"Vampire Diaries" Costume Designer Jennifer Bryan on How To Dress Modern-Day Immortals

"The Vampire Diaries:" Paul Wesley as Stefan Salvatore, Ian Somerhalder as Damon Salvatore and Nina Dobrev as Katherine Pierce in episodes "Masquerade" and "Memory Lane"

It’s not often a costume designer gets to dress characters in jeans and leather jackets and then hoop skirts and silks in a single episode. But on the CW’s "The Vampire Diaries," costume designer Jennifer Bryan doesn't just have a band of high school immortals to attire; she also has to find the right vintage fashions for  flashback scenes to 1864, the year the immortal  vampire heroes of the "Vampire Diaries" series first fell in love with a beautiful but ruthless vampire who bears a striking resemblance to a woman they know today. "I dress my vampires differently," says Jennifer Bryan. "They're unsuspecting, yet sexy. You never know who is going to get ya!"
 
Based on the books by L.J. Smith of the same name, "The Vampire Diaries" TV series is set in the fictional town of Mystic Falls, Virginia. The show's celebrated head writer, Kevin Williamson ("Scream," "Dawson’s Creek") was at first reluctant to join the vampire fray, but found the story distinguishes itself with its tale of a small town that has to defend itself against witches, werewolves and the like. Viewers are clearly loving the show too ("Vampire Diaries" is now back for its second season) and on eBay, when we compared items with the term "Vampire Diaries" (mostly memorabilia from the show) from the past week with a week-long period six months ago, we found that eBay online listings had more than doubled and sales were up almost six-fold. 

At the center of the "Vampire Diaries" series is a love triangle between Elena Gilbert (actress Nina Dobrev) who is a doppelganger for Katherine, a past love to a pair of eternally youthful vampire brothers, Stefan (actor Paul Wesley) and Damon Salvatore (actor Ian Somerhalder).

Twenty years ago, Jennifer Bryan heard of a costume department internship on a film set and left her job as a buyer for a Seventh Avenue department store. "I was never one for sitting behind a desk all day and staring at numbers on a computer anyway," she said. She got her break in the New York film industry on movies like "Married to the Mob," "Goodfellas" and "Jungle Fever." "I learned a lot of the practical craft of costuming on set. I started out doing a lot of unglamorous things like laundry and store returns, but I loved it! I was hooked" she told us. More recently, in addition to her work on "The Vampire Diaries," Bryan has dressed Jessica Alba in James Cameron's Dark Angel and Josh Duhamel for the TV series "Las Vegas".

In Georgia, where "The Vampire Diaries" series is filmed, Bryan can't always find the costume designs she needs in store. She searches eBay for items for the cast. "I figure someone out there has what I'm looking for," she said.

Bryan first used eBay in the mid '90s to buy a digital camera: "You could say I’m an early adopter. I’ve gotten more sophisticated with my purchases on eBay since then. I scour eBay for vintage dresses and African masks, which I collect."

Since Bryan spends her waking hours sorting out vintage and new styles for other people, we wonder, what is her signature style? "My style is quite eclectic; you just never know with me. I love clothes and fashion. When I’m figuring out what to wear to work tomorrow, I’m in Jennifer-mode. I don’t let the vampires influence me." 

The Vampire Diaries - "Rose" (provided by YouTube)

Get your blood flowing with some of these fashion forward finds, selected by Jennifer Bryan and inspired by the characters from "The Vampire Diaries."

Katherine

"Since she’s a vampire [who is] hundreds of years old, Katherine [played by actress Nina Dobrev] has worn styles of many, many, eras. I found a stunning antique lapis lazuli ring that Katherine could use as her day-walker ring that would protect her from sunlight. Just add a Victorian mesh purse and a sandalwood fan for when she overheats in the presence of the Salvatore brothers (who wouldn't?). Katherine could then switch to a wicked Vera Wang beige silk camisole top, for her present day look, whenever she tries to pass as Elena."

Katherine

Roll over items for details

Sandalwood Fan

(buy it now price, $3)

Victorian Silver Micro-Mesh Handbag

(buy it now price, $225)

Vera Wang Black and Beige Silk Top

(buy it now price, $399)

“Her look is casual but chic. I chose looks cut close to the body to show off actress Nina Dobrev's great figure. [Dobrev plays both the Katherine and Elena characters.] She also has a lot of action scenes. With that in mind, I found a great pair of Guess low-rise skinny jeans and this leather zip-front jacket with a vertical collar. Check out the Dolce & Gabbana black silk top that I would put her in to finish off the look. I was torn between that and the Geren Ford black silk top with the zipper closure—that looks great too. What do you think? How about the beige double breasted shrunken blazer? I also found a pair of thigh-high suede boots. I've put Elena in boots on the show; it's a good look for her character."

Elena

Guess Stretch Low-Rise Jeans

(buy it now price, $15.75)

Leather Zip-front Jacket

(buy it now price, $19.99)

Black Suede Boots with Gold Studs

(buy it now price, $44.41)

"A slim-fit hoodie with an asymmetrical zipper gives this hoodie just the edge for 'The Vampire Diaries.' Add a pair of Diesel jeans and Stefan [played by actor Paul Wesley] is ready to hang with the love of his life, Elena. I love these Frye boots. Stefan wears a pair just like these on the show."

Stefan

Assymetric Men’s Hoodie

(buy it now price, $22.99)

Diesel Indigo Jeans

(buy it now price, $159.99)

Frye Black Engineer’s Boots

(buy it now price, $167.99)

"For Damon [played by actor Ian Somerhalder] I love this slim-fit button-front shirt teamed with an updated fitted trench coat. I also found a great day-walker ring for Damon in lapis set in sterling silver. Awesome. Sexy John Varvatos black button-fly jeans are also a great fit for a vampire."

Damon

Black Slim-fit Button Shirt

(buy it now price, $21.24)

Men’s Back Wool Trench Coat

(buy it now price, $49)

Men’s Sterling Silver Lapis Ring

(buy it now price, $100)