Podcast 207

Listen to "80s Fashion with Costume Designer Eilish Zebrasky" on Spreaker.

“On Sundays, I couldn’t wait for Monday.” – Eilish Zebrasky, Head of Wardrobe for Aaron Spelling.

Susan and Sharon get all dressed up and strut their stuff with legendary 80s and 90s TV and Film costume designer Eilish Zebrasky. For over 25 years, Eilish Zebrasky was Aaron Spelling Productions Costume Department Head, responsible for all the amazing clothes you saw on classic shows like “Murder, She Wrote”, “Dynasty”, “The Love Boat”, “Charlie’s Angels”, “Hart to Hart”, “Hotel”, “Fantasy Island”, “Vega$” and “Charmed”.

In her five-decade career, Eilish has pretty much seen every major celebrity in Hollywood in their knickers -- and she has personally costumed such stars as Faye Dunaway, Goldie Hawn, Alyssa Milano, Barbara Streisand, Angela Lansbury, Paul Newman, Robert Wagner, Bette Davis, Elizabeth Taylor, Ava Gabor, Jaclyn Smith, Connie Seleca, Shanen Doherty, Rose McGowan, Kate Jackson, Farrah Fawcett and Joan Collins.

From her childhood in Belfast, Ireland – to the glamorous boutiques of Beverly Hills – to Elizabeth Taylor’s “Closet of Jewels”, Eilish has seen – and dressed – it all!

The Conversation

What's the perfect training for a career as a Hollywood costume designer? Working in a Belfast button-sewing factory!
How new boyfriend – and future husband -- Tony helped her get her first gig at Warner Bros. -- on the movie “Camelot”.
What happens when a hot, young male star arrives for his fitting -- with no underwear??
SAVING BEN VEREEN’S BUTT – How a split pant-seam on the set of “Funny Lady” almost led to disaster, until Eilish (and a used T-shirt) saved the day!
How not getting the on-screen credit she deserved led Eilish to leave Warner Bros. – and finally accept the job as Head of Wardrobe for Aaron Spelling Productions!
50 FAKE FUR COATS: What do you do when “The Love Boat” goes to Alaska, and all the stars end up freezing?
GETTING AWAY WITH “MURDER, SHE WROTE”: How Angela Lansbury grabbed Eilish away from Aaron Spelling – but only for Jessica Fletcher’s outfits!
Did the stars get to keep their fabulous costumes? No! (But they could buy them -- at half-price!)
MISTAKEN IDENTITY: The mystery of the Marvel Universe’s other Eilish Zebrasky
Where did Alyssa Milano's Valkyrie costume for "Charmed" end up?
How approaching your life and work with kindness leads to all good things!

So join Susan and Sharon – and Eilish – as they talk “Cuppa and Bicky” with Angela Lansbury, Dynasty “Dress-Up” Parties – and Goldie Hawn’s stolen underwear from "Butterflies are Free"!

Our Audio-ography

Buy second-hand costume creations from your favorite TV shows and movies at “It’s a Wrap”.

Interview with Eilish Zebrasky at the Costume Designers Guild.

Check out “Fifty Fashion Looks That Changed the 1980’s” by Paula Reed at ThriftBooks.

Listen to SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher’s Fiery Call to Action strike speech.

CREDITS

80s TV Ladies™ Episode 207: “Dressing Up 80’s-TV Style with Costume Designer Eilish Zebrasky”
Produced by 134 West and Susan Lambert Hatem.
Hosted by Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson.
Guests: Eilish Zebrasky.
Sound Engineer and Editor: Kevin Ducey.
Producer: Melissa Roth.
Associate Producer: Sergio Perez.
Music by Amy Engelhardt.
Copyright 2023 134 West, LLC and Susan Lambert. All Rights Reserved.

Episode 207: “80s Fashion with Costume Designer Eilish Zebrasky”

The Conversation

Our Audio-ography

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CREDITS