In "Eternity," an uplifting, inventive fantasy rom-com, the afterlife has a specific kind of dress code, which cranky suburban grandpa Larry (Barry Primus) soon discovers after he mortally chokes on pretzel bites and wakes up on a train to the great beyond. He disembarks at the Junction, a bustling mid-century Grand Central Station-meets-soulless hotel chain where the recently passed choose their eternity.

Like his fellow deceased, Larry (now Miles Teller) appears in the afterlife as his happiest self: a married dad in his late-30s with a closet full of his favorite clothes awaiting him. He arrives just before his wife of 65 years, Joan (Betty Buckley), rolls into the Junction soon thereafter. Joan (now Elizabeth Olsen) arrives as her most blissful self in her late 20s—when she experienced short-lived, euphoric young love with her first husband, Luke (Callum Turner), who died in "the war." He means the Korean War, which coincides with Joan’s early-1950s afterlife wardrobe.

Joan has one week to decide whether to spend eternity with Larry, who she built a long, multi-generational life with, or swoony Luke, who’s waited 67 years for her. Along the way, the trio’s wardrobes, by costume designer Angus Strathie, help guide them all toward their own versions of forever.

Joan’s Enduring ‘50s Vibe

Stunned and speechless after seeing Luke for the first time in seven decades, Joan—with the help of her afterlife coordinator Ryan (John Early)—dons a red '50s-style dress. She looks hopeful and romantic in a sweetheart neckline, chevron detailing, and a matching bolero. “That really resonated with Elizabeth, as well,” says Strathie. "The '50s of it all, when Joan first started dating Luke.” Joan probably romanticizes Luke with 'what ifs' and that more carefree part of her life—free of the stresses and obligations involved with age and increasing responsibility. “I would be choosing that, and not the tracksuit that you wore weeks before you died,” says Strathie, who won an Oscar for Baz Luhrmann's 2001 musical, "Moulin Rouge".

Classic pieces, with '50s influences, are also Joan’s personal style that she carried not just into her golden years in life, but also into her afterlife wardrobe. For a test run in Mountain Eternity with Luke, she wears a radiant teal peacoat, a marigold turtleneck sweater, and dark red plaid trousers. “There was nothing supermodern about her,” says Strathie, “The older Joan likes herself in slightly retro clothes, as well.” 

When Joan ventures into Beach Eternity with Larry, she opts for a ‘50s-style red one-piece and a yellow terry beach cover-up with matching red gingham trim. “It just felt like the right thing for her, a bikini or contemporary swimwear felt a little bit ordinary,” says Strathie, who outfitted the rest of the beach-goers in looks from multiple decades. “In the end, it was all about making Elizabeth feel that her Joan history in her head feels right.”

Larry’s Miles Teller-Approved Dad Outfits

Larry, who’s been a straight-up khakis and cardigan guy his entire life, ups his game for his Beach Eternity date with Joan. He breaks out a yellow-striped short-sleeve shirt, coordinating with Joan, and candy-color shorts. “There was a cuteness to that whole scene,” says Strathie, also pointing out that director David Freyne is a huge fan of the color yellow, which you can also spot in the production design by Zazu Myers. 

The matchy-matchy couple look, with similar '50s period influences, also bolster Joan and Larry’s conversations reminiscing about their rich life together when they find a peaceful moment on a rowboat. “The slightly period clothes helped with that, as opposed to, ‘Oh, we're just younger, but we're wearing what we died in,’” says Strathie. “It wouldn’t feel like they got to have the memories of what made them so close in the beginning.”

Larry’s reliable-grandpa aesthetic also helped Teller get into character as an octogenarian finding himself in his 30-something-year-old body. “[Teller] really liked [Larry’s] '80s dad sweaters and practical outfits. That was unexpected, but great,” says Strathie. “In Miles's mind, [younger-looking] Larry was still a father and grandfather, and all that experience stayed with him. But, when Larry was on vacation, he wanted the bright shirt and pants.”

Luke’s Matinee-Idol Suits and Bomber Jackets

Afterlife Coordinator Anna (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) stays loyal to her charge, Larry. Yet she still can’t help but compare Luke to Old Hollywood heartthrob Montgomery Clift. (Even Joan’s granddaughter refers to Luke as “Nana’s stupidly attractive first husband.”) Luke also stays enshrined in the Silver Screen era through his dark suits and ties, as well as the bomber jacket he wore at the end of his short life. “Luke died quite young, and certainly Callum wanted to keep Luke quite rigidly in that ‘50s time. Because they're all the clothes that he had, and that's where he was going to stay,” says Strathie. “I think Callum only wore two or three shirts throughout the whole thing.”

Luke busts out more playful looks in Mountain Eternity and enjoys what he wasn’t able to experience in life. He excitedly après-skis in a blue alpine sweater and a sporty ski suit, while making friends with a neon-clad couple who probably bit it on a double black diamond in 1983. “He wasn't going to be wearing ski tech-wear. We kept his clothes to what would be appropriate [for the '50s],” says Strathie. “It was more important for him to look like this handsome creature who is all cuddly in the sweaters and all that he could well have had in his life.”

Luke also picnics with Joan, lakeside, in a more vibrant, but still rugged, blue bomber jacket and walks the woods in natty checks and long wool coats. “He was the dashing leading man in a vintage sense. So to keep his clothes to those classic shapes, textures, and colors seemed really right for him,” says Strathie. “Meanwhile, in contrast, Miles, who looks like your '80s sitcom dad, doesn't get to wear the handsome leading man clothes because he was the comfortable shoe that was waiting to be picked.”