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As Costume Designer for Days of our Lives, Richard Bloore knows how to make the stars sparkle and shine. A veteran of the business, he has been with the show for 18 years, after a brief time away (Unfortunately, he got the ax at one point.  Canned. Fired. Oh no!), he is now back at the helm.

"I was!" he admitted laughing when the subject of his being fired came up. "But I'm glad to be back and really enjoy what I do," Bloore said. "I have started in this business many years ago and still find it a joy to be working."

Bloore's career began out of college by answering an ad in The Times newspaper. A designer was looking for help and he applied with his portfolio.

"I mean this guy was a huge Rock and Roll designer that did work for Michael Jackson," Bloore said. "I started at the bottom, working in the work room and like any business, I started meeting people and made the transition in to TV."

Bloore said that the Days of our Lives wardrobe department is quite something to see. There is a whole downstairs that is complete with dresses, suits, even hose and shoes, and jewelry. This is the type of room that every fashion guru would die to see. Another room is closer to the set with the needed apparel for the day. When the actor comes to work, they can literally could come in a T shirt and jeans. Everything that is needed to transform them into their character is there, including underwear.

"I have a staff," explained Bloore. "There is a cutter and a fitter. I have a pressing person, and always someone on set behind the camera to fix the star," he said. "I want everything to be perfect. If the actor has a messed collar, my person is there to fix it. Continuity is very critical to what I do."

Bloore shops for the clothes and hits all the stores as he describes "between Wal-Mart to Rodeo Drive," but because of budget he tends to stay anywhere between Bloomingdales and Nordstrom's.

Bloore revealed that the major stores in Los Angeles have a Studio Services Department that cater to the industry. They assist him with wardrobe selection and purchase, much like a personal shopper does for individuals.

Bloore keeps tabs on the stars sizes and said each actor is programmed in his phone. "When I'm shopping for a particular actor, I pop in the name and there it is," he said.

Bloore looks for clothes for the character and the body type. An example he gave was Eileen Davidson (Kristin) when she played Susan and the various outfits, or for her wedding he picked the outfit that fits her character. "I need to know what color. Or how many times married, or will this be indoors or an outdoor setting. At one time I made things from scratch, but with budget, those days are gone," Bloore said. "One thing I keep in mind is that I need to set a look when dressing the star. I always say this is a fashion show, and it should be a fashion show to the viewer."

Bloore said sometimes he talks to the actor for their take on clothes, as well as the producer, and he always buys clothes that the actor is comfortable in wearing on set. He never tries to duplicate saying that the audience "has a keen eye," but sometimes jeans, slacks, or suits will be repeated if needed.

When clothes become no longer needed, or an actor is no longer on the show and not coming back, he will give the clothes away, or in the case of veteran matriarch Frances Reid (Alice) passing away, he donates the clothes.

"I always see them go to good use. That is very important. I like to give to 'It's a Wrap' resale shop in Los Angeles. Again...I want to stress that clothes make the person and in this case definitely the character."

Bloore also dresses the atmosphere actors (the extras) in the various scenes like policeman or nurses, or whomever is needed for that episode.

For a few years, he also worked wardrobe for Santa Barbara, former NBC soap.

 

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