Inside HBO’s Youth: Costume Designer Camille Benda on Sharon Horgan’s Wardrobe

In HBO’s Youth, Alex’s clothes help tell a story she isn’t always ready to say out loud.

Costume designer Camille Benda joined Suspenders Unbuttoned Media to discuss creating the wardrobe for Sharon Horgan’s character, drawing inspiration from London, and finding the balance between a polished appearance and a life that keeps getting complicated.

Our conversation explores the thought behind the show’s looks, from vintage blouses and secondhand designer shoes to the very specific clothing choices that make a comedic scene work.

Starting with the story

For Camille, costume design begins before the shopping.

When she reads a script, she first considers the storytelling, the characters’ motivations, and the journeys they will take. Clothing follows from those discoveries.

On Youth, that means thinking about what Alex needs to wear at particular momentsnot simply what looks good, but what allows the comedy, vulnerability, or drama of a scene to unfold.

Finding Alex’s London style

London itself became an important source of inspiration. Camille describes photographing people in the East End, exploring shops, and observing how Londoners combine patterns, colors, and textures.

She also worked with information about locations and production design to consider how the clothes would look within each setting.

Her collaboration with Sharon Horgan helped refine Alex’s wardrobe across different parts of her life: work, dating, and the more vulnerable moments at home. Tailoring, slouchy jeans, sheer blouses, and vintage pieces created room for both confidence and uncertainty.

Two women with distinct points of view

Alex and Sam share a professional world, but their clothes express different personalities.

Camille discusses building a more tailored wardrobe for Alex while giving Sam an elevated, designer-focused style. The conversation also explores how actors contribute ideas during fittings, helping the costume department discover details that feel specific to each character.

Those choices extend throughout the ensemble, where even a pair of trousers can become part of a collaborative—and very funny—character decision.

Vintage finds with a place in the story

Vintage and secondhand shopping play a significant role in Camille’s process.

One memorable example is Alex’s green blouse, which Camille found at SK Vintage in London. She recalls recognizing its potential before knowing exactly where it would belong.

We also discuss the shoes, coats, and carefully assembled combinations that help make Alex’s wardrobe feel like something collected over time.

Dressing for comedy

Some of Youth’s costume decisions are especially practical.

Camille explains how T-shirt lengths, underwear, heels, and a particular caftan contribute to the show’s physical comedy. A garment needs to work for the action as well as the character, and Sharon’s understanding of the comedic moments helps guide those choices.

The result is a useful reminder of how much planning can sit behind a scene that appears spontaneous.

Beyond the screen

Our conversation also follows Camille’s own creative journey, from thrift shopping as a goth teenager to studying dress history and theater design.

She discusses teaching and writing Dressing the Resistance and Bending the Rules: Fashion Beyond the Binary, exploring the connections between clothing, identity, cultural rituals, and self-expression.

Watch or listen to our full conversation with Camille Benda below.

Please note: The interview includes discussion of scenes and character details through episode five of Youth.

Find Camille’s work and books at https://www.camillebenda.com and follow her on Instagram at @camillebenda and @dressingtheresistance.