Amanda Needham is the two-time Emmy-award winning costume designer for Portlandia. She's also responsible for the ingenious costuming on FX's Baskets, the films Green Room and Wendy & Lucy, dressing Portugal. The Man for the Grammys, and too many other rad projects—including music videos, which is how my path crossed with hers—to mention here. (Just check out her IMDB page.) But she is also, simply, a wonderful human—nurturing, inspiring, glamourous and funny as hell. Did we mention she's married to her high-school sweetheart, the film producer Neil Kopp? Amanda, who is the oldest of 3 girls, now has two of her own—2-year old Nova and 5-month-old Nico. On a little break from work to move into their new house in Portland, Ore., and be home with her babes, we caught up with Amanda to talk about what she's been doing in bed. (Not, unfortunately, much sleeping.)
WHAT DOES A COSTUME DESIGNER WEAR TO BED?
I wear anything from a slip to a T-shirt and underwear. I went through this period where I at least had to have a matching bra and underwear set, just to feel sexy. Not for my husband, but just for myself. The nursing gowns literally look like a prison to me, so I don't wear them anymore. I have such an allergic reaction to them because I've spent 3 years nursing.
DO YOU HAVE A BEDTIME RITUAL?
I'm lucky if I brush my teeth! In a perfect world it would be a bath, with all the products. But now it's getting Nova to sleep (which my husband has to do; with me, it's more of a "conversation"), and then Nico and I go to bed at 10. She sleeps with me, and I love it.
