On-Point Power Dressing + Lots of Kea-News
Hey WNVM-ers,
Fawnia here! Ask and you shall receive. Because last week, Beth Lisogorsky of Beth’s TV & Film Recommendations asked us to look into Kate Hudson’s much-discussed power wardrobe in the Netflix comedy, “Running Point.” I had actually mentioned it to Cheryl at our 2025 planning meeting, too. I do love a Mindy Kaling joint — the super meta-jokes, snort-lol pop culture references, her deep bench of MVP actors (nice to see you, too, Jay Ellis), and always-stellar wardrobes by her go-to costume designer Salvador Perez. (We go way back!)
But, first, a note: Based on the show’s timeline, Hudson’s character, Isla Gordon, is a millennial. But, Hudson — a Gen X-er by 2 years — collaborated closely with Perez on her sports dynasty-scion persona, and Almost Famous is one of our seminal movies.
And, in news You Oughta Know, some soft-core Keanu, Richard Marx speaks, and Judy Blume’s Forever hits screens soon.
Warning: Mild spoilers for ‘Running Point’ below and you may need to read the full post in your browser.
We Are the Champions
‘Running Point’ costume designer Salvador Perez breaks down Kate Hudson’s power suits, ‘dominatrix’ office leather, and that yellow nod to a rom-com classic.
By Fawnia
I admit, I know nothing about professional basketball — especially the people, politics, and hot goss involved. So, when I saw promos for, “Running Point,” I didn’t realize that Kate Hudson’s Isla Gordon, the newly appointed president of the fictitious Los Angeles Waves, is based on Jeannie Buss, the real life head of the L.A. Lakers. (Aside: But why are the Waves’ team colors like the orange and blue of the New York Knicks? Yeah, I do at least know my city team’s colors!)
Instead, I just saw Kate Hudson effortlessly embodying the It Girl socialite-turned-sharp dealmaker and formidable boss while wearing unapologetically fashionable and never-stodgy power suits and dresses. Maybe also because Hudson, herself, influenced her character’s sartorial power play.
“Kate has a very strong opinion about clothes,” says costume designer Salvador Perez, who also dressed my all-time favorite (and chic AF) characters in Kaling’s “Never Have I Ever,” “Four Weddings and a Funeral,” and, of course, “The Mindy Project.” He even brought Hudson’s stylist, Sophie Lopez on board, to help source Isla’s unconventional boardroom outfits. Since the season dropped on Netflix, excitement and chatter surrounding Isla’s bold pantsuits, office corset, sleek pencil skirts, and fearless leather continues to blow up. Her heightened work wardrobe also offers inspo to turn c-suite dressing on its head — or just take some ideas, but not completely copy, especially keeping your office dress code in mind.
“I really wanted to embrace and show power in femininity, as opposed to trying to do the ‘man’ tailored suits, like she embraced her femininity,” says Perez. “Isla wore beautiful dresses and pink to work, and she was powerful.”
That description also fits super producer extraordinaire Kaling, and her earlier on-screen alter-ego, Dr. Mindy Lahiri — who headed up her successful practice in wild prints and eye-popping color, often custom-designed by Perez. “Mindy has a very particular vision, and so does Kate,” says Perez. “Mindy shows are so fashion-oriented, and she really wants her shows to be aspirational.”
Speaking of, Kaling even loaned Isla, via Perez, some of her own precious Hermès Birkin bags, after Perez asked his boss as a joke. “She's like, ‘Abso-fucking-lutely,’” he says, with a laugh. “I went to Mindy's house to get a few, and she was like, ‘Take more.’”
Coming Full Circle in Pink Pantsuits
As the only daughter of the family, Isla spent her life dismissed and underestimated by the Gordon men. After a hard-partying, Y2K-era Paris Hilton-esque phase, she took on the philanthropic (i.e. gala-throwing and socializing) part of the multi-generational empire. But, when overindulged oldest brother Cam (Justin Theroux, hilariously swathed in plush cashmere scarves) grudgingly enters rehab, he appoints her to the top job.
