What Defines Lily Bloom’s Style in It Ends With Us?
Lily Bloom’s style in It Ends With Us is defined by a deliberate balance between masculine and feminine elements. Costume designer Eric Daman, who previously worked with Blake Lively on Gossip Girl, created a wardrobe that reflects Lily’s strength, creativity, and self-possession .
The core philosophy behind the costumes was simple: avoid making Lily appear delicate. “We don’t want Lily to appear like a shrinking violet,” Daman explained. “She is a very strong-willed, self-empowered woman and I think it was very important not to lean into clothing where it felt more delicate” .
Key characteristics of Lily’s style include:
- Mix of masculine workwear and feminine pieces
- Pattern mixing and bold combinations
- Vintage and one-of-a-kind items
- Utilitarian elements like Carhartt and workwear
- Bohemian and romantic touches
The Design Philosophy: Masc and Femme Balance
Daman describes Lily’s wardrobe as a constant push and pull between masculine and feminine energy. This duality mirrors the character’s internal conflict and strength.
Masculine elements include Carhartt coveralls, workwear jackets, and structured outerwear. These pieces ground Lily and prevent her from being seen as fragile.
Feminine elements include sequined gowns, cutout dresses, and romantic florals. These show her softer side without sacrificing power.
“The juxtaposition between the masc and femme” was intentional, Daman notes. Even in ultra-feminine looks, “there’s an aggressiveness to them. They’re aggressive, they’re in your face” .
Key Outfits from the Film
The Rooftop Overalls
One of the most memorable It Ends With Us outfits is the blue Carhartt coverall Lily wears during the rooftop scene where she first meets Ryle.
The backstory: Daman found this piece while “dumpster diving on eBay.” It’s a vintage French workwear blue Carhartt from the ’70s or ’80s with “just the right amount of patina” .
Why it works: The overalls are utilitarian and practical, showing Lily’s hands-on nature as a florist. They’re also unexpectedly stylish, setting the tone for her unique fashion sense.
The challenge: Most Carhartt pieces online are 3XL or 4XL. Daman had to tailor them down to fit Lively without making her look oversized .
The Bode Patchwork Jacket
When Lily first enters her empty flower shop, she wears a stunning patchwork jacket from BODE.
What makes it special: This one-of-a-kind piece is made from vintage wool blankets. Daman calls it a “touchstone and a hero piece” for Lily .
The meaning: The jacket represents Lily’s creativity and her ability to see beauty where others don’t. Daman notes that not everyone appreciated it initially, “and I think that was a great testament to how Lily sees things” .
How it was styled: Paired with over-dyed carpenter pants from Consistency Project, an upcycled brand from Brooklyn, and peek-a-boo boxer shorts as a nod to 2000s street style .
The Birthday Party Entrance
Lily’s entrance at Alyssa’s birthday party is a full mic-drop moment.
The reveal: She walks in wearing a camouflage coat. Spotting Ryle talking to another woman, she drops the coat to reveal a Christopher Kane cut-out dress underneath .
The boots: Crystal mesh YSL boots, which came from Blake Lively’s personal collection .
Daman’s description: “We wanted the full mic drop moment. Fantastic, sultry, shiny, everything you want in a show-stopping boot” .
The Opening Day Look
For the opening day of Lily’s flower shop, the costume team went “full tilt.”
What she wore:
- Bold gold striped shirt from Sézane
- Artisanal tapestry patchwork pants from Magnolia Pearl
- Double-breasted faux leather blazer
The inspiration: Blake Lively herself suggested checking out Magnolia Pearl, a brand Daman wasn’t previously familiar with .
Pattern mixing: This outfit exemplifies Lily’s maximalist approach to fashion, mixing bold stripes with intricate patchwork patterns.
The Wedding Look
Lily’s wedding outfit required a special approach since the film shows so little of it.
The inspiration: Daman texted Lively asking for wedding thoughts. Her one-word response: “Priscilla” .
The result: A ’60s Priscilla Presley-inspired mini dress from Happy Isles with matching embellished coat in cream and sherbet hues. Paired with sheer pearl beaded gloves from Anthropologie, Christian Louboutins from Lively’s closet, and two vintage veils spliced together from 1stDibs .
Alyssa’s Maximalist Style
Jenny Slate’s character Alyssa provides a colorful counterpoint to Lily’s eclectic style.
First impression: When Alyssa first visits Lily’s dusty empty shop, she arrives in an Oscar de la Renta forest jacquard floor-length coat carrying an orange Hermès Birkin bag .
Daman’s description: “I wanted this to feel like she was almost like a fairy godmother or a fairy ‘godfriend’ dropping into the store and adding this sparkle to the dust around her” .
Opening day: Alyssa wears a colorful Valentino mini dress with embellished headbands from Lele Sadoughi and Jennifer Behr, continuing the maximalist theme .
