In a fascinating deep dive into the artistry behind Prime Video’s highly anticipated "Legally Blonde" prequel, "Elle," reporter Kirbie Johnson offers an exclusive look at the meticulous efforts of makeup designer Jennifer Powell and hair designer Florencia Anahi. Their mission: to authentically translate the beloved character of Elle Woods into her high school years, ensuring a seamless visual narrative from her formative Bel-Air days to her iconic Harvard Law journey. The result is a nuanced portrayal that honors the spirit of the original, while embracing the aesthetic sensibilities of the mid-1990s.
A Blonde’s Genesis: From Bel-Air to Seattle
The prequel series, "Elle," delves into the formative years of Elle Woods, exploring her life before she became the formidable legal eagle we know from the 2001 hit film, "Legally Blonde." The narrative kicks off in sunny Bel-Air, California, showcasing Elle’s vibrant, beauty-centric lifestyle. However, a significant upheaval occurs during her junior year when a botched cosmetic surgery performed by her plastic surgeon father necessitates a family move to the decidedly less sun-drenched and pink-averse city of Seattle. This geographical shift serves as a pivotal plot point, highlighting Elle’s resilience and her unwavering commitment to her personal style, even in unfamiliar territory.
The series underscores that Elle’s passion for all things beauty—her signature bright blonde hair, her rosy-pink makeup, and her impeccably manicured nails—was not a sudden development but a deeply ingrained aspect of her personality long before her Delta Nu days. For both Powell and Anahi, establishing a visual throughline between the high school Elle, portrayed by Lexi Minetree, and the iconic version played by Reese Witherspoon was paramount. Witherspoon herself served as an executive producer on the Prime Video series, lending her invaluable insight and vision. To achieve this continuity, images of Witherspoon in her "Legally Blonde" heyday adorned the walls of the hair and makeup trailer, serving as constant inspiration. Meanwhile, Minetree spent considerable time in the salon, undergoing a transformation to achieve the perfect shade of blonde that would become synonymous with the character. Powell and Anahi recently shared the creative process behind imagining Elle’s pre-law school world, detailing the specific products and techniques employed to capture Minetree’s mid-nineties transformation.
The Maternal Muse: Eva Woods and Her Influence
A key element in understanding young Elle’s aesthetic is the profound influence of her mother, Eva Woods, portrayed by June Diane Raphael. Unlike many coming-of-age narratives where parental figures might be a source of conflict or disregard, Elle deeply admires and emulates her mother. "This is a young girl who idolizes her mom," explains Powell. "Elle and her mom have a close relationship; they’re both into beauty. It’s not all that they are, but it’s definitely not a part of them that they feel they have to ignore or have to squash down." This shared appreciation for beauty forms a cornerstone of their bond and directly informs Elle’s personal style.
One striking similarity between mother and daughter is their shared preference for French manicures with square tips. While Elle’s are typically shorter than her mother’s, the style serves as a subtle yet significant visual connection. Throughout the production, Minetree received meticulous gel fills every two weeks from renowned nail artist Tony Tran, ensuring her nails were always camera-ready and aligned with the era’s trends.
The Sun-Kissed Glow: A Seattle Paradox
Another beauty ritual that unites Elle and Eva is the pursuit of a perfect spray tan. This element was crucial in visually communicating their characters’ inherently sunny disposition, acting as a stark contrast to their new Seattle surroundings. "We were sending them out for their spray tans because we wanted them to stand out in Seattle," Powell elaborates. "No matter what the weather is, they’re still dressed for it and defiantly still holding on to that LA vibe." This commitment to maintaining their signature glow, even in a perpetually overcast climate, speaks volumes about their characters’ refusal to compromise their identity.
Both Minetree and Raphael received spray tans every five to seven days, with the intensity varying between two custom shades depending on the desired depth of color. To maintain a seamless, natural-looking tan between appointments and prevent any patchiness, Powell relied on MAC Face & Body Foundation. "The formula is so sheer and thin, and unless I’m covering tattoos, I want to see the skin [underneath]," Powell explains. "And I didn’t want anything frosty or shimmery—we’re not doing ‘Dancing With the Stars’." Furthermore, the foundation’s ability to be easily cleaned from clothing was a critical factor, especially given the vintage outfits worn by the actresses. "They are in some very beautiful vintage outfits, especially June. She’s in cream, baby blue—all the soft colors—so I could not have any transfer." This attention to detail ensured that the historical accuracy of the costumes remained intact, a testament to the team’s dedication.
Mid-’90s Aesthetics: A Cultural Tapestry
The creative team drew inspiration from a rich tapestry of mid-1990s culture to authentically shape Elle’s look. Powell’s personal experiences as a 25-year-old makeup artist in 1995 provided a direct window into the era’s prevailing beauty trends. Her collection of early "Allure" magazine issues, meticulously stacked in the corner of the makeup trailer, served as a primary reference. "Allure was for me, in my 20s, a very special magazine because it was the beauty magazine, so that was so wonderful to pull from and reference," Powell shares. "It was really fun to flip through the pages and look at the great beautiful editorials and ads—because the ads will also say so much [about that time]."
