When it comes to costuming modern shows, costumes are not generally made from scratch in a costume department but are often purchased off the rack. Sometimes designers find one-of-a-kind items in vintage clothing stores. Other times chosen pieces are mass-made pieces easily purchased in a department store, and sometimes costumes are the latest in couture. The chosen pieces sometimes appear as is, while other times, they are altered and accessorized as needed. Though studios have much smaller wardrobe and costume departments than they did during the big studio era, they still exist and frequently will reuse from their own stock again and again.

This lovely red dress is an excellent example of the ABC studio pulling from their wardrobe stock. It’s unknown where this dress came from, but it is unlikely that it was a custom design. It was worn in the 2009 episode of Castle entitled Where the Heart Is, on Stana Katic as Kate Beckett. In 2013, the gown appeared in ABC’s Once Upon a Time on Lana Parilla several years later as The Evil Queen. In this instance, the modern dress was used as a base for the costume, with a jacket and other accessories added to it, giving it a much different look, more in keeping with the “Fantasy” feel of the show.