MEET THE STYLIST: OLIVIA MILES
A Conversation with Olivia Miles: Costume Designer
Miles started as an intern at Food Chain Films in Portland Oregon and worked her way up. Work kept coming so she dropped out of college to pursue her career in film. She loved being in business as a commercial stylist, but she wanted to let the clothes and costumes tell more of a story. After moving to LA, she had to work her way up again in a new market. She worked the whole way up to being the Costume Designer on ENTOURAGE. She is a big believer in the school of hard knocks and going after what you believe in. Miles just wrapped the indie film JAMESY BOY in Baltimore. Currently she handles the costume design on JANE BY DESIGN for ABC Family in Los Angeles and is working on eight new episodes that will air beginning in June. In between shows, she styles commercials and private clients.
Tell us the story behind your favorite wardrobe item
Olivia: We all have our trusty items that get us where we need to go. I'd have to say my Burberry riding boots...they go from shooting in the deserts and the woods to shopping to fittings, meetings and interviews.
What’s your most memorable ‘panic moment’?
Olivia: On Entourage, we were shooting a benefit luncheon scene with Jeremy Piven and Beverly D'Angelo at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Jeremy was wearing a suit with a white shirt underneath, and had a real glass of red wine as a prop. Beverly was wearing a cream pantsuit. Enough said. During their interaction in the scene, the red wine splashed all over BOTH of them. While the crew waited for us, we went to work with salt, seltzer water and blow dryers on Beverly in the ladies room. I had to sprint up Rodeo to find a double on Jeremy's custom Zegna shirt. The tailor there altered it in 5 minutes and I ran back. And I do NOT enjoy running, I'm more of a hiker! I'd say it was a 20-minute camera delay.
How did you recover from it gracefully?
Olivia: By showing up back on set with two clean, dry actors. And because we had a great costume crew...all hands were on deck.
What is your favorite era for fashion?
What was your big break?
Olivia: Being promoted from assistant costume designer to costume designer on Entourage.
Whose closet would you most like to raid?
Olivia: Kate Moss. Hands down.
Olivia: Helmut Lang, Balenciaga, Dries Van Noten, Alexander Wang, Pierre Hardy (shoes), Tom Ford, Lanvin, Burberry Prosum, Rick Owens, Proenza...
Thank you so much Olivia! To see Olivia's portfolio, please visit her website. www.oliviamilescostumes.com