Gossip Girl Easter egg: Alyssa’s headband moments are a deliberate nod to Blair Waldorf. Daman explains, “She would have grown up with the Gossip Girl. She definitely would have been a Blair” .
Where the Clothes Came From
The It Ends With Us wardrobe came from diverse sources.
Blake Lively’s personal closet:
- YSL crystal mesh boots
- Guest in Residence cami (gifted by Gigi Hadid)
- Lorraine Schwartz jewelry
- Christian Louboutins
Vintage and thrifted:
- Carhartt coveralls from eBay
- BODE patchwork jacket made from vintage blankets
- Upcycled pieces from Consistency Project in Brooklyn
Designer collaborations:
- Valentino sent samples from Milan
- Oscar de la Renta provided the jacquard coat
- Christopher Kane dress
- Alexandre Vauthier gown
The Fashion Discourse Explained
When paparazzi photos from the set surfaced in 2023, social media reacted strongly. Fans criticized the “chaotic” and “mismatched” looks they saw in leaked images .
The Criticism
TIME magazine described the costumes as “a mismatched fever dream of workwear, sparkles, and bohemian fantasy” that felt tonally mismatched with the film’s dark subject matter .
One TikTok user commented simply, “What are these outfits omg” .
The concern was that Lily’s playful wardrobe would distract from the serious themes of domestic violence at the story’s core.
The Defense
Daman remained unfazed. “It’s exciting that there’s just so much buzz around the looks themselves, whether it’s positive, and haters are gonna hate,” he told The Hollywood Reporter .
He maintained that once audiences saw the clothes in context, they would understand. “People actually see the context of the clothing and how it’s actually put together in the scenes, how Blake carries it all as Lily, I think people are gonna be thrilled and very excited” .
The Resolution
After the film’s release, many viewers agreed that the costumes worked better in context than they appeared in isolated set photos. They emphasized Lily’s creativity and individuality rather than distracting from the story .
The Design Team
Eric Daman (Costume Designer): Previously worked with Blake Lively on Gossip Girl for six seasons. Also designed for Sex and the City, The Carrie Diaries, and the Gossip Girl reboot .
Blake Lively (Lead Actor): Heavily involved in costume decisions, contributing ideas, personal wardrobe items, and creative input throughout the process .
The collaboration: Daman describes their working relationship as symbiotic. “Blake loves to play dress up and loves clothing and has an incredible eye and amazing taste. Hopefully, we share that” .
Key Outfits Reference Table
| Scene | Key Pieces | Brands/Sources | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rooftop meeting | Blue coveralls | Vintage Carhartt (eBay) | First meeting with Ryle |
| Entering empty shop | Patchwork jacket, carpenter pants | BODE, Consistency Project | Shows Lily’s creativity |
| Birthday party | Cutout dress, crystal boots, camo coat | Christopher Kane, YSL | Full mic-drop entrance |
| Opening day | Striped shirt, patchwork pants, blazer | Sézane, Magnolia Pearl, Each x Other | Celebration of her dream |
| Wedding | Mini dress, embellished coat | Happy Isles, Anthropologie | Priscilla Presley inspiration |
| Alyssa’s first visit | Forest coat, orange Birkin | Oscar de la Renta, Hermès | “Fairy godfriend” entrance |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed the costumes for It Ends With Us?
Eric Daman, who previously worked with Blake Lively on Gossip Girl, served as costume designer. He also designed for Sex and the City and The Carrie Diaries .
Did Blake Lively use her own clothes in the movie?
Yes. Lively contributed several items from her personal wardrobe, including YSL crystal mesh boots, Lorraine Schwartz jewelry, and pieces borrowed from Gigi Hadid .
Where did the Carhartt overalls come from?
Daman found vintage Carhartt coveralls on eBay. They’re from the ’70s or ’80s and required tailoring to fit properly .
Why were the costumes controversial?
Early set photos sparked criticism on social media, with some fans feeling the eclectic looks didn’t match their vision of Lily or the film’s serious themes. After release, many viewers felt the clothes worked better in context .
Is there a Gossip Girl connection in the costumes?
Yes. Alyssa’s headbands are a deliberate nod to Blair Waldorf. Daman explained that Alyssa would have grown up watching Gossip Girl and “definitely would have been a Blair” .
What is “Lily-core”?
The term emerged to describe Lily Bloom’s specific aesthetic: a mix of utilitarian workwear, bohemian romance, vintage pieces, and bold pattern mixing that feels uniquely her own .
Where can I buy similar clothes?
Many pieces came from specific brands: BODE, Magnolia Pearl, Sézane, Christopher Kane, and Valentino. Vintage and thrifted items, especially Carhartt, are also key to the look .
Conclusion
The It Ends With Us outfits tell Lily Bloom’s story as powerfully as the dialogue does. Through a carefully curated mix of masculine workwear, feminine romance, and one-of-a-kind vintage pieces, costume designer Eric Daman and Blake Lively created a wardrobe that reflects Lily’s strength, creativity, and unique perspective.