Euphoria Costume Designer Natasha Newman-Thomas on Post-High School Wardrobes

Euphoria’s third season introduces a significant shift in the show’s visual identity under new costume designer Natasha Newman-Thomas, who succeeds Heidi Bivens following her three Emmy-nominated seasons. Newman-Thomas, known for her work on The Wolf of Wall Street and Childish Gambino’s “What we have is America” music video, as well as her collaboration with series creator Sam Levinson on The Idol, has reimagined the wardrobes to reflect the characters’ lives five years after high school. The premiere episode opens with Rue navigating the desert from Mexico to California, underscoring the show’s evolution beyond its suburban origins into a broader, more mature landscape of young adulthood.

Newman-Thomas emphasized that each character now inhabits their own distinct universe, moving away from the shared high school aesthetic that defined earlier seasons. “It’s not high school anymore,” she stated in interviews with Harper’s Bazaar and Vanity Fair. “Each character has their own universe.” These universes encompass the varied experiences of early adulthood, including new careers, relationships, weddings, and more unconventional paths such as OnlyFans accounts, strip club work, and high-stakes ventures—elements intrinsic to Euphoria’s narrative tone.

The designer’s approach balances innovation with continuity, inserting her vision into the framework established by Bivens, whose influential costumes sparked viral trends and inspired a published book by A24. While Bivens’ work featured iconic moments like Alexia Demi’s Maddy Perez in revealing outfits and memorable pieces such as a vintage Mugler gown or contemporary Miu Miu, Newman-Thomas introduces new directions grounded in the characters’ post-graduation realities. She has incorporated vintage couture finds and runway pieces, including extensive Bottega Veneta wardrobes for Jacob Elordi’s Nate Jacobs—a choice she defended as intentional despite the actor’s off-screen ambassadorial ties to the brand.

Newman-Thomas acknowledged the heightened scrutiny surrounding fashion in Euphoria, particularly after early reactions to the season’s second trailer focused on whether Nate could afford a Kate Moss-worn Bottega Veneta shirt. “It’s so funny, I get it,” she told Vanity Fair. “[Jacob] is a Bottega boy, but it actually works. It was intentional.” This attention to detail reflects the show’s ongoing cultural impact, where costume choices continue to generate widespread discussion and analysis across fashion and entertainment platforms.

The transition in creative leadership comes after Bivens’ tenure, which was celebrated for capturing the teen zeitgeist and producing moments that transcended the screen to influence real-world style. Newman-Thomas faces the challenge of meeting high expectations while advancing the show’s narrative through clothing that reflects the characters’ complex journeys. Her work on Season 3 aims to honor the series’ legacy while establishing a new visual language appropriate for its evolved storytelling.