1883 Designer Describes EPIC Effort To Outfit Stars Like Tom Hanks, Tim McGraw, And Faith Hill

The “Yellowstone” prequel “1883” contains a star-studded cast. But while actors like Tom Hanks get all the attention, the “Yellowstone” spin-off’s costume designer quietly worked miracles behind the scenes to re-create that era. And in a word, those efforts felt “epic.”

Find out what’s involved in outfitting an enormous cast, including superstar actors. And get the scoop on why fake dirt played a key role in filming “1883” below.

Costume Designer For ‘1883’ Throws Dirt – Literally

Imagine figuring out authentic outfits for a cast of thousands. That’s the challenge that Janie Bryant faced as the “1883” costume designer. But the woman who won an Emmy for her “Deadwood” costumes felt confident that she could provide a totally authentic look

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As a result, Bryant even participated in a very dirty situation. “I was with my team on probably the first or second day of shooting,” she told the Hollywood Reporter. “It was all hands on deck and we were throwing fake dirt on the actors because I was like, ‘It has to be dirtier’ — and we were already up to our elbows in fake dirt and distressing the material,” recalled Janie.

But fake dirt just represented one day’s effort. Determining the perfect costumes for the thousands in the “Yellowstone” prequel “1883” also meant taking on “epic, epic, epic” challenges, added Bryant. From a thousand extras to the principle cast to stunt actors, Janie began her efforts in Los Angeles. When filming began, the costume designer headed to Fort Worth, then Montana, and back to Texas.

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The “1883” costume designer worked closely with Taylor Sheridan, who orchestrated the task of going from page to screen in seven months. That tight schedule meant extra pressure for Bryant. But perhaps the biggest challenge consisted of “designing the principal cast,” noted Janie.

For instance, the Emmy award winner needed to choose the ideal outfits for Sam Elliot. He plays Shea Brennan, who shepherds the group traveling across the plains by wagon train. Other principal cast members included Tim McGraw as James Dutton, who needed his own wardrobe.  In addition, Bryant needed to ensure that McGraw’s outfits complemented the costumes for his real-life wife Faith Hill, who portrays Margaret Dutton. 

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Revealing that she just created the last outfit of the season, Janie only hinted at the possibility that one of the “1883” superstars earned that final costume. In addition to Tim, Sam, and Faith, possibilities include guest stars like Tom Hanks and Billy Bob Thornton. But while Bryant didn’t give away spoilers, she did praise the actors for keeping it authentic.

“The actresses are all in corsets … riding horses or driving wagons,” she revealed. “And the men are all in wool with the heat and the elements, and you can really feel how taxing it was,” noted Janie. “Think about a hundred-degree weather and wearing a camisole, corset, bloomers, bustle pad, petticoat and then putting a costume on top of that. I applaud them for being for going with it.”

What do you think about the costumes in “1883”? Do you believe that the costume designer, just like the actors, focused on staying authentic and true to the era? Share your views with us. And then check back on our site for more news about “1883.”