The 2019 movie Hustlers boasted a star-studded cast, including Keke Palmer, Lili Reinhart, Cardi B, and none other than Jennifer Lopez. While one might assume that nothing can faze JLo, the reality was different. Despite facing numerous challenges in her career as a singer and actor, Hustlers presented her with a unique bunch. Having spent 90% of her life on stage, Lopez has encountered numerous peculiar wardrobe situations. However, this marked the first time the actor didn’t feel comfortable in an outfit.
Jennifer Lopez’s Wardrobe Concerns in Hustlers
The 2019 movie Hustlers followed a group of strippers, with Jennifer Lopez making a memorable entrance within the first 10 minutes of the film. Although the outfits she wore made people think ‘this is something only JLo could pull off’, the behind-the-scenes reality was different. Despite the actor and singer shining and exuding confidence on screen, she felt very exposed in the outfits she wore. On a Variety interview, she stated (via ANI News),
“I was terrified. I felt exposed. I was like, ‘I’ve never done anything like this. I’m going to be up there in f–king dental floss. What is this? Who is this person?'”
Although she was initially tense and worried about wearing the outfit, the star revealed that she eventually found herself regaining confidence when on stage. As she further stated,
“And then you get up there, and you have to have a ‘f–k you,’ empowered attitude. You have to take your power back. You have to be so bold–It’s almost like when you say you’re a rock star, you have to be arrogant to go up there in front of all those people or you crumble. You realize it’s the same type of b–ls that it takes to do something like that. And these women have that. They are tough, hard, vulnerable and damaged. It’s a great character to play”
And safe to say, JLo had an absolute blast playing the character. It was truly a career-defining moment for the actor, with the wardrobe she wore becoming the most iconic of them all.
The Making of JLo’s Iconic Outfit in Hustlers
Jennifer Lopez made an unforgettable entrance, and while it was undoubtedly fueled by JLo’s charisma, the outfit she wore also carried the responsibility of leaving jaws dropped on the floor. Costume designer Mitchell Travers shared with Vanity Fair,
“I knew that this was always going to be the sequence that needed to leave the audience with their jaws on the floor,–I knew it [had] to absolutely floor the audience, and let them know that this is not going to be like any movie that they’ve seen before.”
The outfit sparked various questions about the artistry and the intricate science behind the piece of cloth that clung to JLo’s body ever so perfectly. It prompted curiosity about the craftsmanship and the technology involved in creating the dress.
And speaking about the experience with Jennifer Lopez and how she processed everything, he said,
“She was incredibly dedicated to her pole training, and had a pole installed in her house,–When I went to do her fitting, the pole was right there with us, so it was easy to see what was going to work.”
A huge amount of work went into making the dress, ensuring it stayed tasteful and complemented JLo’s body just right, all while preserving its iconic essence. A lot had to be taken into consideration, and thus, he further stated,
“I had this fabulous tailor who hand-sewed these little rhinestone chains on to this tiny little white bodysuit,—We did a lot of research and development to find something that could [stretch in every direction during Lopez’s dance]. It’s performance wear, and really had to work for that sequence. We did a number of fittings on it. It is tailored within an inch of its life, completely custom for her.”
The result of all the hard work had a moment of its own. The dress now has a life of its own. Although JLo was initially nervous, the dress provided her with all the support she needed to trust the process and fully embody her character.
Hustlers is now streaming on Hulu.
