Bending the Rules: Fashion Beyond the Binary with Camille Benda and Gwyn Conaway
The Art of Costume PodcastShow Notes
In this episode of The Costume House with Spencer Williams, we step beyond the screen and into the pages of Bending the Rules: Fashion Beyond the Binary with celebrated costume designer Camille Benda and illustrator, fashion historian, and culture specialist Gwyn Conaway. Together, Spencer, Camille, and Gwyn explore the fascinating relationship between fashion, identity, and self-expression across cultures and throughout history. Drawing from the book's rich collection of essays, interviews, and visual storytelling, the conversation examines how clothing has long challenged conventions, reflected cultural change, and expanded our understanding of gender through dress. Along the way, they discuss unforgettable examples from film and costume design, including Sally Potter's Orlando and the Academy Award-winning costumes of Sandy Powell, the futuristic world of The Fifth Element, and the enduring style of Grease through the work of legendary costume designer Albert Wolsky. Thoughtful, insightful, and endlessly fascinating, this conversation celebrates fashion as one of our most powerful forms of storytelling.
More from The Art of Costume Podcast
I'm your number one fan! 🔨 This week on The Art of Costume Podcast, our spooky season series “Based on the Novel by Stephen King” continues with Misery, the chilling psychological thriller starring Kathy Bates and James Caan.
All work and no play makes for a very stylish horror episode. 🪓 This week on The Art of Costume Podcast, our spooky season series “Based on the Novel by Stephen King” continues with Stanley Kubrick’s chilling classic, The Shining, featuring costume design by the legendary Milena Canonero.
We all float down here. 🎈 This week on The Art of Costume Podcast, our spooky season series “Based on the Novel by Stephen King” begins with the 1990 television miniseries IT, and there’s no better way to kick things off than with Pennywise the Dancing Clown. Spencer and Elizabeth dive into the costumes designed by Monique Prudhomme for the unforgettable Losers Club, exploring how each character’s look helps define their personalities and bring Derry, Maine, to life. Of course, no conversation about IT would be complete without Tim Curry’s legendary transformation into Pennywise. Our hosts explore Curry’s remarkable career, the meticulous makeup process that created one of horror’s most enduring villains, and even hear some fascinating behind-the-scenes insight from the master himself, Stephen King. Follow The Art of Costume Podcast: Instagram: @theartofcostumepod TikTok: @theartofcostumepod
This week on The Art of Costume Podcast, Spencer and Elizabeth celebrate the 40th anniversary of the cult classic Little Shop of Horrors! Our hosts dig into the costumes behind some of their favorite characters, from Seymour and Audrey to the nefarious Dr. Orin Scrivello and, of course, the fabulous Skid Row Urchins. They explore how the costumes help bring this strange, hilarious, and wonderfully twisted world to life, while also diving into the incredible behind-the-scenes production of the film, including the painstaking process of bringing the legendary Audrey II puppet to life.
Who is ready for some margaritas? This week on The Art of Costume Podcast, Spencer and Elizabeth dust off the spell books and return to the Owens sisters’ Massachusetts home for the cult classic Practical Magic, just in time for the new sequel. Together, our hosts celebrate Sally and Gillian’s iconic costumes, Stevie Nicks, and the world’s coolest aunts, who somehow make midnight margaritas and a centuries-old family curse look like a perfectly normal Tuesday night. From Sally’s romantic, free-spirited style to Gillian’s effortlessly cool witchy looks, they dive into the costumes that helped make this film a timeless Halloween favorite. So grab your tequila, light a few candles, and join us for midnight margaritas, sisterly chaos, and a very serious discussion about the most stylish witches in cinema. Follow The Art of Costume Podcast on Instagram at @theartofcostumepod and on TikTok at @theartofcostume.