'Grease: Rise Of The Pink Ladies' Costume Designer Worked Hard To Honor Original Film: 'Any Nod We Could Give, We Would'

Angelina Kekich has taken on the task of designing costumes for projects such as Steven Spielberg's "Falling Skies" or Stephen King's "The Stand." However, when it came to tackling the costumes of "Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies," it's evident that the job was a passion project for the designer.

"This was an intense, passionate, emotional experience for me," Kekich tells Variety. "It was important to follow in the steps of Albert Wolsky," the costume designer for the 1978 "Grease" film. 

"The costumes needed to meet the demands of the choreography," Kekich says. To accomplish this, she worked together with head choreographer Jamal Sims. She says, "The costumes needed to be durable and had to withstand the vigorous dance sequences."

Pink Lady Cynthia (Ari Notartomaso) sports one of the most demanding performance costumes, consisting of quintessential T-Bird fashions. "We use[d] two-way stretch lining for each of the jackets," said Kekich. "When we were looking for fabric for jeans, [it was a requirement] that the jeans had at least a minimum of a two-way stretch."

The key to designing each costume came with creating them as part of a bodysuit, Kekich reveals. "We built many costumes onto body suits, which allowed our cast to have maximum movement, and also keep the costume into play," said Kekich.

The "Pink Ladies" series serves as a prequel to the iconic film, so it was important to Kekich that her team paid homage to its predecessor.

One of the clearest parallels lives in the classic Pink Ladies jacket, something that Kekich reveals was an "honor" for her to develop. "I had the opportunity to go to Los Angeles, and I got to see an original Pink Ladies jacket — I got to see Marty's jacket."

After admiring the jacket and taking extensive photos, Kekich began the process of reimagining the Pink Ladies' staple fashion. "It was important that it was similar enough to be an original jacket, but also different," said Kekich.

The toughest part of recreating the jacket stemmed from pinpointing the perfect shade of pink. "I remember [looking at] different samples of colors," said Kekich. "[The whole team] came together and we're like, 'This is the one, this is the color,' it just had this soft, saturated 1950s quality."

Kekich reveals another easter egg in the look of Pink Lady Olivia (Cheyenne Isabel Wells) that fans may miss if they don't look closely enough. 

"Olivia's first day back to Rydell, she reveals this bombshell silhouette which is inspired by Marilyn Monroe," Kekich started. "[But] most importantly, [she pays] homage to Marty and Rizzo [while] rock[ing an] iconic neck scarf." 

Cheyenne Wells as Olivia Valdovinos in "Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies"

Olivia's T-Bird brother Richie (Johnathan Nieves), too, sports a tribute to the late Olivia Newton John's Sandy at the end of the film. "We [incorporated] red lining in the leather jacket [as] a nod to Sandy." 

"Any nod we could give [to 'Grease'], we would," said Kekich.

23 Fresh Ways To Style Jeans And Sneakers

By Naomi Parris of PopSugar

The days of sneakers being worn for athletic purposes are long gone, with styles evolving from your average low-tops to the iconic Air Jordan 1s and, yes, even sneaker heels. As a wardrobe must have, it's no secret that the essential shoe goes with just about any item of clothing, especially a pair of comfortable jeans. Sneakers and denim have always been a picture-perfect styling combination with a diverse range of silhouettes from which to choose. Whether you're a minimalist who loves ankle-cropped jeans with classic Converse high-tops or the ultimate maximalist who's obsessed with patchwork jeans and a pair of crisp white Air Force 1s, there's something out there for everyone.

However, with so many options, teaming the right jeans and sneakers can be a tricky feat. If you're in a rush and have less than five minutes to get dressed, we've got your back - from the cropped tank and low-rise formula to the unfailing denim-on-denim look. And if you're going for a low-key brunch with friends and don't feel like dressing up, we've got subtle tips and tricks that guarantee outfit success in the most effortless way. Throwing on a casual shoe with denim is perfect for those days where you just don't know what to wear - think: a white tee, baggy jeans, and your favorite go-to sneakers. Whether you're into oversize jeans and Adidas Gazelles like Rihanna, or a fan of cargo denim like Jennifer Lopez, we've gathered some of the best ways to wear the timeless sartorial pairing. From style aficionados to fashion newcomers, keep scrolling for an elevated guide ahead.

© Getty / Jeremy Moeller

Lil Nas X Nailed The Mens Crop Top Trend In Leather And Denim

By Nikita Charuza of PopSugar

If you're wondering why Western-inspired outfits have been taking over the red carpet lately, you can thank Lil Nas X. The enigmatic singer has been delivering one cowboy-inspired look after look since breaking into the music scene in 2018 through TikTok with his song "Old Town Road," which features Billy Ray Cyrus. On the fashion front, the 24-year-old star has made his mark with bold, bedazzled suits which he often pairs with colorful cowboy boots and hats. At the 2019 Grammys, he wore a leather Barbie pink Versace suit, complete with a buckled leather harness and two silk scarfs tied around his wrists, and he later went on stage to perform in a silver sequined suit. Casual.

Lil Nas X's Instagram account is also full of standout outfits including a pink fuzzy puffer coat and a lime green jacket styled with a "Rick and Morty" T-shirt. He even includes hidden messages with his looks at times, paying homage to friend Jack Harlow after the rapper celebrated him at the BET Awards and honoring Karl Lagerfeld's cat Choupette at the 2023 Met Gala. His winning sartorial streak isn't going unnoticed by brands either: he recently became the face of Coach, starring in their "Courage To Be Real" campaign in a fuzzy purple jacket and a cream handbag.

Indeed he is pushing boundaries when it comes to fashion, breaking conventional notions of gendered style. In an interview with People Magazine, the "Montego" rapper discussed his impact. "Style is a form of self-expression. I was really nervous about going out on stage in front of my family and everybody in my cute, little Coach skirt. But as soon as I walked out, I felt like I was setting my younger self free. [...] I feel like I'm changing some minds."

Most recently, he made a surprise appearance at the Coach Foundation's annual "Dream Day," conference, wearing a cropped leather jacket with flared ripped jeans. The event, which is the signature conference for the Dream It Real initiative, hosted scholars from the Coach Foundation's partner organizations Opportunity Network, Bottom Line, Point Foundation, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), and the Hetrick-Martin Institute at Coach's headquarters. It included a day of mentorship, networking and professional development - as well as a styling session with Lil Nas X's stylist, Matthew Mazur.

Ahead, keep reading to see some of Lil Nas X's best style moments.

© Getty

---