The Righteous Gemstones: A deep dive into the megachurch fashion statement
Shreeaa Rathi | TIMESOFINDIA.COM | May 05, 2025, 20:44 IST
( Image credit : TIL Creatives )
HBO's 'The Righteous Gemstones' cleverly uses fashion as a storytelling device, emphasizing the distinct identities of its characters. The vibrant wardrobe of the Gemstone siblings serves as a window into their extravagant lives. With Christina Flannery as the costume designer, the outfits draw inspiration from legendary figures like Tammy Faye Bakker, exploring the world of televangelism with a stylish twist.
When it comes to "The Righteous Gemstones," the HBO satire that has kept viewers on their toes with its portrayal of Southern megachurch wealth and dysfunction, fashion plays a critical role. The flamboyant wardrobe choices of the Gemstone siblings—Jesse, Kelvin, and Judy—do more than just add humor and visual intrigue; they reflect the outlandish world in which these characters thrive.
Tammy Faye Bakker, Thierry Mugler, and Leigh Bowery—these iconic figures, though from different realms—serve as crucial inspirations for the show’s costume designer, Christina Flannery. Whether it's televangelism, couture fashion, or avant-garde drag performance art, each of these figures helps shape the outlandish and often garish aesthetic that defines the Gemstones’ style.
The Gemstones: Always Ready for Their Close-Up
The Gemstone siblings—Jesse (Danny McBride), Kelvin (Adam DeVine), and Judy (Edi Patterson)—are constantly in front of an audience. From their extravagant Sunday services to their personal lives, they are never seen without their signature, often over-the-top attire. As Flannery describes, they are “always on stage,” and it shows in their clothing. The sibling trio's wardrobes are full of sequins, silks, and oversized shoulder pads, with a few capes thrown in for good measure. Even when they’re lounging at home, they can’t resist dressing to impress.
In one scene set on the family’s sprawling South Carolina estate, Jesse dons a full leather suit in the sweltering Southern heat, while the youngest sibling, Kelvin, sparkles in a bedazzled ensemble. Meanwhile, Judy’s 1980s-inspired power-clashing skirt suit makes a bold statement. These are not your average family outfits—they are, in fact, carefully curated performances in and of themselves.
Sculpting the Megachurch Image
The clothing of the Gemstones also plays into the larger theme of televangelism. From their flashy attire to their over-the-top performances, the Gemstones’ megachurch is a direct nod to the real-world spectacle that’s become synonymous with Southern megachurch culture. The larger-than-life spectacle, high-tech displays, and theatrical performances closely mirror the infamous antics of televangelists like Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker. And when the show features scenes with Eli Gemstone (John Goodman) and his wife Aimee Lee (Jennifer Nettles), it becomes apparent that the style inspiration draws heavily from 1980s televangelists, with big hair and perfectly coordinated looks.
The Gemstones’ fashion is not only about glamour—it’s also a way of reinforcing their positions of power. The sparkling sequences, ostentatious accessories, and dramatic silhouettes are a deliberate reflection of the ego-driven personas the Gemstones project both on-screen and to their flock.
Inspiration from the Unlikeliest Sources
While the Gemstones’ wardrobes are undeniably rooted in the world of televangelism, they also pay homage to other fashion realms, especially the extravagant world of drag. The colorful, exaggerated fashion worn by performers like Leigh Bowery and drag queen Yvie Oddly plays a substantial role in shaping the show’s aesthetic. Both drag and megachurch performances emphasize the theatrics of gender, and "The Righteous Gemstones" taps into this by dressing its characters in visually loud, gender-defying outfits. For instance, in the third season, showman Uncle “Baby” Billy Freeman (Walton Goggins) dons an oyster-shell ensemble that evokes Thierry Mugler’s iconic "Birth of Venus" dress, a piece that has become legendary not only in fashion circles but also in drag communities for its bold camp aesthetics.
Flannery acknowledges that drag has heavily influenced the show’s approach to gender and performance. The elaborate and sometimes absurd outfits allow the characters to fully embody the theatricality of their world, whether they are leading a megachurch service or hosting a family gathering.
Southern Femininity and Power
The show also delves into the expectations placed on Southern women, particularly within the Gemstone family. Amber Gemstone (Cassidy Freeman), Jesse’s wife, represents a more traditional form of Southern femininity. She is always impeccably dressed, her appearance reflecting both her status in the family and her adherence to societal expectations of "proper" feminine beauty.
In contrast, Judy’s style is more eccentric, often evoking the 1980s era with her bold, power-clashing skirt suits and voluminous hair. While Amber’s look is polished and poised, Judy’s more awkward, juvenile styling hints at her struggle to fit into the mold of the perfect Southern woman. Despite her position of power within the family, Judy’s appearance often fails to align with the traditional standards of beauty, which only adds to her feelings of being marginalized within her own family.
A Fashion-Forward Conclusion
The final season of "The Righteous Gemstones" brings a sense of closure not only to the characters’ arcs but also to the costumes that have helped define the show’s larger-than-life aesthetic. Costume designer Christina Flannery reflects on how this series has allowed her to take bold risks, dressing characters like Goggins’ Baby Billy in gold and purple lamé or Patterson’s Judy in nautical-inspired looks. The outrageous and, at times, “crazy, sparkly” nature of these outfits has allowed the characters to exist in a world where performance is everything, both on and off the stage.
