The costume designer for the lavishly mounted adaptation of the James Clavell novel set in 17th Century Japan, chooses his favourite looks from the show
supportive. I’m so glad they gave me the budget to import those fabrics.”
Such a long journey
Picking a favourite look in
Shōgun is hard, Carlos says. “They’re all my babies. Each one of the costumes has a backstory and a meaning. It was a long, creative process to create every costume but I do love some of the outfits that Lady Ochiba (played by Fumi Nikaido) wore. I also like two of the
jinbaori Lord Toranaga
(Hiroyuki Sanada) wears.”
The jinbaori, Carlos explains is a surcoat worn on top of the armour. “One of Lord
Toranaga’s jinbaori is made of hundreds of handstitched peacock feathers. The other is a
jinbaori as an armour. We cut hundreds of little wood and metal pieces, which were attached with cording of different colours.”
Big versus small screen
Having designed costumes for movies (Don’t Breathe, The Girl in the Spider’s Web), Carlos says the main difference between the two is speed. “Television goes way faster (laughs). Shōgun is 10 episodes that look like 10 movies, and you don’t have much prep time. A movie is more linear with a beginning, middle and end.”
Having dressed actors from Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix (Walk the Line) to Claire Foy, Carlos says he would love to work with Meryl Streep. “She is the greatest and the best. I would also love to work with Jane Fonda. I had the chance to work with Robin Williams before he passed away. I designed the costumes for his last movie (Boulevard). It was an incredible memory.”
Gone with the Wind is Carlos’ favourite classic movie and
One of the reasons Carlos entered the field, the other reason being his grandmother who was a patternmaker. “I watched her work, putting fabric on the table. I remember her sewing and stitching and I was intrigued. That was my gateway into this world.”