How Sirens On Netflix Uses Fashion to Tell Its Story — With a Wink to Nantucket Style
Netflix’s “Sirens“, which debuted on May 22, may be packed with drama and intrigue, but its wardrobe is turning just as many heads as the storyline.
“Sirens” Premise
Set in a sun-soaked, elite coastal enclave, the five-episode limited series follows Devon (Meghann Fahy), who tries to pull her sister Simone (Milly Alcock) away from the glamorous yet mysterious world she’s been drawn into—working for the enigmatic Michaela Kell (Julianne Moore) and her billionaire husband Peter (Kevin Bacon).
As viewers dive into the glossy beach-town setting, one thing stands out almost immediately: the bold, unmistakably preppy fashion. The show’s parade of bright prints and polished resort wear—particularly the eye-catching pieces reminiscent of Lilly Pulitzer—has sparked plenty of attention.
In an interview with Variety on May 23, creator Molly Smith Metzler explained that her inspiration came directly from personal experiences in New England, especially the island of Nantucket.
“My best friend has a house there, and it’s for real,” Metzler said. “Lilly Pulitzer is for real. They all have it on in Nantucket. Then there’s the Nantucket reds, the salmon color pants. The first time you see it, you’re like, ‘Where am I?’ It’s so bright. It’s sort of like, if you’ve been there, you’re in on the joke, you know the pants to buy.”
She also highlighted a key moment in episode one, when Simone is introduced wearing a standout pink floral dress that signals her new life of luxury and status. “It also takes a certain status to put on a dress like the one Simone has on when we meet her,” Metzler noted.
Though the fashion screams Lilly Pulitzer, Metzler revealed most of the wardrobe was tailor-made for the series.
“I love Lilly, I have some Lilly, but it’s a little ridiculous,” she admitted. “There’s something so saturated and bright about it. We’re so fortunate [Caroline Duncan], our costume designer, took that and just ran with it — most of the stuff on the show that looks like Lilly Pulitzer is actually custom.”
Beyond the wardrobe, Sirens uses subtle accessories to deepen the story. One such detail is the matching lockets worn by the “sirens”—a detail rooted in local culture.
“It’s something you can only buy in Nantucket, they’re called basket necklaces, and they usually have ivory from Wales in them,” Metzler explained. “But they’re very expensive, they’re handmade and everyone in Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard is wearing them.”
To Metzler, these accessories carry more meaning than meets the eye. “It’s a little like wearing a cross, like a religion,” she said. “You know something that everyone else doesn’t.”
“Sirens” is currently streaming on Netflix.
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