On the set of prison-centered show “Orange Is the New Black,” uniforms rule. And as the Netflix hit returns, it’s all about sticking to the rules — or in the case of these prisoners, breaking them. “We are maintaining the consistency of the prison, and with their uniforms we want to continue to be true to that,” said costume designer Jenn Rogien. “There are a lot of rules and that’s why I love this particular design challenge.” Here, Rogien spills on designing for the show.
“I like the challenge of the normalcy, the grittiness. The socially, economically challenged characters are inspiring, from Piper [Taylor Schilling] to Taystee [Danielle Brooks] to Red [Kate Mulgrew].”
“We mostly see the characters in orange uniforms, but there is a pair of standard-issue boots that we purchased from a prison supplier. The actors are very divided: Some of them love the boots’ clunky and powerful feel and others hate them for the same reason. It’s funny to see the range of reactions because it’s a real prison boot.”
