Ali Larter is "Obsessed"

by Phebe Hunnicutt (Subscribe to Phebe Hunnicutt's posts)
Posted Apr 22nd 2009 at 6:30PM

One look at the trailers for the new movie "Obsessed," starring Ali Larter as an office siren turned psycho stalker, and it's pretty clear the title is accurate. But the real-life Larter also was obsessed in the best kind of way -- she wanted her character's look to be absolutely perfect, right down to her underwear, says costume designer Maya Lieberman.

In one of the movie's hotter scenes, Larter's Lisa Sheridan surprises the object of her desire, played by Idris Elba, with the old nothing-but-silk-and-lace under the coat trick. Lieberman says Larter came up with the idea for the vintage inspired ensemble herself.

"The lingerie was 100% Ali's idea," Lieberman said. "She wanted to avoid anything stripper inspired because she felt strongly that her character would pick something high fashion and sophisticated."

Lieberman used two pieces from different sets and dyed them to match.

The final look? Classy, sexy and surprisingly demure. A nice change, no doubt, for an actress who first made headlines wearing nothing but a whipped cream bikini in 1999's "Varsity Blues."

Feeling fashion obsessed yourself? Head over to BlackVoices to enter their "Obsessed" sweepstakes. Grand prize is a a $1,375 Hermes "Garden Party" tote and a $1,000 spa package. Can you get any more obsession worthy?

And after the jump, more on how Lieberman created Larter's look and that of Beyoncé Knowles, who plays the woman wronged.

Maya Lieberman Talks Obsessed

The first meeting between Sharon Charles (Beyoncé) and her husband's new secretary Lisa Sheridan (Ali Larter) required a well planned outfit. "Her character would have wanted to look special" explains costume designer Maya Lieberman "For the scene I paired a Zac Posen camel color pencil skirt, a leopard print YSL belt and a vintage turtle neck."

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"Beyonce's palette starts out soft and neutral. She wears a lot of soft prints like from Missioni, but as the film gets darker she starts to get darker."

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"Ali's look was great office basics like Gucci and Theory with a little vintage thrown in."

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"The director and I discuss that the film would be very clean and sophisticated. A very modern world, a bit Helmet Newton-esque, especially at the office."

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"At home it would stay modern, but go a little softer and more neutral. The difference is reflected in the way Beyoncé and Ali were dressed as well."

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This red dress was one of the most important costume moments in the film. "We tried on every dress in town and none of them worked. The director wanted a dramatic back shot and nothing was working, so we had it made for her."

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B's casual attire was part of keeping the film's look real. "She has money but not an absurd amount so it was important to keep the costuming real."

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Ali in the jersey... now that's not so much about keeping real as it is about boosting the creepy factor!

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