“At the beginning, she didn't take herself very seriously,” says Perez, who imagined Isla just jumped right into her new gig in the corner office, but in her old clothes. “I wanted her to look like a reformed party girl going through the closet that she already had when she got this position. But, then you see her evolve throughout.”
For her first Waves game as president, Isla sports (sorry) her most capable outfit, a slouchy SER.O.YA pinstripe pantsuit in Barbie pink. Unfortunately the neon also makes her way too easy to spot when a player accidentally tackles her (this is basketball, right?) and she faceplants at the sideline.
Perez explains the suit’s voluminous silhouette served a practical purpose for Hudson’s flawless physical comedy skills that clearly run in mom Goldie Hawn’s gene pool. (That glass door bit never got old.) “I had to pad her and her stunt double,” says Perez, who’s more of a tailored suit guy. “But, Kate loved that oversized look, which I embraced throughout the show. In retrospect, she was right. There was an ease to her suits that was really delicious.”
In the season finale, Isla brings the Waves to the playoffs — and runs 4 miles from Boyle Heights to the “Copilot Arena” in a streamlined, pale pink suit by Milan-based SA SU PHI. “I just wanted it to be elevated, and she's taking the job more seriously, so getting into much more luxurious clothes,” says Perez.
Dominating in (Faux) Leather
Calling foul on showboating Waves point guard Travis Bugg (Chet Hanks, presumably playing himself), and proving herself a master negotiator, Isla wears her version of a suit: a faux croc vest and skirt set by Helmut Lang with a ribbed white turtleneck. “Very dominatrix,” says Perez. “Like, if we could put her in leather and whips, that would have been that. But, no, let's put her in pleather.”
Early on, Isla wears quite a few leather-esque pieces to the office, like dress code-pushing black Helmut Lang trousers with a one-shoulder vest by Acne. “I don't think that I would have her in like a one-shoulder vest later on [in her arc],” says Perez, who also put her in a short-sleeve Ganni dress for boardroom banter with her brothers.
“[Hudson’s] a fan of leather clothing,” says Perez. “Again, it's just what Kate gravitates to, because, I have to say, there was a lot more Kate Hudson than Jeannie Buss in Isla.”
Dressing For the Job She Has
To save the Waves, and her job in the second episode, Isla takes the family PJ to Indiana to persuade a MyPillow-like legacy sponsor, Snoozepedic, to stay on. She dresses the part in a commanding — and pretty amazing — herringbone L’Academie vest, pencil midi-skirt and coat set. “My favorite book: the bible. My favorite movie: The Da Vinci Code,” Isla says, attempting to schmooze, before standing by her values, and storming out.
“That was like Isla playing dress up, like, ‘Well, I'm gonna be the executive,’” says Perez. “I was just figuring out the character, too. It was a little more polished, but I thought it was the one nice thing in her closet.”
Triumphantly crushing a coup by her bumbling brothers, former baller Ness (Scott MacArthur) and number cruncher Sandy (a perfect Drew Tarver), Isla prevails in a suit that's 100% her: a grey pinstripe cropped blazer and pleated pantsuit by Ronny Kobo, over, yes, a white corset. “It’s supposed to be fashion-y and forward, and, yes, it's slightly inappropriate to the board,” says Perez. “But that's Isla.”
Advancing in Power Suits
Like Sandy, Isla markets and celebrates family pride through her style. “They both were a lot of blue and orange — team colors,” says Perez. In a cornflower-hued single-button suit by The Attico, Isla thinks out of the box to guide rookie Dyson (Uche Agada) through his free-throw yips. Then she leads the Waves through a winning run in a persimmon double-breasted Jonathan Simkhai pantsuit.
