On 'Survivor,' the Fashion Choices Are More Deliberate Than You Think

The contestants' wardrobes are more deliberate than you think.

Year Later year, with each new generation of "Survivor" castaways, it's easy to see that they are meant to represent a cross-section of familiar archetypes.

Even in their version standard. tank tops and cargo shorts, characters like the grumpy old military veteran, the arrogant business executive and the pharmaceutical rep next door are recognizable on sight.

This n t's no coincidence: While reality TV conventions encourage viewers to believe that these contestants arrive with every hastily selected item they can scrounge up, their clothes are carefully checked and assembled with producers and the wardrobe staff to represent the players' personalities as much as possible and highlight the "Robinson Crusoe" of the show. ="css-2fg4z9 e1gzwzxm0"> staged.

Since its debut in 2000, “Survivor”, which will soon finish broadcasting its 45th season on CBS, has had an ever-changing cast and regularly introduced new twists for the contestants as they compete to be the last person standing and win a cash prize. Over time, the players' wardrobes - however dirty and minimal - have helped advance storylines and create throughlines in the series, which continues to attract one of the highest ratings on network television.

Jeff Probst, the host of "Survivor" and its executive producer and showrunner, said that clothing was the basis of the premise of the show.

“ The idea is: what if you were shipwrecked with a group of strangers? » said Mr. Probst. “A lawyer's clothes should be very different from a nurse's clothes, which are different from a pizza maker's clothes.”

Caitlin Moore, casting producer from “Survivor,” works alongside the show’s crew. Maria Sundeen, longtime wardrobe supervisor, to help contestants select clothes for the show. It involves “a lot of digging through closets, trying to find the pieces that will work,” Ms. Moore said.

“We're in a collaborative process. , working together to create what truly feels like a reflection of their own personality while also meeting the needs of the production,” she added.

ImageFor "Survivor: South Pacific", the producers asked John Cochran, who was then a student at Harvard Law School, to appear in a sweater -over to show his Ivy League bona fides. Credit... Monty Brinton/CBS

'You should wear a red vest'

John Cochran was finishing up his studies at Harvard Law School when he was chosen to 23rd season of “Survivor.” He and his mother were at a mall looking for a practical outfit that could see him through 39 days homeless on the Samoan island of Upolu, he said when he received a call by Ms. Moore.

“We were watching REI camping stuff,” said Mr. Cochran, now 36 and a television writer in Los Angeles . "And Caitlin said, 'We don't know what you're going to think about this, but we think you should wear a red vest.'"

Ms. Moore said explained that red would be a color palette for this season, he said. She hoped to showcase her Ivy League bona fides — and her nerd side — with the vest, he added.

Mr. Cochran initially balked at this request. “I’ve never worn a sweater vest before,” he said. “I already exude nerd. I try to minimize my reddish complexion, rosacea and red hair."