Powell meticulously studied ads and editorials from 1994 to 1996, gaining insights into the evolution of beauty trends. The trailer was also adorned with images of famous mothers and daughters, from Goldie Hawn and Kate Hudson to Kathy and Paris Hilton, further reinforcing the theme of maternal influence. Icons such as Britney Spears, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cameron Diaz, Kate Moss, and even the Spice Girls provided a broad spectrum of inspiration. However, the most significant visual touchstones remained images of supermodel Claudia Schiffer and Witherspoon’s portrayal of Elle in the original "Legally Blonde."
When considering Elle’s character and her hair, Anahi envisioned a young woman immersed in the pop culture of the era, likely watching films and television shows like "Clueless" and "Beverly Hills, 90210." This imagined backstory directly informed her hair color. "She’s a classic, buttery blonde, no toner," Anahi states, describing the specific shade. The objective was to maintain a warm, bright hue, reminiscent of Alicia Silverstone’s look in the ’90s and, of course, Reese Witherspoon’s iconic blonde in the original film. This deliberate choice ensured a visual continuity that would resonate with fans of the franchise.
The Perfect Pink Lip: A Timeless Classic
The signature pink lip stain worn by Minetree throughout much of the season is a product with historical accuracy—a testament to its enduring appeal. "I loved Benefit’s Benetint in the ’90s, so Lexi’s wearing the original version," says Powell. "I pulled out so many pinks when we were testing. My station was an array of every pink that I could think of, in case the producers wanted to see a more muted lip or something like that." Benetint emerged not only as the perfect color but also for its budgeproof formula, ideal for the demands of long filming days. "It was nostalgic, it was beautiful on her, it holds up great, and you can mix it with anything," Powell explains. For added dimension, Powell sometimes layered MAC Lipglass over the stain.
For a pivotal scene, the Cosmopolitan party, Powell opted for L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Satin Lipstick in "Tickled Pink." This frosted blue-pink shade was another iconic product available in the ’90s, further anchoring the character’s look in the era. The choice of this specific shade and formulation underscores the production’s commitment to historical authenticity while maintaining a vibrant and glamorous aesthetic.
Avoiding Matte: Elle’s Glamorous Edge
While "dewy" and "luminous" makeup were not prevalent trends in the 1990s, Powell consciously steered clear of a strictly matte finish for Elle. "I definitely wanted to honor Elle and her vision for glamour, and her vision for pretty and sparkly," Powell asserts. "It reflects in her room and her clothing, her pens, her accessories, so it didn’t make sense for her to be wearing a matte neutral lip." Instead, the approach was to create a satiny cream lip with a hint of gloss, drawing inspiration from the glamorous era. "I kept her on the edge of the sparkly L’Oréal girl… something more inspired by Claudia Schiffer," Powell adds, referencing Schiffer’s status as a spokesperson for the brand during the ’90s. This approach allowed Elle’s inherent exuberance and love for all things chic to shine through, even while adhering to the period’s broader beauty landscape.
The Six-Hour Blonde Transformation
Achieving Elle’s signature blonde was a complex and time-consuming endeavor, especially considering Minetree’s natural brunette hair. The process began even before filming, with an initial color correction that took a remarkable six and a half hours to bring Minetree’s hair to the desired shade, closely matching Reese Witherspoon’s iconic blonde. "When Lexi came to us [pre-filming], we had some color correcting to get her to the right level to match Reese Witherspoon’s blonde," Anahi recalls. "It was a journey. When that happens, you end up getting some breakage; it’s a harsh process, but we nursed her hair back to health." This intensive initial treatment laid the foundation for maintaining Elle’s vibrant blonde throughout the production.
The filming schedule, which spanned both Vancouver, Canada, and Los Angeles, required a coordinated effort to ensure Minetree’s hair remained flawless. Brittany Otash was tasked with maintaining the color every other week while filming in Vancouver. For scenes shot in Los Angeles, Yukari Yokomizo took over, and during Minetree’s time in New York, colorist Angela Hazelton provided her expertise. This multi-city, multi-artist approach highlights the dedication and resources poured into ensuring Elle’s signature look remained consistent and iconic.
Modern Innovations for Classic Bounce
While the visual aesthetic was firmly rooted in the mid-’90s, the hair team strategically incorporated some modern innovations to achieve Elle’s characteristic bouncy hair. Anahi favored the round brush attachment of the Dyson Airwrap for its ability to create volume and smoothness, rather than the curl-specific attachments. "I wouldn’t use the actual curl attachments, but more so the round brush," Anahi explains. "I love that one, it gives you great volume [and makes it] nice and smooth."
For product recommendations, Anahi turned to Color Wow, using their Dream Coat weekly to smooth the hair and the Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer to enhance body. For setting curls, the Redken Hot Sets Thermal Spray 22 was a go-to. "I love Redken, the brand is my go-to," Anahi states. To combat any stray flyaways, particularly under the harsh lighting of set, the Tancho Wax stick, a throwback product, proved indispensable. "Some people know it from back in the day—it’s a throwback but it gets the job done." This blend of period-accurate techniques and contemporary tools allowed the team to recreate Elle’s signature voluminous and polished hairstyle with remarkable authenticity and efficiency. The creation of "Elle" is a testament to the power of dedicated craftspeople who meticulously weave together historical context, character psychology, and cutting-edge artistry to bring beloved figures back to life for a new generation.
