Welcome to Firefly Lane! The year is… well, that depends on the episode. Netflix’s enchanting adaptation of the Firefly Lane books by Kristen Hannah stars Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke as

two lifelong best friends in a 10-episode first season that chronicles over five decades of family, relationships, and of course, fashion. Fans of the movie Now and Then (1995) will delight in the throwback vibes of the music, time-hopping narrative, and eerily on-point costumes of the main characters throughout the ’70s, ’80s, and ’00s. To confess that I binge-watched the entire show in just two days should come as no surprise. 

As fashion journalist Elizabeth Holmes regularly remarks, I had “so many thoughts.” Luckily, costume designer Allisa Swanson had all of the answers (plus a few pro tips), making me appreciate the depth of Firefly Lane and its characters even more. Without spoiling any of the roller-coaster plotlines, Swanson provided incredible insight into what it takes to outfit an entire cast (background actors included) in authentic vintage fashion, and also how the tiniest details are critical when creating a signature style that spans decades.