Teyla Emmagan from 'Stargate Atlantis'
When you're the queen of a now primitive but once technologically advanced community traveling across galaxies in a spaceship full of human explorers, dressing for the occasion can be a challenge. There's not exactly a Gap in outer space (well, there might be; it's difficult to know for sure). But for Teyla Emmagan (Rachel Luttrell) of Stargate Atlantis, airing Fridays on Sci-Fi Channel, her ace in the hole is costume designer Valerie Halverson.
"Teyla was the leader of her people -- the Athosians -- but she has come onto Atlantis to help guide them," says Halverson, who designs everything for the series. "We tried to get her looking more like a team member, so we gave her a sleeker, sexier uniform, but also wanted to keep an elegance about her. After all, she is a queen. I've always tried to convey that. She's a regal hunter."
Halverson's appreciation for this character is easy to understand since most of her other main characters are wearing the same uniforms episode after episode. But as the ship's alien liaison, Teyla tends to slip into something a little bit more comfortable when she visits the locals.
"When she goes off-world she represents the other world," Halverson says. "Not being in an Atlantis uniform makes it easier for her to walk around the other world ... . She is probably the best character I've ever dressed. She commands a strong design."
That can be attributed to both her royal status and her huntress roots. In alien-speak, she's a little bit country and a little bit rock 'n' roll. Imagine if Britney Spears were older, more primitive and an alien (it's not that hard to do). Leathers and furs cut with the thought of baring as much skin as can be done without making her look like a royal tart are the order of business whenever possible. But Luttrell's recent pregnancy did prove to be a challenge.
"We had to hide it until she was about six months," Halverson says with a laugh. "She had always worn this belly-baring look, so we had to anticipate that and started changing her designs a bit so the fans wouldn't speculate. It really was a design challenge. But once we were able to show the pregnancy, we went all out."
And she means that almost literally because perhaps never before in television history has a pregnant alien belly gotten so much design attention. Teyla's coats and shirts were actually cut to show it off like a gem in a setting.
But now that her body is back to normal, Halverson is transitioning back.
"I have this long coat in front of me right now that I love on her," she says. "It's a very strong presence. She can hide weapons underneath and be the warrior underneath but still comes across with a softer side on the outside."
For most of Teyla's wardrobe, Halverson likes to use multiple types of material, such as leather and silk.
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