Costume Designer Says The Chair Company Uses Worn, Everyday Clothing Instead of Fashion

HBO’s new comedy The Chair Company has drawn attention for its unvarnished visual tone. Costume designer Nicky Smith says she dressed the cast in garments that look used and ordinary rather than brand-new or trendy, aiming to reflect how real office workers in the Midwest actually appear.

Set in a customer service office in Ohio that drifts into odd and chaotic territory, the series relies on authentic costuming to keep characters believable even when the plot turns surreal. Smith says the showrunners wanted a grounded, everyday aesthetic—not a high-fashion approach.

Smith deliberately avoided perfectly pressed looks. Wrinkles, stretched collars and faint marks were often left intact; items were cleaned when needed but not stripped of their wear. These small imperfections were chosen to illustrate the practical, unstyled wardrobes of people who do not prioritize fashion daily.

Her process included studying LinkedIn headshots, family photos and social feeds from Midwestern residents, then sourcing many pieces at thrift stores. Secondhand finds added texture and history to outfits and reflected shopping habits common in that region.

For the lead, Ron Trosper (played by Tim Robinson), Smith hunted for tired ties and scuffed shoes that conveyed a lived-in life. Using pre-owned clothing also aligned with greener practices while grounding the character in a believable backstory.

As Ron’s storyline evolves, the wardrobe shifts subtly: colours brighten and silhouettes become slightly sharper as his outlook changes. These incremental updates signal emotional development without dramatic costume transformations.

Background cast members were likewise costumed to suggest personality rather than polish. Smith says the intention was to represent flawed, ordinary people—funny, exhausted and genuine—rather than idealized figures.

By favoring imperfect, familiar clothing over stylized looks, The Chair Company distinguishes itself from series that foreground fashion. The approach helps viewers relate to the characters and the workplace realities they portray.

In short, the show uses practical, secondhand garments to tell a story about ordinary lives—one of its clearest and most effective choices.