Hulu's new original holiday movie Happiest Season stars Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, and Schitt's Creek's one and only Dan Levy. The Clea DuVall-directed film's storyline is so real that it's obvious we've been missing it from our ranks of historic seasonal favorites — Christmas With the Kranks, Home Alone, The Holiday, Love Actually, and the list goes on. Kristen plays Abby, who goes home to meet her girlfriend Harper's family, only to discover that they don't know she's gay — or that Abby is more than just her roommate. Abby promptly panics and calls her best friend, John — played by Dan — and the narrative unfolds from there. It's relatable like the characters' outfits are relatable, all brought to life by costume designer Kathleen Felix-Hager, who confirmed that just because fashion is not the movie's focus doesn't mean it isn't hugely important.
"[Clea DuVall] had a very specific vision for all of the characters and we worked closely together to create the looks," Kathleen told me. "Each character had a color palette and a silhouette that we adhered to. It was very important to keep the characters feeling like real, authentic people and to keep the costumes as classic as possible, since Christmas films live on forever." It's true that this is one holiday film that will definitely remain relevant, and Kathleen's right in that there will never be a time when the winter coats and holiday outfits here do not feel timely. In fact, the outerwear — from plaid coats and dinner jackets to bombers and beanies — is arguably the best part of the movie.
"Outerwear was super important — one because it's Christmas and it's freezing and also because it helps to define the characters," Kathleen said. Every coat does, in a subtle way, help to distinguish personality traits in the film. We see that most with Harper, who has a strong sense of self when she's alone with Abby before they get to her parents' house. But when we see her swap her sophisticated camel coat for a flannel throw-over that she probably pulled out of a childhood bedroom drawer, she is withdrawing from her relationship to be the person her parents have assumed her to be.
Kathleen enjoyed working with the entire cast, which also includes Aubrey Plaza, Alison Brie, and Step Brothers's Mary Steenburgen, but really loved collaborating with Kristen Stewart, whose Christmas dinner party outfit is reminiscent of tailored pantsuits from the star's iconic red carpet looks past. "She is really smart and has great instincts regarding her character. . . . Kristen and I went shopping together one weekend and had a blast!" Kathleen said.
Ahead, Kathleen was kind enough to break down the coat closet and fill us in on all the winter outerwear you won't just appreciate during the movie, but admire enough to shop and wear forever. Because like we said, this holiday rom-com deserves a spot in your top five, now and always.
Happiest Season will be available to stream on Hulu starting Nov. 25.
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