The Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice premiered at Cannes Film Festival in May 2024. The film stars Sebastian Stan as Trump and follows the career of the businessman in 1970s and 80s New York. It went into production in November 2023 with filming wrapping up in Ontario in January 2024. Stan received praise for his performance and has since been nominated for an Academy Award, along with is co-star Jeremy Strong.
We worked with costume designer Laura Montgomery and the rest of the costume team to provide clothing and accessories for the principal and BG cast. Laura previously designed the costumes for Gen V and What We Do In The Shadows, for which she won an Emmy Award. She rented from us for most of the seasons of WWDITS.
We rented and sold many items to the production during filming, including dozens of 70s and 80s dresses and suits. Sebastian Stan's sides were actually found inside the pocket of one of the suits!
When the initial promotional images came out last year, we were excited to see Stan wearing our suit in one prominent image (below).
Maria Bakalova stars as Trump's first wife Ivana. We currently have a few items for sale in the shop which Maria wore as Ivana in the movie.
In the very first scene that we see her in, she is earring a red satin minidress and red marabou feather jacket. It doesn't scream 1970s but it's very Ivana. The dress was made for the production while the jacket is by the label Veronique Young.
We found this photo of Ivana wearing what looks like a feather jacket in the 1970s. This may have been the inspiration for the look!
Credit: WWD/ Fairchild Publishing.
Next, we have an incredible green and gold wearable art jacket by Judith Roberto. Bakalova wore it underneath a blue coat in a scene just over an hour into the movie, where Ivana is promoting Trump Tower while it is under construction.
About an hour and a half into the movie, there is a short scene on a private jet with Trump and Ivana. It has become clear at that point that he is unhappy in his marriage. Maria wears a red skirt suit with white polka dots by Ilie Wacs.
Here are a few instances of Ivana wearing something similar:
A red polka dot blouse worn with a red skirt which has a matching fabric belt to the blouse.
A pink and white polka dot skirt suit. Photo credit: LIFE picture collection.
Lastly, we have a unique blue beaded 2 piece dress which the costume team made for the film. It is a recreation of the exact dress Ivana wore to the opening of Trump Tower in 1983. We believe the designer of the original dress was Fabrice Simon, who sold his brand "Fabrice" at Neiman Marcus in the 80s. We have a couple of other dresses in our collection in a very similar style, which is what tipped us off.
The opening of Trump Tower in New York in 1983.
Congratulations to Laura and team on creating all the looks!