Interview with “L Word” Stylist Cynthia Summers

AE: You couldn’t just dress Alice in a suit if you wanted to.
CS: Yeah or also, you have to remember the group that we’re portraying here. They’re going to influence each other and how they dress. And what’s specific to this group is they happen to live in Los Angeles.

I’m sorry that we might not be portraying the Midwest as much as we should be. We did with Moira before she became Max, but we have to remember where we are.

And I think personally for me, the best validation I got for that, and I can’t remember who the woman was, but a group in San Francisco said, “The L Word is so femme, everything about The L Word is so femme, but you guys are in LA.” And I said “Good, that’s great.”

Because that’s exactly the truth and I’m glad people get it, because it’s not what you see in San Francisco or in the Midwest or a more hardcore list but we’re trying to portray where we are and people should just watch what they’re seeing and not be offended by it.

AE: With the more butchy characters maybe like Shane, have you tried to make her more butch at all because of the complaints?
CS: Actually no. Because by the time we reached season two, the characters were very popular for who they were. No one — creators, directors or cast — wanted to change their character just to facilitate positive feedback.

I think the whole point of the show is … they’re not lesbians first, I think that’s the whole point here. These are women who function in the world with everyone in the world, and they happen to be lesbian.

We all know they’re lesbians. At the end of the day, you’re just trying to get through your day-to-day.

AE: Have you ever had a job where the fashion you worked on was so political?
CS: I just should be a politician! [Laughs] Probably not. A lot of movies I’ve done and a lot of series that I’ve done, there’s always the chance of stepping on a group you’re trying to be careful about — maybe Asian people or Native Americans … or religious groups. I mean you have to be sensitive to their issues and that you’re portraying them correctly, even if you’re not portraying them in a good light.

AE: You can’t be everything to everyone.
CS: My God, it’s a very tall order!

AE: So there’s news that there’s going to be a spin-off: Will you be involved with that at all?
CS: I would love to be involved with it, absolutely. There’s lots of rumors and lots of different directions. And I think that something will happen, I just don’t know what. I think all the rumors are all because it’s pointed to that, but we just don’t know who it will be.

AE: Who is your favorite character to dress on the show?
CS: Oh, I hate that question!

AE: I know, I’m sorry! Then who lets you have the most fun?
CS: Oh my goodness. There’s not just one! Jennifer’s at the top of my list, because Jennifer is an actress who definitely wants to be in command of her performance from top to bottom.

I love her and we get along famously, but when I first met her, she has this presence so she’s a little bit intimidating before you get to know her and know who she wants her character to be. She’s one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever met.

AE: So many women are going to be jealous of you.
CS: Jennifer is so smart. She knows everything. You cannot trip her up! From the very beginning it’s been “Why would Bette wear this?” or “Why would Bette wear that?” Scriptually you need to know but on a different level even, she wants to know for her character, so I’m kind of like sweating!

AE: You can't just like throw something pretty at her.
CS: After season one, as with most of the cast, she totally trusted me and we have a working relationship. I do with all of them, really, but Jennifer is my favorite individually. It’s great and she just shows up and puts stuff on.