached by a major costume company that
wanted to co-create a Buffy costume based on her ‘fighty’ outfits. Dark
leather jacket, skinny top, slim pants & boots.
I loved the supernatural nature of the show and how it afforded me
incredible freedom to get imaginative with costuming. I missed that free
flowing creativity over the years as I moved onto more reality based shows.
Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) in an original Cynthia Bergstrom design. |
Designing or building the costumes was my favorite and still is my
favorite way of designing. Going all out and creating a look from words
on paper, the process of research, choosing the fabric, the notions, the
stitching…it was incredibly gratifying from a creative standpoint.
My start as a costume designer was not the typical way to start out.
I was young, 24…I didn’t know any better. I was working for a large
contemporary clothing company as a sales rep. I didn’t really enjoy it.
The moment I decided to leave a friend of mine who was a producer called
asking if he could borrow some of my samples for a small film he was shooting. When I told him I had just left the company he asked if I would like to
come on board as his costume designer. I leaped at the opportunity.
The script supervisor showed me how to break down a script, the
accountant showed me how to do a budget and off I went. I felt at home
and on purpose. I knew I found my calling. I loved it for 27 years.
What advice would you give to someone interested in becoming a costume
designer?
My suggestion to anyone interested in becoming a costume designer would
be to be flexible, have thick skin, lots of energy and save your money for any
unforeseen slow times. Be open to change and don’t take anything
personally. The industry can be super fun & exciting but it can also
be really long hours and working with huge egos. You have to be a bit of
a therapist & a mother to many. It’s important to stay centered and
grounded. It’s also important to take really good care of oneself the
hours are usually really long. 70-80 hour weeks is the norm. Be
sure to always ask for what you want and what you need and not give yourself
away.
Thank you. Yes, I have left costume design. I recently earned
a master’s in spiritual psychology with an emphasis on consciousness, health
& healing. I’ve been working as a spiritual counselor/life coach.
I have counseled hundreds as well as working with the incarcerated men
& women of Valley State Prison. I’m all about prison reform.
Rehabilitation as opposed to punishment. It’s incredibly rewarding
work. I’m also following one of my greatest passions…singing! I
always had an idea that I had a good singing voice but I wasn’t sure.
About 9 months ago I started taking vocal lessons, a friend heard me sing
and asked me to perform a song for her daughter’s batmitvah…in front of 500
people! Another one of those incredible opportunities dropped into my lap,
it was amazing. The feedback was so encouraging. I’m off to
Nashville next week to meet with different peeps in the music industry and to
record. It’s very exciting and very different to be the ‘talent’. I
took care of the talent for so long…my time to shine. It’s so much fun.
Thanks again Cynthia for taking the time to chat with me! Be sure to follow her continuing journey on her website, DevataLifeDesign.com.
xoxo
Peggy