Inside the ’90s-Inspired World of ‘Elle’

Designing the sets for Elle, Prime Video’s new Legally Blonde prequel, was a delicate balance between ’90s period accuracy, reflecting a beloved character, updating an existing visual world into something new, and creating an aspirational look. What, like it’s hard?

Luckily, production designer Laurin Kelsey was up for the job. Homes & Gardens sat down with Laurin to learn about how she and her team went about designing Elle Woods’s ’90s universe.

From the ’90s trends that influenced the sets, to the role of pink in the interiors, to vintage shopping for an authentic feel, our conversation went far beyond Elle to dive into the role interiors play in our lives. Just like in Elle’s world, our homes are integral to our stories.

(Image credit: Laurin Kelsey / Prime Video)

Since the new show takes Elle’s character back in time, it only makes sense that the sets would do the same. To achieve this, Laurin had to immerse herself in the character of Elle Woods from the first film, originally played by Reese Witherspoon, to work up to the younger Elle, played by newcomer Lexi Minetree

‘The most important consideration was the film and the fan base,’ Laurin tells Homes & Gardens. ‘It was about taking what we know about Elle as a character in her present day—which was 2001—and figuring out what was most important about her character, her world, and her palette, and then rewinding the clock to see how she got to that point. It felt a bit like being a detective, discovering a character’s world before we truly know her.’

(Image credit: Laurin Kelsey / Prime Video)

‘90s colors and trends weave through almost every element of Elle’s homes in the show.

Laurin explains: ‘Another important consideration was the time period. I remember watching the film and seeing big, bold patterns in her room. I had to figure out the equivalent for the 90s, where patterns were smaller, and items were more matched. I was rewinding not just the character’s history, but the actual period history of what would have been appropriate for that time.’

(Image credit: Laurin Kelsey / Prime Video)

She continues: ‘Most of the people who worked on the show are from a similar generation, so we got to reflect on our own experiences. We asked ourselves, “What was I like as a teenager in the 90s? What were my favorite things in my bedroom?” Rewinding the clock that way was fun and special. Elle is relatable, so we all see a piece of ourselves in her.’

(Image credit: Laurin Kelsey/Prime Video)

However, rather than dogmatically sticking to the conventions of the pre-millennium era, Laurin was able to choose only the best. Since the team was designing for a canonically fashionable character, they opted to forgo dated ’90s color trends and furnishings for a more aspirational version of this period. The spaces have a ’90s edge, but in a way that makes us want to live in them.

‘I love the 90s; it’s a fun period because of the nostalgia attached to it,’ states Laurin. ‘While it wasn’t my favorite aesthetic time period for design, it was fun to be choosy. We know Elle is forward-thinking and stylish, so we picked elements she would have had that were “good,” and others where she might have been a bit ahead of the trend.’

(Image credit: Laurin Kelsey/Prime Video)

Like on any film set (or in any home for that matter) it’s the tiny details that really sell the story. Each corner of Elle’s bedroom was decorated intentionally to reflect this character.

(Image credit: Laurin Kelsey/Prime Video)

Laurin states: ‘It’s about giving little nods—like having Blockbuster rentals in living rooms—that people who know will recognize, while still making it feel natural and accessible to younger generations who didn’t live through that time.’

(Image credit: Laurin Kelsey/Prime Video)

The artwork decorating Elle’s bedroom on the set is a major reflection of this philosophy. ‘We used to cut out images and collage them on our walls or notebooks to express ourselves,’ explains Laurin.

She continues: ‘In Elle’s room, we created a big bulletin board with a collage of models, actresses, fashion trends, and perfume ads. Similarly, we collaged the front of her notebooks with astrology, crystals, and bedazzles—details that are very 90s but people might not think of right away.’

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