Heading toward the epic playoffs, Isla fully blooms into her leadership role in two neutral suits by Favorite Daughter, a brand owned by Hudson’s friends, Sara and Erin Foster. (Fun fact: The latter is also the creator of the Kristin Bell/Adam Brody Netflix hit, “Nobody Wants This.”) “When the boxes of Favorite Daughter arrived, everyone freaked out,” says Perez. “They fit [Hudson] so beautifully.”
An on-point double-breasted pinstripe suit also helps land the jokes when Isla teases Sandy in a meeting. “You haven’t even commented on me dressing my color palette,” she says, as Ness quips, “You look like a soft serve ice cream cone.”
How to (Not) Lose a Game in Ten Days
We can all agree that Hudson’s yellow slip dress, by costume designer Karen Patch, in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, is iconic. (Just saying the words immediately conjures the movie poster with a flirty Matthew McConaughey.) So, yes, Isla’s buttercream Sandro pantsuit is a little wink-wink to the 2003 classic. The Easter egg also felt right for Isla to conclude that very rom-com-y sequence of Travis misinterpreting her attempt to professionally connect; resulting in an awkward, rejected kiss that ends up in the tabs.
“Sophie just sent such great clothes, and we had this multitude of riches, and it was just so fabulous,” says Perez. Seems the studio marketing department felt the same, and suggested that Hudson wear the suit for the “Running Point” campaign promos.
“Kate's, like, ‘Nope, we're not wearing the yellow suit,’” says Perez. So, the Jonathan Simkhai one, in Waves orange, made the cut instead, because, as they say, “the game is about the next play.”
We are two Gen X journalists who celebrate people of our generation doing cool things, as well as analyze all the '80s and '90s nostalgia in current pop culture, fashion, and beauty. Read more stories like this one here!
You Oughta Know
Kea-news! Ione Skye, whose memoir Say Everything is out, reveals that while filming River’s Edge she 1) licked Keanu’s “beautiful neck” (he rebuffed her) and 2) got hot and heavy during a sex scene that she tried to continue IRL (he rebuffed her again). "I'd thought I loved Keanu, but that was just a crush, in retrospect." One cannot blame a lady for trying. -CW [EW]
Kea-news 2! In less horny news, filmmaker Justin Lin will direct Keanu in the Netflix version of the comic he co-created, BRZRKR. Is there neck licking in it? -CW [Gizmodo]
More BREAKING Kea-news: He test-rides a new Harley and his beard becomes increasingly untamed. -FSH [WNVM Inbox]
A new generation will get to discover Judy Blume’s first-time-having-sex novel, Forever, via a Netflix series that debuts May 8. “It tells the epic love story of two Black teens, Keisha Clark (Lovie Simone) and Justin Edwards (Michael Cooper Jr.) exploring romance and their identities through the awkward journey of being each others’ firsts…” No mention of “Ralph.” -CW [Deadline]
I’ve been right here waiting for Richard Marx’s new cocktails + candid conversation podcast/YouTube series, “Stories to Tell,” featuring Kenny G and Cheryl’s fave Kenny Loggins. He better have wife, and my MTV icon, Daisy Fuentes on an episode. -FSH [@therichardmarx/Instagram]
Lisa Kudrow, Brian Cox, Parker Posey, Vivian Bang, and Edie Falco are starring in a Max film called The Parenting, a comedy about the families of a couple meeting for the first time. As if that isn’t scary enough, they’re staying in a haunted house -CW [The Hollywood Reporter]
Kim Gordon, everyone -CW:
I so enjoyed this topic. I liked all of it and particularly the background on pink power suits. I’m Gen X by a few years like Hudson and there was something so empowering about the Barbie pink and wearing my femininity out loud (pink blouse) at the screening of the film. It’s not a color I gravitate to but was fun to embrace it. Colors bring out different parts of your personality as I’ve come to realize!
Always love your deep dives into clothing design as storytelling! And I kind of would love a spinoff newsletter called "Kea-news" :)