EXCLUSIVE: "The Runaways" Costume Designer Talks Lingerie, Vintage Clothes, And Capturing Joan Jett's True Grit

CB: There were some things, some moments, that Floria wanted to recreate verbatim, but most were just my interpretation. Joan Jett's red jumpsuit looked just like it did when she toured in Japan. I didn't actually speak with Joan directly at all--I had comments from her and Cherie afterward which were quite favorable, but I didn't deal with her, it was just my idea of what the pieces should look like.

STF: One of the most important pieces in the film--and one of the most important scenes--is Cherie on stage in Japan wearing actual lingerie. These days you can't turn on MTV without seeing a pop star performing in her underwear, but at the time it was pretty groundbreaking, right? Do you think Cherie's and The Runaways' effect on fashion is underestimated or underappreciated?

CB: Absolutely. I think that the band as a whole are underestimated, you know, because they were an all girl band, they weren't taken that seriously. But if you trace the history of girls in bands and what they wore, they should definitely be in that small book of early, super-influential girls. I think Cherie doing that was totally innovative and unique and even pre-Deborah Harry. It was really, really bloody early for a girl to get up on stage in that. Who did that? Nobody did that.

STF: And your version in the film is a pretty spot-on reproduction.

CB: Yeah, it was important to get that one right. I mean, she wore it because she was just trying to be sexy, and there was nothing out there that looked like that. So she probably just ran out on Sunset and grabbed the cheapest piece of lingerie she could find! It was extremely punk rock and came from the Patti Smith era of punk and garage. That kind of style move was definitely completely underestimated.