Behind the Seams with Valerie Campbell: Costumes, Continuity and the Magic of "Gilmore Girls"
If you know anything about the entertainment industry, you know it takes a village to bring a television show or film to life.
That village includes a wide range of roles—among them, key set costumers like Valerie Campbell.
Campbell’s credits include Mad Men, Party of Five, the 2018 version of A Star Is Born starring Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga (Stefani Germanotta), and, most notably, Gilmore Girls, which she worked on for all seven seasons of the original series and the Netflix revival, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.
I had the privilege of chatting with Campbell one Friday afternoon via Zoom.
Where It All Began
Campbell got her start in high school drama.
“My drama teacher’s husband worked in the film business—he was a stage manager. We would always visit the sets,” she recalled.
While she didn’t want to act, she loved being creative—painting sets, working backstage, doing anything hands-on. At the time, there weren’t many on-screen portrayals of women in behind-the-scenes roles, so for a while, her dream was simply to become a secretary, because that was what she saw represented.
College wasn’t a requirement for the path she was pursuing, and she was encouraged to jump right in. She connected with a theater group and planned to intern—until she got a traffic ticket.
“I needed to make money to pay my insurance,” she explained. She called the internship coordinator, and they offered her a paid role in the subscription department instead.
In Hollywood, it’s often about who you know. A co-worker introduced her to a cousin who was a costume designer, and they needed help. Campbell said yes.
Though unpaid at first, the opportunity led to more connections and hands-on experience.
“They could’ve paid me nothing—I would’ve done it anyway,” she said.
What Does a Set Costumer Do?
There are several roles within a costume department: designer, coordinator, costume supervisor, set supervisor, key set costumer, custom made. Campbell started by learning the ropes across all of them.
She became a union member in 1994 and quickly carved out her place on set.
“The set costumer manages the clothes once they’ve been designed,” she said. “From the moment the designer hands them over until the final day of filming.”
Her responsibilities include setting up actors' rooms, taking notes, helping with dressing, following actors to set, and ensuring continuity throughout filming.
“On Gilmore Girls, the designer was often on set, but that’s less common now, especially post-COVID,” she said.
Campbell would break down scripts and maintain continuity books, helping translate the designer’s vision for actors and ensuring visual consistency from scene to scene.
Those Adorable Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls episodes were filmed over eight days with long hours and a limited budget—though, as Campbell pointed out, “a low budget doesn’t mean no budget.”
Costume decisions had to be strategic. For example, Luke (Scott Patterson) wore the same winter jacket throughout the show.
After the original series, Campbell started working with background managing their clothes and stepped into flexible assisting roles across various productions. Over time, her versatility became one of her greatest assets.
“If someone was sick, I could step in. I knew how to do all the jobs,” she said. “The more you do this, the easier it is to adapt.”
She also contributed to Mad Men and A Star Is Born. For the latter, she assisted with the background actors costumes and watched as Lady Gaga performed live on set for background.
“She would play for the audience—it was so much fun to see,” Campbell recalled.
From Set to Social Media
Now a 30-year industry veteran, Campbell has channeled her encyclopedic memory into a thriving TikTok presence, where she shares behind-the-scenes stories, answers fan questions, and even makes ice cream on livestreams from her home kitchen.
She first caught the attention of fans through The Gilmore Girls Companion, a 2010 book that featured interviews with cast and crew. Actors like Sean Gunn and Keiko Agena recommended Campbell for her deep knowledge of the show.
When Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life premiered on Netflix, it sparked renewed interest in the show and its crew. Soon after, the Fan Fest Society held a gathering in Washington Depot, Connecticut—the real-life inspiration for Stars Hollow—and Campbell was invited to participate.
If you’ve ever seen her at one of the fan events, you know she’s full of stories and insights. Her TikTok has since become a haven for fans, as she walks through everything from episode breakdowns to continuity easter eggs.
At the urging of fans, she also wrote a book—with a twist. Her love for making ice cream inspired her to combine stories, original art and recipes into a charming, fandom-fueled keepsake.
“My focus lately has been making TikToks and trying to remember everything that happened on set,” she said. “Fortunately, my job was to memorize things—what people looked like, how they wore their outfits, all the little details.”
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| Sally Struthers (Babette) throwing Valerie over her shoulder during a break on "Gilmore Girls" set. |
A Beloved Part of the Gilmore Legacy
Valerie Campbell may have worked behind the scenes, but today, she’s a front-facing figure in the Gilmore Girls fandom. With her stories, sketches, scoop —and scoops of ice cream— she reminds us that movie magic lives in the details.
Want a signed copy of her recipe book? You can order one on her website—
www.valeriescateyescream.com/store
she might even personalize it live during a TikTok chat or the social media of your choice!
You can also follow her on TikTok and YouTube for the latest videos, insider secrets and more behind-the-scenes information!
Here are a few great videos to get started:
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