Devi Vishwakumar’s colorful print-mixing has become something of a trend among stylish fans of Netflix’s “Never Have I Ever.” Costume designer Salvador Perez tells POPSUGAR he calls her look “unfashionably fashionable,” meaning she owns her sense of style without being luxury-obsessed.
“Though we kept her printed pants and oversize cardigans, we also made her a little more fun and flirty.”
Devi, played by Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, is known for a quirky, ’90s-inspired sense of style. She’s worn everything from multicoloured Free People cardigans to plaid Urban Outfitters pants teamed with combat boots. It’s an aesthetic that’s loosely based on show creator Mindy Kaling‘s sense of style during her teenage years in Sherman Oaks, CA, Perez says.
But when season three was announced, Perez was busy designing for “Hocus Pocus 2,” and passed the reins to his former assistant Glinda Suarez, who was also Kaling’s personal costumer for “The Mindy Project.” Suarez, who has worked with the “NHIE” costume team since season one, pulled off a smooth transition by playing off Perez’s approach, and further elevating the series outfits.
“Salvador is a tough act to follow, so of course there were some nerves taking over for season three, but he set me up for success,” she tells POPSUGAR via email.
“Devi had a bit of a glow up,” Suarez teases of the protagonist’s newfound confidence in season three. “She is a junior now and finally has a boyfriend she’s been dreaming of since freshman year. Though we kept her printed pants and oversized cardigans, we also made her a little more fun and flirty, starting the season with a body-con dress for the ‘Daxton’ debut. We also added some lower necklines, like the sunflower blouse she wears to the party where she meets a certain new Indian heartthrob.”
Ahead, see all the fashion details Suarez shared with us for season three, and look back on Perez’s top moments from seasons one and two.
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"Never Have I Ever" Season 3: Devi's Colorful Socks
As Suarez takes the reins for season three, she adds her own signature touch through Devi’s colorful socks, which are worn peeking out of her sneakers or boots throughout the show, like in this moment with Paxton. It’s also another fun way for Devi to mix prints, which speaks to her unique personal style.
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"Never Have I Ever" Season 3: Devi's Half Saree
We haven’t seen Devi in her sari since season one, so Suarez was excited to dress all the Vishwakumar women in sarees together for episode four of season three. “I’m looking forward to our audience getting to see this beautiful version of contemporary clothing represented onscreen again,” she says. “This was one of my favorite episodes to design this season.”
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"Never Have I Ever" Season 3: The Friendship Bracelets
While it’s a subtle detail, Perez gave Devi, Eleanor, and Fabiola beaded friendship bracelets that say “Besties” in season two, and Suarez was sure to incorporate them as much as possible in season three. Of course, Devi added a unique touch, often stacking hers among other bracelets and jewelry.
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"Never Have I Ever" Season 2: The Winter Dance Outfits
Perez enjoyed designing the winter dance wardrobe at the end of season two, because everyone got to show off their personality: Devi wore a floral-embroidered Mac Dougal dress with Aldo shoes, Eleanor’s corset and skirt made for a vibrant ragazza moment, and Fabiola wore a suit by Paul Smith.
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"Never Have I Ever" Season 2: Eleanor's Argyle Sweater Vest
Perez says Eleanor’s argyle Free People sweater vest – worn over an Equipment blouse and teamed with a striped J.Crew skirt – was an outfit inspired by “Pretty in Pink” (1986). The look was completed with a pink beret and Jeffrey Campbell shoes.
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"Never Have I Ever" Season 2: Devi's Denim Jacket
Perez custom designed this Levi’s denim jacket with patches and appliqués for Devi. For this scene in episode 10, the look was styled with a J.Crew sweater, a plaid Mariella Ferrari miniskirt, and Doc Martens.
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"Never Have I Ever" Season 2: Meeting Aneesa
Perez says the scene when we meet Aneesa in episode four was equally as memorable for Devi, because she was wearing one of his favorite outfits. For this encounter, Devi mixes prints in a floral Post LA Adaptation bomber jacket, Hollister top, Urban Outfitters red plaid pants, and Blondo shoes.
Meanwhile, Aneesha styles a burgundy mesh Nike jersey over a Sky & Sparrow top with Free People khakis, Nike shoes, and a matching puffer by 32 Degrees. “It was great to show a conservative Muslim girl who still has street style,” Perez says.
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"Never Have I Ever" Season 2: The Rebecca Hall-Yoshida Collection
Devi wears a ’60s-inspired shift dress from Rebecca Hall-Yoshida’s clothing collection in episode eight, which Perez created by repurposing leftover fabric from “The Mindy Project,” the Hulu series he also worked on alongside Mindy Kaling.
“I think like a 15-year-old teen girl, so I designed very simple and sweet pieces that a teen girl could have made herself,” he wrote on Instagram when the episode debuted.
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"Never Have I Ever" Season 1: Devi's Aqua Sari
The “Never Have I Ever” wardrobe team made Devi’s first sari in-house. Its gold embellishments work to play up her jewellery in episode four. “It was fun to bring traditional costumes to their Indian family,” Perez says of the moment.
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"Never Have I Ever" Season 1: Meeting Devi
Perez names Devi’s debut outfit in the pilot episode as his favorite because it was fun and colorful, and it worked to establish her overall sense of style immediately for the viewer. The look was simply sourced, but altogether statement-making, consisting of high-waisted denim by We The Free, a striped Urban Outfitters bodysuit and belt, Fila sneakers, and a Sanctuary orange cardigan.
