We've Got All the Details on Fifth Harmony's New Tour Look
1/7Well, 2015 is turning out to be a pretty BO$$ year for Fifth Harmony. Their single "Worth It," off of the Reflection album, went platinum in June, the ladies are up for three Teen Choice awards and they made everyone's Friday by performing in the illustrious Today Show summer concert series last week.
Also exciting — the group's Reflection tour was such a success that they've added a summer leg and with a pretty major milestone addition at that. For "Reflection" 2.0, the girls — Ally Brooke, Camila Cabello, Dinah-Jane Hansen, Lauren Jauregui and Normani Hamilton — will be wearing their first-time ever custom-designed costumes by Marina Toybina. Now, her name may sound familiar, as the three-time Emmy winner is the mastermind behind the costumes on So You Think You Can Dance and the X Factor. Oh, you know, that little competition show that launched Fifth Harmony onto your consciousness and playlists — and how the group first met the Marina.
Marina also has extensive experience designing wardrobe for blockbuster tours — counting a couple artists you might be familiar with: Katy Perry's "Prismatic," Ariana Grande's "Honeymoon" and Taylor Swift's "Red." (Also kind of coincidental considering that Camila counts Tay Swizzle as one of her friends and mentors, no?) Marina also designed the backup dancers' costumes that pretty much stole the show during Katy Perry's insane Superbowl XLIX halftime extravaganza.
While juggling her hectic SYTYCD schedule and prepping Fifth Harmony for "Reflection" part deux, which kicks off this week, Marina took some time out to answer a few of our burning questions, including the dish on the group's new on-stage, custom-designed looks, what Camila, Ally, Dinah-Jane, Lauren and Normani had to say about the costumes, and her thoughts on Left Shark being such a diva at the Superbowl half-time show.
2/7What was the decision behind creating Fifth Harmony's first-ever custom looks for the second part of the "Reflections" tour?
This is my first time being involved with the tour. The look that I'm creating for the girls is not only visually different from the first leg, but is also driven by new artistic direction and style inspirations. With that goal in mind, whenever I design for tours in general, I tend to custom-make all the pieces based on original sketches, which is how we ended up with this new set of costumes for the summer leg of the show.
What was your inspiration behind the custom-designed looks?
I was absolutely inspired by the individuality each girl brings to the group and the creative vision behind their music. I sketched my ideas for the girls and based it off of their individual input. I know their individual preferences and used them in alignment with the inspiration from their music and my creative vision.
3/7What type of input did the girls have in designing the outfits?
I work very closely with the girls when it comes to wardrobe. Being able to collaborate together and listen to their ideas and suggestions truly guided my sketches and designs in the right direction. I'm open-minded to their references and style input and, in return, they're open-minded to trying new things and pushing the limits.
4/7How did you use costume to convey each girl's individual personality and style?
The girls are very specific about their personal style preference and their individual presence while on stage. After working together for such a long time, I'm very in tune with their likes and dislikes. We have great communication together, which allows me to design and share ideas with each girl on a personal and group level. The costumes are all catered to their personality, body types, personal style — on and off stage — and individual input.
When I design, a few things that I keep in mind: Camila loves a high neck and show-stopping separates. Normani favors unique cuts, intricate details and sparkle. Ally loves cuts and styles that have a loud stage presence — lots of glam-inspired details and embellishments. Lauren loves an edgy, tailored, perfect body fit and cut with some sort of take on simplicity and elegance and Dinah loves a perfect-fit short paired with a great upper body silhouette, with keen attention to detail, whether it be movement of the material or a great layering piece to complete the look.
5/7What design tricks did you use to allow for all the dancing, movement and, well, perspiration, with the costumes?
It's all in the fabrics and the proper construction of each garment. Sewing with the right threads, using correct machines, accurate patterns and making sure everything that is being constructed allows rooms for movement and durability.
__ What special materials/techniques did you use?__
The base fabric for all the pieces is Lycra. Easy to breathe and it allows durability and elasticity while the costumes live on tour. The face of the costume is then secured with other fabrication and hand beaded embellishments to enhance the overall look.
6/7How did the girls react when they first tried on their outfits?
They loved everything and were very excited!
What was the funniest or craziest moment while fitting the girls in their costumes?
We always have such a great time in fittings. This was just another one of those experiences. The only twist this time around — I flew to New York for only eight hours to fit the girls for the tour and their other upcoming performance, to then turn around and fly back to Los Angeles in order to come back in time for my other fittings for my first live show for SYTYCD. So, five girls, give or take five hours and it's tour fittings... one can only imagine how fast our adjustments and fits have happen. That's comedy all on its own.
7/7You have to tell us what it was like working with Taylor Swift during her "Red" Tour, too. What was your favorite moment working with the star?
Designing for the "Red" tour was an incredible and artistically fulfilling experience. It was something new and different for Taylor in terms of costuming and I really admired her for pushing the boundaries and experimenting so freely with my designs. My favorite part was being able to see every detail from every sketch come to life on the opening night of the tour.
You also designed the dancer costumes for Katy Perry's Superbowl performance. Could you tell back then that Left Shark was going to be a breakout star?
Not at all. Even now, all the costumes to me hold the same value.
