Coffee with Costume Designer Halley Sharp

"Coffee With..." is a blog brought to you by The Forge. Every month, we sit down for a coffee chat with industry professionals who are doing cool things in the world of film. Whether they're behind the camera or in front of it, these individuals bring fresh perspectives, new ideas, and inspiring stories from the heart of the entertainment industry. 

I had the immense pleasure of sitting down for coffee with Halley Sharp, Costume Designer and Stylist. We chatted about the wonders of the film industry as she sipped on blonde coffee with a splash of heavy whip. As she sipped, I asked her,

What is a resource you wish you had when you first started out in this industry?

She talked about some of the fabulous brains she’d met along the way! She said “I feel I’ve learned the most through my 10 years by learning from other people. Not just assuming I knew what was best or the most creative in the room. It would have made the path straighter.” Curious to hear more about her early beginnings in the industry, I asked her,

Is there a specific film, or moment in film history that you feel especially connected to? What inspired you to pursue a career in film?

She told me about how she “oddly fell into this world". She said "A tailor was needed on a small horror shoot, and I came up to be with my sister and volunteered my time to be on set. It was a whirlwind of a time! Everything was needed right away, it was in the middle of no where, so shopping was tough.  But for some reason, it felt like family, and I kept coming back for more!” She said with a smile and I knew exactly what she was talking about. We continued to talk about the highs and lows of working in film, I went on to inquire,

What is a moment in your career that you're proud of?

She told me about how she really enjoyed her time designing The Stylist, she said, “It has such different looks for each of the women character’s we created, and we had no budget to do it. But it’s definitely one of my favorite pieces I’ve designed. Another would be the first project I turned down. They were great people, but there was something in the script I personally disagreed with. It was a hard choice, but I’m proud looking back that I stood for my beliefs.”

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