Elena Delgado from 'Without a Trace'
When Roselyn Sanchez reflects on her
character, FBI agent Elena Delgado on CBS' Tuesday series Without a Trace, she focuses on her being a single mom, a Puerto Rican from the Bronx.
For the Puerto Rican-born and -bred beauty pageant winner, it's a good fit. What may be questionable, though, is whether any cop would run in the fabulous stilettos she wears.
"One of the first episodes she did for us, she played an exotic dancer," says Luke Reichle, the show's costumer. "We had these really superhigh platform high heels, and the director was very concerned she would injure herself. She is a dancer. She can climb a pole with her thighs. She is not going to fall off her shoes."
Sanchez always wears heels, on and off camera, she says.
"Latino women, when we go out, we dress up," Sanchez says.
The mainstays of Elena's shoe collection are Sergio Rossi, Paul Smith, Derek Lam and a pair of Chanel boots.
"Elena's look is very, very classy and very comfortable," Sanchez says. "She knows exactly who she is and what will look good. It's unbelievable the amount of money spent on the show and how beautiful the clothes are. I don't know lot of FBI agents. I wonder if it looks like a Pantene commercial -- the hair is fabulous, the clothes are fabulous."
Though some actors are content to have the costumer pick everything, Reichle and Sanchez both say they work collaboratively.
The show's look "is driven by the fact that we are a Jerry Bruckheimer show," Reichle says. "From Jerry Bruckheimer's first project, he was very involved in the look of things. There's a very high level of visual impact. It's almost stark. The look tends to get a little more pushed.
"We definitely take that silhouette, business professional, very utilitarian," Reichle continues. "They make a decent amount of money in the FBI. And the FBI agents I have met have been pretty stylish. The shades are simple, things worn open instead of closed."
For Elena's suits, he shops at Los Angeles-area boutiques including Bleu on LaBrea in L.A., Elyse Walker in Pacific Palisades, Sy Devore in Studio City and Traffic in the Beverly Center.
Reichle finds jackets and trousers at Banana Republic and likes designer Barbara Bui, who has "beautifully cut pants and jackets, not cheap."
Like most FBI agents, Elena doesn't carry a purse, but she wears jewelry including pieces from Margaret Lim and Me & Ro. Reichle picks up accessories for her at a funky boutique in Silver Lake called Uncle Jer's.
As her character's look has refined -- more subtle makeup, better clothes -- one aspect that Sanchez won't change is her accent.
"I don't know how to get rid of it," she says.
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