I Can't Stop Thinking About Meghann Fahy's Missoni Bathing Suit Dress in 'The Perfect Couple'

Costume designer Signe Sejlund breaks down the fashion in the delicious Netflix murder mystery.

If “messy rich people” is your preferred television genre, allow me to direct your attention to The Perfect Couple.

In the vein of hits like The White Lotus and Succession, the six-episode Netflix limited series follows the dramatic lives and dark misdeeds of the ultra-wealthy. It all centers on the Winbury family, a kill-someone-and-get-away-with-it-rich clan, as they convene in Nantucket for the wedding of their second son, Benji Winbury, played by Billy Howle, to Amelia Sacks, portrayed by Eve Hewson.

The problem? She’s middle-class normal; he’s got an Old Money name and a best-selling author for a mother (played by the incomparable Nicole Kidman), who judges people based on what color they paint their front door. But the drama really kicks into high gear when a murder takes place the night before the nuptials. (Warning: spoilers ahead.)

After the bride’s maid of honor, Merritt, an influencer-type (expertly played by Meghann Fahy) who also happens to be the “happily married” family patriarch’s secret girlfriend, drowns under mysterious circumstances, a classic who-done-it unfolds—one in which every wedding guest has a motive and skeletons in the closet are revealed. Investigators trade clues to solve the crime while the show hops back and forth between the post-drowning present and the rehearsal dinner the night before.

The show’s costumes, created by costume designer Signe Sejlund, play a key part in this Agatha Christie-esque murder mystery. Merritt’s body is discovered by Amelia when she washes up on the beach in a waterlogged mess of fabric that was a slinky, unforgettable Missoni party dress just the night before. “I needed to find a dress that could work both in and out of water,” says Sejlund, adding that the dress was a “really tricky” piece of the puzzle.

The costume lead debated having Merritt in a scarf, wrap, or swimsuit before stumbling upon the perfect Missoni look by chance while shopping on 5th Avenue in New York. “Suddenly, that dress was hanging there,” remembers Sejlund of the halter neck, backless gown. “And it was that weird sort of sea-weedy dress.” She quickly purchased it (and eventually, several identical dresses for filming) and tested its water-readiness in her hotel bathtub that night.

More than just a plot point, however, the dress speaks to Fahy’s character. Merritt is an influencer with friends in high places. She’s the type of girl who’s comfortable wherever she goes—and perpetually posting to Instagram from vacation in luxurious resort wear. “She doesn't even try to be sexy in it or anything,” Sejlund explains. “She just is.” These qualities—Merritt’s ease, sensuality, and privilege—find physical form in the notorious Missoni dress. It’s the last thing she’ll ever wear.

Similarly, Merritt’s bracelet plays an important role in the plot. Designed by Charlotte Lynggaard for the Danish line Ole Lynggaard Jewelry, a deceptively simple gold diamond bracelet leads Greer to discover her husband Tag (played by Liev Schreiber) has had an affair. As a piece of jewelry, it’s much more Merritt's style than Greer's: It’s free-spirited and casual rather than stately and official. “It's expensive,” says Sejlund. “But it's also delicate and simple like Merritt is delicate and simple.”

Greer's wardrobe, on the other hand, conveys her power and rank as the queen of the Windbury family’s grand estate and a wildly successful writer. She wears mostly blue, cream, and tan, reflecting the shades of the magnificent ocean view from her $40 million Nantucket “cottage.”

“I wanted her to blend in with the house and the surroundings,” says Sejlund, citing the character’s magenta power dress as the one intentional exception that shows Greer has slipped into “work mode.” Everything about the character's garb, including the fabrics she chooses, subtly shows off her status. “I wanted her to always wear soft fabrics, like very delicate silks, which are not very practical,” adds the costume designer. “It’s kind of a way to show how wealthy and how powerful you are because you'd never have to deal with any washing, cleaning, or ironing.”

Greer’s daughter-in-law Abby Winbury, on the other hand, is boho chic through and through. “She's that almost annoyingly perfect bohemian girl,” says Sejlund. The costume designer put Dakota Fanning in a series of patchwork dresses and expensive hats, perfect for lounging by the pool and other leisure activities, showing she’s the type of person to be into “all of the wellness stuff, all her vitamins, and the chia pudding.”

Amelia’s style, on the other hand, is purposely no-frills, including the soaked wedding dress she wears the morning she discovers Merritt's body. “I wanted it to look like a dress that Amelia picked out herself,” explains Sejlund, rather than something her control freak future mother-in-law Greer would pick out for her. Created by Danish designer Jesper Hoevring, who frequently dresses the Danish royal family, Amelia's chiffon dress with flutter sleeves is uncomplicated and classic, much like the character herself.

Overall, Sejlund says she and director Susanne Bier agreed on an approach to the show that she calls “elegant popcorn.” They wanted to deliver a delicious escape and mysterious fantasy that would keep viewers coming back for more.

For more InStyle news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on InStyle.