We had the good fortune of connecting with Kristin Dangl and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kristin, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I don’t think I had any choice. I think it was preordained. I was always playing dress up and making clothes. I got a little miniature sewing machine when I was about 5. I colored and drew. I liked paper dolls and making my own 3D things like purses and their contents. My grand mother taught me how to embroider very young. I studied dance. I started teaching adult beginning ballet when I was 16. In high school I took advanced art classes and studied calligraphy.

I am the only one of my siblings who isn’t a scientist. My father was a teacher of math and science and a basketball and football coach. Of my brothers and their 2 wives there are 3 PhDs. in Science. My eldest brother is a member of the US National Academy of Sciences as well as the Royal Academy of Science of Britain among other accolades. I am not a scientist!!!

My mother was a “housewife” although she always worked part time and was the first person I ever knew who worked with computers. She ran our house, read every book, played the piano and always had time for a meaningful conversation with everyone. She always had a knitting or sewing project in the works. She was very loose with instructions and recipes and thought outside the boundaries. I would bring her a photo of a sweater from a magazine and she would figure out how to knit it for me.

I’m was never a very practical person. I went to UCSB because my dad (a high school counselor by that time) said it was a party school and on the beach (he knew his daughter) but he also knew it had a great art department and a great biology department (in case I changed my mind) and as a matter of fact I think I went in as a BIOLOGY major!

Truth be told, I think at the time I was too immature to face the criticism of a fine arts degree and way to impatient and undisciplined to get a biology degree so I ended up with a degree in ART HISTORY which I adored and it forever changed my life!

Art History is the perfect foundation for a career in the arts. I later found that many Costume Designers actually have Art History Degrees. And for me Art history also opened the door to my deep ongoing dive into fashion history and history in general. Art History gives one an overall insight into cultural, societal and political movements.

I have always had a passion for current and period street fashion, haute couture, pop culture and music which i love to reference in my work. I like to hide little Easter Eggs in my character’s costumes even if I’m the only one who knows. Over the years my work has become ladened with the elaborate and fantastical, farcical period clothing and overrun with the most emboldened of Super Heros. I look forward to a future of more. More color, more texture, more movement, more putting together the puzzles of a costume. More story telling through the art of what actors wear. More story telling through the art of what WE wear.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a Costume Designer and a member of the Costume Designers Guild. Starting in 2003 I worked for 20 years designing costumes for some of Nickelodeons most popular shows. (Henry Danger, Danger Force, iCarly, Victorious, Sam and Cat, Zoey 101, Drake and Josh, All That and Game Shakers).

Designing for children’s programming is definitely a niche category. I love dressing kids. Kids are super cool!! They’re not jaded. They never have a bad attitude. They are so fun to talk with. It’s inspiring to work in a world where everyone is excited to be at work .

I am the youngest in my family and it’s always been very easy for me to communicate with kids, teens and in-betweens. In the world where the under 18’s reign supreme, I treat the actors as my equal and their costumes are as important to me as if I were dressing an adult movie star. We talk about the characters. We hone in on the actors comfort zone. I made a promise to myself years ago to never send a young actor to set wearing anything that makes them uncomfortable and I try VERY HARD to live by this.

At Nickelodeon it has always been a challenge to place the actors in their costumes within the sets! The sets are like a character unto themselves!! They are crazy and bright and textured and bold and my costumes have to hold up within the sets and allow the actors and the dialogue and the action to survive. It’s a real collaborative effort to actually have it all work together and a lot of meetings take place especially when we prep the superhero shows. We have quite a tight color palette.

Different shows have different tones, moods and personalities.

iCarly was vibrant but always layered with a tone of coolness in the background. I wanted it to always seem like it was cloudy or raining outside but I also wanted the actors to seem cozy and comfortable. Zoey 101 was sun bleached. The actors wore bright colors that had been faded by the sun. Victorious was sooty and inner city. Even though it takes place in sun drenched Los Angeles, I feel like Hollywood Arts had much more of a goth/emo feel to it…grungy.. the streets of Hollywood really do have a layer of hot dirty soot. I tried to get that across in the clothes. I rinsed a lot of the pieces in very pale charcoal dye. In the Super Hero shows, “Henry Danger” and “Danger Force” we are in a fantasy version of middle America so I tried to make our family and friends pretty clean and fresh. It’s also why we went with Primary Colors for our Super Hero’s. The primary color’s Red, Yellow and Blue are the basic colors that every other color is made from. I think they are so beautiful and striking in their simplicity. They are also very patriotic. They’re American but they’re also French and British, etc. Many states and countries use these basic colors in their flags because they are so striking and bold. When we got to “Danger Force” we striped it back even more and used black only with each primary and I think that made a beautiful and strong statement.

