Costume designer Sara Byblow stated that creating the wardrobe for the "Elle" prequel series was "one hundred percent a dream come true." The series explores the teenage years of Elle Woods in Seattle, before her transformation into the Harvard Law student featured in the 2001 film "Legally Blonde." Byblow explained that the design approach focused on evoking "nostalgic feeling" rather than specific designer pieces.
"For us, it was a matter of not focusing on a designer piece," Byblow told Page Six. "It was more about finding things that felt true to Elle and true to that nostalgic feeling that we were trying to build out, and true to our 'Legally Blonde' universe."
Byblow described the costume process as a "hunt" for items that fit the character and the desired aesthetic, rather than solely relying on designer collaborations. The collection for the series, which has already been renewed for a second season, includes a mix of thrifted, vintage, archived designer, custom-built, and new items. "It’s truly a mix of the entire spectrum of clothing," she said.
The costume designer highlighted the iconic nature of the Elle Woods character and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to her story. The premiere event for "Elle" was attended by the show's cast and Reese Witherspoon, who played Elle Woods in the original film. Witherspoon's son, Deacon Phillippe, attended with her, recreating a look his father, Ryan Phillippe, wore to the "Legally Blonde" premiere in 2001.