Once upon a time, Miyako Bellizzi was a kid living here in Alameda, riding her bike around town, going to school, hanging out at Tucker’s, and then graduating from Encinal High School in 2006. During that time, she began to grow the fabulous wings that flew her up and away, eventually landing her in New York, where she became a costume designer. Miyako worked on commercials for Adidas, Johnnie Walker, Nike, and Dior; music videos for The Weekend and Jay-Z; and films, most notably Good Time, Uncut Gems, and Marty Supreme.
Her efforts on the latter just earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Costume Design. So this remarkable, boldly talented artist, who once roamed the hallways at 210 Central Avenue, is going to walk the red carpet at the Dolby Theater on March 15, looking, you can guarantee, simply marvelous. She’s been featured in the New York Times, Vogue, and now she’s the star of the Alameda Post‘s 5Q4: Miyako Bellizzi.
Can you remember that first time when you dressed yourself, for school maybe, made that bold choice, and said “Yeah, okay, this is what i’m wearing today”? Sort of your declaration of clothing independence.
I can remember being self-aware in the decisions of what I was wearing as early as junior high. I will say, it wasn’t until high school that I really started branching out on my own and trying out new ideas inspired by other eras. Once I wore an ’80s outfit that was my mother’s at some point and really felt like I stuck out. It was amazing—some white batwing long-sleeve crop top with high-waisted acid-wash jeans. I think I wore pumps and my hair in an updo. High school is where I really branched out and took risks for the first time.
Being a Bay Area person, can you shout out any shops where you shopped when you were younger? Were you a thrifter? Did you trek to Telegraph in Berkeley for cool looks? Haight Street in San Francisco?
Ah, of course. I come from a big flea market, pawn shop, thrift store family. We were always looking for gems and I think it’s where I found my eye early. I loved all the flea markets and searching for the one thing I would ask to get, so I had to make it count. Laney College flea under the freeway, the one by the Oakland Coliseum, even Alemany over in South San Francisco. Other than that, we spent every weekend going to yard sales and pawn shops. I loved it—looking for old things that were worth something. Beyond that I loved the mall. Went to the malls in Hayward and even up to Richmond. Don’t think I started venturing out to Wasteland in San Francisco until later in my high school years. I also had the experience of being able to spend time in New York City as a young person, so I also remember going to Soho to Michael K’s and Dr. Jays to go back-to-school shopping. That’s when I realized I had to move to NYC.
If you could only wear one outfit—maybe you were stuck on a desert island—what would that be? Or, if you’re super late for a meeting, what’s your go-to throw-it-on so you can dash out the door outfit?
I try to figure out a uniform for myself to make it easier to leave the house quickly. But this one is tricky, as what I want to wear depends on how I’m feeling that day. If weather wasn’t an issue and I was stuck on a desert island, I’d probably be in my favorite beach outfit, which consists of a bikini with a ’50s plaid housedress and a hoodie. Maybe it’s from growing up in the Bay Area, but my favorite item of clothing—and something I have most of in my closet–are hoodies. I love them! I have every color, every style, multiple eras.
Clearly you do your research for your costume design projects, especially period pieces like Marty Supreme, but how much of your process is instinct or divine intervention?
I think a lot of the job is instinctual. The industry and shoot schedules move so quickly that more often than not I have to make 100 decisions in a matter of seconds, so there’s no time to really think. That’s where the instinct comes in. Earlier in the prep process is my time to think about what I want to do and how to convey it. The research can bring divine intervention and that’s where you are able to find connections between thoughts and ideas.
You’ve gotten to work with some really famous and talented actors—Sandler, Menzel, Paltrow, Chalamet—so any fun stories you can tell about them? Do any of them have any quirks when it comes to their looks?
I’ll talk about Sandman (Adam Sandler), my favorite. What a stand-up guy. His one note always is that he needs to feel comfortable. And I get that. He needs to feel cozy and that’s his number one. Specifically, basketball shorts and basketball sneakers. It works for him, and sometimes I feel like he only takes roles in which he can dress cozy or he won’t do it.
Gene Kahane is the founder of the Foodbank Players, a lifelong teacher, and former Poet Laureate for the City of Alameda. Reach him at [email protected]. His writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Gene-Kahane.