One interesting thing I’ve learned working with children for quite a while is that todays children are tomorrows stars.

Over the years I have dressed quite a few remarkable people.

The lovely, poised and intelligent Lily Collins. 2007-2008
In the summer of 2007 Lily hosted a Nickelodeon special called “Slimeball” which we shot in melting heat in the Santa Clarita Valley at a place called the Disney Ranch. She had about 25 different outfits and she never once complained about the 100+ heat. For the next year or so she hosted various news events at Nick and she commentated the 2008 Kids Choice Awards. I was fortunate to dress her for all of this. She was a delight. Lily preferred jewel tones and rich silks. Her luminous skin was so nice to contrast with deep raspberry, purple, cobalt blue and malachite green. It’s been super exciting for me to watch her in “Emily in Paris.”

I also worked with Austin Butler on iCarly and Zoey 101. 2006-2007
Austin is very low key, naturally stunning with no ego. He’s extremely kind. He is a clothes hanger! He has broad shoulders. and all clothing looks good on him. He’s basically perfect. It’s not surprising that he turned out to be such a spectacular actor, he always seemed so relaxed in front of the camera.

Obviously the most famous young actor I’ve dressed is Ariana Grande. When I first read the script for Victorious I had only seen a photo of Ari and I knew nothing about her Broadway work. I wanted the character to be “Ka’waii” (Japanese for very cute). I wanted her to have the feeling of a Harajuku girl. Like the Japanese fashion scene in Harajuku and Shibuya. I was referencing a book called “Fruits” based on a Magazine of the same name. Originally this movement was a mixture of thrifted western clothing and rich silks and cottons of traditional Japanese clothing featuring kimono, obi and Zori slippers from different time periods. I didn’t plan on using the literal Japanese pieces I just wanted to have that “feeling” of a lot of layers and color and texture and time periods……And then I met Ariana! She is a SPRITE. In the first fitting it was obvious that my idea was going to devour her! Ariana is naturally a minimalist. This was a perfect example of when a designer or stylist really has to pivot. A designer can illustrate beautiful designs and concepts for a character but if it’s wrong for the actor you have to let go and move on. I had to strip it all back and get rid of layering and pattern and texture. In came the tiny little mini dresses with shorts underneath, tank tops and skinny jeans, sweatshirts and denim shorts. The first season Ari preferred high heels, I think because she felt so small compared to the other actors but as Ari “grew” and her characters personality grew I don’t think she needed them anymore and by the second season her shoes became even more low profile. Ballet flats, Mary Jane’s, ked’s, an occasional kitten heel.

It took 4 years to hone Cat Valentine’s look. By the time we were shooting “Sam and Cat” Ariana’s costumes were perfect. We had cashmere cardigans in the perfect shades of baby chick yellow and ballet pink and pale peach and sea foam blue. Little ethereal camisoles to wear underneath were made from vintage French scarves and feather weight silk fabrics. The perfect high waisted Almost Famous skinny jeans and the cloth Mary Jane’s with the rubber bottoms that I had worn in high school imported from Taiwan (back in the 1980’s). We were both so sad to say goodbye to Cat Valentine when the show came to an end. She had become a perfect pastel butterfly.

I’d also like to highlight Riele Downs who played Charlotte on “Henry Danger”. She is currently acting on a few different Tv shows. But she is also an amazing clothing designer. When I met her she was probably 12 or 13 and she had already filled multiple sketchbooks full of her illustrations. Her work was so sophisticated. Some of it was fantastical and not quite realistic in terms of construction but others were remarkable. She kept drawing and as various awards seasons approached we started to pick some of her designs to construct for her to wear on the carpets. It was such a special experience for me. We would go thru her illustrations to find ones I could really wrap my head around. We had meetings to discuss the construction, we would go fabric shopping. We would select the shoes and accessories to finish the look. We would have multiple fittings with the seamstress. It was amazing to listen to her speak with the seamstress and to watch her grow in her skill as a designer over the 5 years of the show. It’s pretty exciting to watch someone develop their skills as they mature. I was like a proud mom!.

Costume designing is not something you do all alone. If you really want to grow and develop and enjoy yourself- it is a bunch of small collaborations with your actors or your shows creators or the production designer. But also with the people who work for you. This where you get some of you best results and the most reward!

