The ‘Seinfeld Backstage’ Instagram Account Is a Polaroid-Filled Celebration of the Show’s Style Legacy

While the signature “Jerry” look on Seinfeld was a reflection of the style at the time (read: the 1990s), it was also thoughtfully crafted work done by the show’s wardrobe department. This hard work has been preserved by Stephanie Kennedy, who was the costume supervisor from Seasons Five through Nine, on her Seinfeld Backstage Instagram account, where she shares the behind-the-scenes history of the show’s most memorable fits. Fits such as…

The costume department added 10 bags of polyester filler to George’s puffer in “The Dinner Party.”

Kramer’s sweater in “The Sniffing Accountant” is an accidental repeat offender that made an appearance on another character in an earlier season.

Styling cues for Jackie Chiles came from real-life lawyer Johnnie Cochran, which made it easy to dress the beloved character brought to life by Phil Morris.

Seinfeld’s directive for styling Seinfeld was to “keep timeless, not trendy” so that the attention was on the performer and not what they were wearing.

Kramer’s wardrobe was primarily sourced through vintage pieces that caused some anxiety in “The Calzone,” an episode that called for his jacket and shirt to be heated in the oven, and a pair of cargo pants with enough room to carry hundreds of pennies.

“The English Patient” was inspired by a real-life interaction between Seinfeld and Kennedy, when Kennedy urged Jerry to see the movie and he couldn’t help but wonder what if he hated it.

Seinfeld treated his crew like family and went as far to take the 12-year-old car-obsessed, Hot Wheels-collecting son of one of the show’s boom ops for a joy ride in his brand new Boxster.

The Seinfeld crew worked with the American Humane Association to ensure that any animals on the show were safe and protected. 

Writer and producer Peter Mehlman’s morning routine consisted of a cherry danish, coffee with half and half and one sugar, and he always made sure to leave crafty for the rest of the crew.

The J. Peterman storyline allowed Kennedy to take bigger risks with wardrobe, with the urban sombrero debacle proving one of the more stressful styling choices in “The Foundation.”