Inside 'Wednesday' season 2: Tim Burton’s gothic gala comes to life in Dublin

The set of Wednesday Season 2 has transformed Ashford Studios in Dublin into a Venetian-inspired wonderland. 

Vogue releases the latest episode on YouTube, featuring costume designers Colleen Atwood and Mark Sutherland, to discuss the memorable looks from the season, following the conclusion of the final episodes of Wednesday.

This time, the Addams family is taking center stage at an extravagant 18th-century gothic ball — a scene that’s shaping up to be one of the most ambitious productions of the series yet.

Steve Buscemi has already stolen laughs by arriving on a gondola in a flamboyant purple floral outfit, earning the nickname “George Washington” from director Tim Burton. Around him, the cast twirls in gowns as wide as banquet tables, carefully blocking steps to avoid colliding mid-dance.

The real magic, however, is in the costumes. With nearly 1,000 pieces created for the gala alone, the wardrobe department has grown to over 100 artisans — tailors, dyers, printers, and dressers — all working tirelessly to capture Burton’s signature gothic vision.

Everyone’s wearing dresses as big as a table,” Jenna Ortega reports from the Wednesday set. “It’s very gratifying,” Jenna said. 

In essence, Mark Sutherland described the moment as stepping from imagination into reality, a surreal shift from words on a script to a living, breathing spectacle.

“You read about a gala in the script months ago, and suddenly you’re standing in a ballroom surrounded by this sea of intricate designs and lighting. It’s surreal.”  Mark Sutherland said.

From Morticia’s razor-sharp, bone-structured gown to Wednesday’s experimental high school looks that mix ’90s grunge with Victorian undertones, every outfit reflects both character and era. “Wardrobe isn’t just clothing,” said Burton. “It’s character.”

Despite the visual grandeur, the cast admits the costumes aren’t easy to wear. “The Wednesday star said she needs at least 40 minutes to put in the dress,” she continues, “It’s layers on layers — corset, fishnet, shorts, leotard, sheer, everything. But once you’re in it, you don’t have to say a word. You are the character.”

The Venetian ball is more than just a set piece — it’s a fundraiser in the story, dreamed up by Morticia herself. And behind the cameras, it symbolizes the show’s collaborative spirit. “When we saw it all together for the first time,” the designer said, “it felt like a collective victory. Every stitch, every alteration, it was worth it.”

As Burton calls for another take, the orchestra swells, and the gothic masquerade continues. With its mix of the absurd, the extravagant, and the hauntingly beautiful, Wednesday Season 2 promises to be darker, grander, and more unforgettable than ever.

Moreover, the designer Colleen Atwood is admired for reflecting Tim Burton's aesthetics by designing these amazing costumes, as she was praised in the past for her work in fantasy features, including Beetlejuice, Alice in Wonderland, Sleepy Hollow, and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.