Since the winter of 2023 the Film and Television Industry in Los Angeles has slowed down tremendously and Nickelodeon is no longer making Children’s Television Series in the USA. The recent Henry Danger Movie was shot in Canada with a full Canadian crew. And a Victorious Reboot will also be made in Canada this year starring Daniella Monet. Many industry workers are trying to figure out what’s next?

Recently, I am obsessed with making Artwork out of little family heirlooms. We all have things that have no value, little momento’s that sit in our drawers or cupboards or closets for years and years that we don’t know what to do with… but they were our moms or our grandfathers and we can’t get rid of them. Well recently I found in a pile of junk an old tattered paint-by-numbers on cardboard of a tiger and if it hadn’t had my grandmothers name and a date from the month I was born, I probably would have thrown it out. Instead I had it framed. Now it looks like a yummy, lush little 19th C. painting in a fabric mat and gilt frame. In the current environment when everyone is so concerned with wealth and luxury items and everything on social media makes you feel as if we all need to be making six figures a year it’s very entertaining to poke fun at the system by making something very beautiful out of something that basically worthless. You’ll end up spending more money on the frame than what the item was ever originally worth but I promise it is so fulfilling and you will find a new love and connection to your past or your family. I’d love to start a little business helping people do this.

Also, I’d love to start or collaborate on a podcast or round table about fashion and pop culture. There is so much craziness going on right now and I’m so interested to discuss anything representational like street wear, couture, business attire, everyday clothing, art and music. Because I’m older and have a different vantage point to view the political scenery than your younger readers I’m so interested in hearing about how people are feeling about representing themselves in todays political and societal upheaval. Is the news effecting your mood? Does that effect what you wear? In what ways? are you protesting with your clothing? are you blending in with your clothing? Are you ignoring the news and planning a fun spring in the sun? How did the fires impact the sense of style for people who have to start all over? I’d love to dig deeper into this particularly in Los Angeles.

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Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My number one favorite spot in Los Angeles is the original Farmers Market on 3rd street and Fairfax. It provides the best people watching in the city. The regulars range from very old people, some of whom survived the holocaust, to very successful television writers and actors, to regular working class Angelinos. And then the tour buses come in full of Japanese high school students and Chinese tourists. People come from all over the world and all over the country. We’re “people watching” them and they’re “people watching” us. Its just wonderful. Whole families come and everyone is able to get their meal from a different food joint. My friends and I have celebrated birthdays by spending the whole day camped out drinking espressos from COFFEE CORNER. Different friends can come and go throughout the day. Starting with various brunch choices and finishing with my favorite french bistro style dinner at Mr. Marcels.

I love the big Getty Museum on the 405 and on Thursday evenings in the warm months they have live music. The walk down into the garden is magical.

I especially love the Getty Villa that is off of the PCH. I was there in the fall and they have high tea on Saturdays with reservations. I hope their schedule will return as the area recovers from the Palisades Fire.

The Bowers Museum in Santa Ana is a lovely small museum and often features exhibits that have to do with textiles or hand crafts. They also have a really good little restaurant attached to the museum.

I often go to the Dorthy Chandler Pavilion. It’s surprising how much great dance performances come to the city. And in the summers they have free dancing classes in front of the Pavilion on Friday evenings.

I love taking friends to Roger’s Garden in Orange County. Its a big huge garden shop and in the spring its just fun to walk around in the sun and look at all the beautiful plants and think about planting a veg garden.

As for food….. I’m always looking for the perfect French eclair and croissant which I haven’t found yet if you have suggestions.

In my neighborhood, View Park, there is a great coffee spot called Hilltop Cafe. The coffee and food are fantastic. The vibe and music are kind of mid 90’s hip hop. A lot of people go there to work on their computers. It’s a very chill place. There is also one on La Brea in Inglewood that is a little bigger.

My favorite food to grab out right now is the California Bowl at MillCross on Culver Blvd. in Culver City. It’s a darling cozy little coffee bar/ kitchen/ wine bar near Sony studios. And the staff are delightful.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to Shoutout to my dear friend Seok Yoon Dahl. When I first decided I wanted to pursue a career in styling and costume design I was working as a receptionist at a production company called Propaganda Films. I would stop every designer and stylist who walked thru the door and ask, “How do I learn to do what you do? How do I get started?” Mostly they just ignored me or discouraged me because it was a very competitive business. But Seok was totally different. She was kind and compassionate and happy to answer my questions. She gave me my first jobs. Seok has a quality that, at that time I completely lacked, she is fearless. She has an unapologetic confidence that I’ve always been in awe of and I really needed that in my life back then. We worked on many music videos together and ultimately a few years after we met, I was Costume Supervising a TV show for her and I was able to become a member of the Motion Picture Costumers Union. Many years later after a career change, Seok is now my Insurance Agent and still inspiring me to feel confident. (Seok Dahl, Farmers Insurance, 818-939-1293, 9836 White Oak Ave., Ste. 109, Northridge, CA 91325)

