HBO’s new workplace comedy, The Chair Company, is receiving rave reviews from critics and audiences alike. The show’s costume designer Nikki Smith has now revealed how she designed the costumes for the show.
He told IndieWire he focused on practicality rather than polish — wrinkled shirts, stretched collars and light stains all remained in the mix. “If there were wrinkles or stains on the clothes, we said, ‘Let’s wash them,’ but the stains didn’t come out completely. If the neck was pulled out because it was a really old shirt, we were like, ‘Ah, perfect,'” Smith said.
Robinson’s character, Ron Trosper, works in an Ohio customer service office that is engulfed in chaos. But Smith’s job was to end the madness. “Tim and Zach and (director) Andrew DeYoung wanted the show to feel as real as possible,” he told IndieWire.
Thrift stores, worn-out clothing, and Ohio realism
To nail that look, Smith literally started digging. She spent hours scrolling through LinkedIn photos and family Instagram accounts to see how Midwestern office workers actually dress. Then she shopped at thrift stores. “When it comes to sourcing, we shop where people from this socio-economic background will shop,” he said. Not every character got sharp tailoring. He added, “We weren’t buying nice clothes for Mike Santini’s character. Everything is secondhand.”
For Robinson’s wardrobe, he dug through boxes of old ties and shoes that looked “a little sad” before the actors touched them up. “It’s good for the environment and sustainability,” she said, “but it also gives you clothes that have life.”
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Clothes that change depending on the story
As the series moves from everyday office drudgery to bizarre intrigue, Smith subtly switches up the wardrobe. Ron’s growth extends to those around him. “As Tim is expanding and opening his eyes to the world, the world is opening up around him,” she said. Sweaters and dresses appear where button-downs once dominated.
Every background actor has a look that feels different but believable. “The idea is not to look pretty but to look authentic,” Smith explains. For them, that authenticity connects directly to the heart of the show — flawed, human, and funny in its imperfection.
