Find out the tricks behind the outfits used in Hallmark Christmas movies, which are designed to add holiday magic to the movies and the real world.
1. Red coats and sweaters in jewel tones are classic styles that are often shown in Hallmark movies.
2. Cooling gear like ice belts helps players stay cool while shooting in the summer.
A lot of people watch Hallmark Christmas movies every year, and their cozy wardrobes are just as well-known as their heartwarming stories.
The costume designer for 10 Hallmark Christmas movies, Keith Nielsen, has talked about what goes into making those amazing outfits and the difficulties that come with the job.
Hallmark companies don’t have a specific clothing closet like many other companies do. This means Nielsen can’t get to the clothes that are kept.
Instead, he uses his own storage unit to keep things like tuxedos, jeans, and neutral coats that he can wear again and again.
Some costumes are worn in more than one movie, but a lot of them are only worn in that one movie. For example, Lyndsy Fonseca’s J.Crew coat appeared in another Hallmark movie, but it was originally worn in Holiday Spectacular.
One thing that makes Nielsen’s designs stand out is how well they are made. Including changing things like suit cuts to fit different body types, he makes sure that every piece looks good on the players.
His other design touch is putting gloves that match jackets together, which he calls “very Hallmarkian.”
How do they make Hallmark wardrobes?
- Classics Only: The classic pieces come from names like J.Crew and Brooks Brothers.
- Dress for comfort: For a winter look, wear jeans, jackets in jewel tones, and dark denim.
- Red Coats: Each movie has a unique red coat to fit the holiday mood.
- Favorite stars: Some stars buy custom-made clothes after the movie is over.
It’s not always as beautiful as you might think to make Hallmark movies. A lot of Christmas movies are filmed in the middle of summer, which means that players have to come up with creative ways to stay cool, like wearing ice vests, light sweaters, and coats that have been changed to fit them better.
For example, Nielsen used clip fans and took the stuffing out of the actors’ jackets to keep them cool while shooting Holiday Touchdown in Kansas City in the middle of summer.
On the other hand, shooting Christmas Quest in cold places like Iceland was very difficult. Nielsen gave the players warming jackets and thermals to keep them warm, so they were comfortable even on long night shoots.
It’s all part of the magic for fans. From Lacey Chabert’s beautiful red coat in “A Merry Scottish Christmas” to classic clothes from Americana brands, Keith Nielsen makes sure that every Hallmark Christmas movie clothing is a mix of cute style and usefulness.