Next I would like to shoutout to my mentor, Tom McKinley.
When we met in Los Angeles in 1992 I was very new in the industry and not very sophisticated. I was 10 years younger than Mr. McKinley and extremely unfamiliar with anything about New York City Theater or New York City film making. Tom, on the other hand was a veteran and a walking encyclopedia, who had worked for Oscar and Tony winner, Santo Loquasto. Mr. McKinley had very recently been nominated for the second time for an Emmy in Costume Design for a television show called “I’ll Fly Away”. He hired me sight unseen based on the recommendations of friends to be his right hand on a very ambitious, low budget biopic spanning 50 plus years. I was way out of my league but he never wavered. He never flinched. He treated me with so much respect and he taught me so much. Working for Tom McKinley was a huge extension of my education and we worked together for the next 4-5 years. Years later when I was designing at Nickelodeon I needed extra help and thankfully Tom came to aid me and my crew on some very iconic looks on Victorious and the last season of iCarly. Mr. McKinley’s influence didn’t stop at Costume Design. He had a huge impact on my overall sense of style and decor. Not so much that our styles and tastes are the same but Tom’s house has always been a place of comfort and delight for me. Every piece of art and decor has a charming story of where it came from or why he bought it. He was the first person I knew who has multiple sets of china for different seasons, occasions or moods. He has 100’s of different rose bushes. He wears vintage brooches on his lapels. Everything has a story.

I would also like to give a big Shoutout to Louise Mingenbach. Louise is another Costume Designer who taught me much of what I know today. First and foremost she taught me INTEGRITY. Louise taught me to never to stop striving for perfection until the last possible second, until the costume is walking onto set. Louise has more artistic skill and creative taste and style in her little finger than I have in my whole body. I worked with Louise on the first two X-Men Films and Wolverine: Origins, as well as many other TV shows, films, music videos and commercials. Sometimes people ask me why my work at Nickelodeon looks so different from other children shows and I will tell you why…..Louise Mingenbach!
I worked on the X-men films right before I went over to Nickelodeon. Once you get into a feature film mind frame with tight shots, the big screen, even when it is as dark as so many features are, you can’t go backwards, you can’t let go of needing the details to be beautiful. I could never go backwards even on my little small budget kids TV shows. I always have to aim for as much feature film quality as I can. and that’s what Louise taught me! As well as being an amazing Costume Designer, Louise also has one of my favorite homes to hang out at. Her artwork and the groovy stuff she has displayed on the walls and shelves are such an eclectic array. We had pretty similar childhoods. I played outside in the dirt a lot, climbed trees, made playhouses out of branches and leaves. I have a great appreciation for all things in nature. She grew up in Taos, New Mexico and she and her siblings ran pretty wild. Much of her art and decor has a natural wood and rough hewn feel. Antique hand crafts hang among paintings by celebrated modern artists. Like Tom though, everything on Louise’s walls has a story, a reason for being there… a meaning in her life.

Lastly, I would love to shoutout to Chris Nowak, Samantha Martin and Jake Farrow. Chris, Sam and Jake are Creators, Executive Producers and Writers on many of the Nickelodeon television shows I have worked on over the past 10 years and they have been tireless leaders as well as some of the funniest, most inspiring people I know. Their imaginations know no bounds. They have created delightful scenarios and characters for me to develop and expand with my costumes, I have loved the team approach but I also love hearing their visions and trying to fulfill their dreams. It is a pleasure to give people what you think they want. It’s like making their dreams come true and it’s very fulfilling. It has been such a gift and a pleasure to have these opportunities and I wish this kind of good fortune on anyone looking to become a costume designer in the future.

Website: https://kristindangl.com

Instagram: @savagegirls

Image Credits
Riele Downs, Kristin Dangl, Kent Burns. photo by Melinda Burns
Danger Force Promotional Photo courtesy of Nickelodeon
Riele Downs courtesy of celebmafia.com
Framed artwork, Photo by Kristin Dangl
Tommy Walker, Caveman Drex, Photo by Kristin Dangl
Henry Danger and Game Shakers Costume Department 2018, Photo by Adam Haas
Henry Danger Promotional Photo courtesy of Nickelodeon

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