HOTEL COCAINE
directed by:
Guillermo Navarro
Fernando Rovzar
Sara Seligman
As Assistant Costume Designer on Hotel Cocaine, I helped shape the visual identity of late-1970s Miami through detailed research, creative collaboration, and on-set problem-solving. I supported the design team in developing period-accurate looks that highlighted the contrast between the Mutiny’s seductive glamour and the gritty tension of the criminal world. My work included sourcing key pieces, refining character wardrobes, and ensuring continuity and authenticity throughout production. Each costume contributed to grounding the narrative in a world defined by excess, danger, and style.
Curating the 70s: Rentals, Sourcing & Vintage Finds
For this project, we sourced wardrobe from Palace, the renowned costume house in Los Angeles. All stock consisted of authentic 1970s pieces, ensuring period accuracy and a lived-in, cinematic quality on screen.
Additionally, we purchased materials, buttons, and textiles in the Los Angeles Fashion District, selecting fabrics that allowed us to modify, repair, and elevate key garments while maintaining historical integrity.
To complement the rental stock, I conducted a curated tour of vintage stores throughout the city, identifying and acquiring original pieces that added unique character and authenticity to the final looks.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Hotel Cocaine was filmed in the Dominican Republic, working alongside a highly talented local crew whose expertise and creativity elevated the project at every stage.
A significant portion of the series was shot at Pinewood Studios in Juan Dolio, taking advantage of its world-class facilities and resources to build ambitious sets and deliver a cinematic scale.
GRACIAS, GRACIAS, GRACIAS…
A special GRACIAS to Adela Cortázar for the opportunity to work closely with her throughout this project. Her guidance and trust were essential to the development and execution of the wardrobe department.
This project is dedicated to her mother, whose presence accompanied us in quiet, meaningful ways throughout the journey. We felt her warmth in the moments of creation and collaboration, a gentle reminder that even as we build fictional worlds, the people we carry with us shape the way we inhabit the present.
