How the Hacks Costume Designer Got Her Start

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Kathleen Felix-Hager fell into the world of costume design by accident when she joined the costume department on the 1995 film Waterworld. "I was around the film industry growing up," Felix-Hager said. "My stepfather was in the business, so I was familiar with a lot of it, but the ins and outs of a costume department were very new to me, and was able to have the best school ever on that film." Since then, the Emmy-winning costume designer has gone on to work on critically acclaimed films and television projects such as Veep and Hacks.

For the latest episode of The Who What Wear Podcast, Felix-Hager shares how she got her start in the entertainment industry, how she landed the job on Hacks, and more.

For excerpts from the conversation, scroll below.

I would love to hear a little bit about what led you to even be here with this show. I've heard you kind of stumbled into costume design by accident. Is that right?

Yes, very much by accident. My first job was on a film called Waterworld in1994. I was able to join the costume department there and just really was able to learn on the job.

I was around the film industry growing up. My stepfather was in the business, so I was familiar with a lot of it, but the ins and outs of a costume department were very new to me, and was able to have the best school ever on that film. I was so green that I just was like a little sponge, and I just absolutely fell in love.