Emmy-nominated costume designer Mitchell Travers faced a unique challenge when tasked with creating costumes for Showtime’s limited series, George & Tammy. The series chronicles the lives of country music legends George Jones and Tammy Wynette, and Travers had to consider several factors in designing the costumes. One major obstacle was the height difference between actor Michael Shannon, who portrays George Jones, and the real-life Jones. Shannon stands at six feet, four inches, while Jones was seven inches shorter. Travers had to find ways to create costumes that worked for a taller actor.
During an FYC event for George & Tammy, held at Hollywood’s Grandmaster Recorders, Travers discussed the extensive collection of period costumes required for the series. Each musical performance in the show required costumes for the entire band and audience. With Jessica Chastain, who plays Tammy Wynette, wearing nearly 140 costumes and Shannon sporting 120 (mostly created due to his height), the scale of the project was unprecedented for Travers. His previous experience costuming hundreds of dancers for the 2021 musical In the Heights prepared him for the vast scope of George & Tammy.
At the FYC event, Travers showcased four of the series’ costumes, though the display was smaller than usual due to the strikes affecting Emmy campaign events. However, there was still significant interest, with a line forming an hour before the doors opened. The limited selection of costumes on display highlighted the attention to detail and effort put into creating the period looks for the series.
Two of the featured costumes were from the third episode, in which Jones and Wynette perform their first concert in Las Vegas. Travers explained that this performance was significant as it represented Jones’ attempt to establish himself in the city known for the Rat Pack and Elvis. Shannon wore a custom suit inspired by one that Travers studied at the George Jones Museum. The jacket featured Vegas-inspired embellishments, which Jones selects in the series before their concert.
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In contrast, Wynette is portrayed as less hesitant than her husband, wearing a red sequined dress inspired by a black dress she wore for an album cover. Travers emphasized that Wynette knew what the audience wanted and had no problem headlining in Vegas.
Travers also had the opportunity to work with some of Tammy Wynette’s actual dresses, which added authenticity to the series. Vintage dealers who knew about Travers’ involvement in the show offered him Wynette’s dresses. Having access to the star’s actual clothes provided Travers with a valuable character study and contributed to the overall portrayal of Wynette.
After production wrapped, Travers returned the dresses to Georgette Jones, the daughter of George Jones and Tammy Wynette. Georgette, who wrote a guest column for THR reflecting on her parents’ story being told onscreen, did not have as many of her mother’s dresses as her father’s. Travers felt it was essential for the dresses to be returned to their rightful owner, emphasizing their importance and connection to Tammy Wynette herself.
In conclusion, Mitchell Travers faced several challenges in creating costumes for the series George & Tammy. Overcoming the height difference between the actors and the real-life characters, designing numerous period costumes, and incorporating authentic pieces all contributed to the authenticity and visual storytelling of the show. Travers’ attention to detail and his collaboration with the actors resulted in Emmy-nominated performances and a visually stunning portrayal of George Jones and Tammy Wynette’s lives.