As "The Righteous Gemstones" wraps up, the memorable fashion choices will live on as a lasting tribute to the show’s unique take on Southern megachurch culture. In the end, fashion is not just about clothing—it's about creating a visual spectacle that reflects the characters' outsized personalities and the absurdity of their world. Through sequins, capes, and oversized silhouettes, the show has reminded us that sometimes, in the world of megachurches, fashion speaks louder than words.
Tammy Faye Bakker, Thierry Mugler, and Leigh Bowery—these iconic figures, though from different realms—serve as crucial inspirations for the show’s costume designer, Christina Flannery. Whether it's televangelism, couture fashion, or avant-garde drag performance art, each of these figures helps shape the outlandish and often garish aesthetic that defines the Gemstones’ style.
The Gemstones: Always Ready for Their Close-Up
The Gemstone siblings—Jesse (Danny McBride), Kelvin (Adam DeVine), and Judy (Edi Patterson)—are constantly in front of an audience. From their extravagant Sunday services to their personal lives, they are never seen without their signature, often over-the-top attire. As Flannery describes, they are “always on stage,” and it shows in their clothing. The sibling trio's wardrobes are full of sequins, silks, and oversized shoulder pads, with a few capes thrown in for good measure. Even when they’re lounging at home, they can’t resist dressing to impress.
In one scene set on the family’s sprawling South Carolina estate, Jesse dons a full leather suit in the sweltering Southern heat, while the youngest sibling, Kelvin, sparkles in a bedazzled ensemble. Meanwhile, Judy’s 1980s-inspired power-clashing skirt suit makes a bold statement. These are not your average family outfits—they are, in fact, carefully curated performances in and of themselves.
Sculpting the Megachurch Image
The clothing of the Gemstones also plays into the larger theme of televangelism. From their flashy attire to their over-the-top performances, the Gemstones’ megachurch is a direct nod to the real-world spectacle that’s become synonymous with Southern megachurch culture. The larger-than-life spectacle, high-tech displays, and theatrical performances closely mirror the infamous antics of televangelists like Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker. And when the show features scenes with Eli Gemstone (John Goodman) and his wife Aimee Lee (Jennifer Nettles), it becomes apparent that the style inspiration draws heavily from 1980s televangelists, with big hair and perfectly coordinated looks.
The Gemstones’ fashion is not only about glamour—it’s also a way of reinforcing their positions of power. The sparkling sequences, ostentatious accessories, and dramatic silhouettes are a deliberate reflection of the ego-driven personas the Gemstones project both on-screen and to their flock.
Inspiration from the Unlikeliest Sources
While the Gemstones’ wardrobes are undeniably rooted in the world of televangelism, they also pay homage to other fashion realms, especially the extravagant world of drag. The colorful, exaggerated fashion worn by performers like Leigh Bowery and drag queen Yvie Oddly plays a substantial role in shaping the show’s aesthetic. Both drag and megachurch performances emphasize the theatrics of gender, and "The Righteous Gemstones" taps into this by dressing its characters in visually loud, gender-defying outfits. For instance, in the third season, showman Uncle “Baby” Billy Freeman (Walton Goggins) dons an oyster-shell ensemble that evokes Thierry Mugler’s iconic "Birth of Venus" dress, a piece that has become legendary not only in fashion circles but also in drag communities for its bold camp aesthetics.
Flannery acknowledges that drag has heavily influenced the show’s approach to gender and performance. The elaborate and sometimes absurd outfits allow the characters to fully embody the theatricality of their world, whether they are leading a megachurch service or hosting a family gathering.
Southern Femininity and Power
The show also delves into the expectations placed on Southern women, particularly within the Gemstone family. Amber Gemstone (Cassidy Freeman), Jesse’s wife, represents a more traditional form of Southern femininity. She is always impeccably dressed, her appearance reflecting both her status in the family and her adherence to societal expectations of "proper" feminine beauty.
In contrast, Judy’s style is more eccentric, often evoking the 1980s era with her bold, power-clashing skirt suits and voluminous hair. While Amber’s look is polished and poised, Judy’s more awkward, juvenile styling hints at her struggle to fit into the mold of the perfect Southern woman. Despite her position of power within the family, Judy’s appearance often fails to align with the traditional standards of beauty, which only adds to her feelings of being marginalized within her own family.
A Fashion-Forward Conclusion
The final season of "The Righteous Gemstones" brings a sense of closure not only to the characters’ arcs but also to the costumes that have helped define the show’s larger-than-life aesthetic. Costume designer Christina Flannery reflects on how this series has allowed her to take bold risks, dressing characters like Goggins’ Baby Billy in gold and purple lamé or Patterson’s Judy in nautical-inspired looks. The outrageous and, at times, “crazy, sparkly” nature of these outfits has allowed the characters to exist in a world where performance is everything, both on and off the stage.
As "The Righteous Gemstones" wraps up, the memorable fashion choices will live on as a lasting tribute to the show’s unique take on Southern megachurch culture. In the end, fashion is not just about clothing—it's about creating a visual spectacle that reflects the characters' outsized personalities and the absurdity of their world. Through sequins, capes, and oversized silhouettes, the show has reminded us that sometimes, in the world of megachurches, fashion speaks louder than words.