A Tribute to the Best, Sexiest and Dorkiest Disguises on The Americans
Entertainment
After five years on air, The Americans firmly cemented itself as one of the best yet most woefully under-appreciated shows on television. The period piece about Philip and Elizabeth Jennings, two KGB spies stuck in a fraught, arranged marriage who surveil (and kill) for their motherland while posing as upper-middle class D.C. suburbanites—with two American children who are none the wiser along the way—has snagged loads of critical acclaim and a handful of Emmy nominations here and there.
Still, the series has lacked the same viral success of other prestige dramas. The Americans is instead the type of show people say they’ve “heard great things about,” and in fact, its reputation has been so entwined with its lore that the show has become a punchline. In an episode of The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, when Artie has to prove he isn’t a zombie (long story), he says, “You know you’re in the golden age of television when you take a show like The Americans for granted.”
While The Americans is largely one long, dark suspense thriller that deals with murder, politics, and complex relationships, one element that brought viewers a little brightness were the disguises worn by Elizabeth and Philip in various missions. These facades—whether they were one-offs or associated with recurring alter-egos—not only helped the couple gather information and maintain their covers; they also doubled as fan fodder. There were jewel-toned blazers, acid wash monstrosities, perms from hell, and suits that looked identical to the kind your uncle rocked in old family photos—all quintessentially ’80s. Now that the show is over, as of Wednesday night’s series finale, let’s pay homage to some of its most iconic disguises.
Elizabeth as Patty (Season 4)
Elizabeth’s tenure as a prospective Mary Kay saleswoman is easily a fan favorite. In an interview with Racked, The Americans costume designer Katie Irish called this look the “anti-Elizabeth.” The trendy hairstyle, chunky jewelry, and bold ’80s coloring were at absolute odds with Elizabeth’s typically demure style. Also, Patty was just a great alter ego. Sure, befriending fellow Mary Kate consultant Young-Hee in an attempt to gain access to and later blackmail her husband was enormously fucked up (especially if you believe, like I do, that Elizabeth truly liked Young Hee), but the look was strong.
Clark!!! (Seasons 1-4)
Philip’s role as Clark Westerfield—an Internal Affairs investigator who ends up marrying his informant Martha, who is a secretary at the FBI—is a wild ride from start to finish. The costume designers did a great job making Philip an absolute square. His blonde toupee is a tragedy, his glasses are dorky, and his shirts are a little too crisp. He’s a lot like that episode of SpongeBob when SpongeBob decides to act “normal.”
Elizabeth in a Long Black Wig (Seasons 1-2 Mostly)
Elizabeth wore the hell out of this wig during the first couple of seasons and automatically became a dark, mysterious beauty who was frank and cut to the chase whenever she rocked it. Honestly, she kind of looked like a more conventional Elvira Mistress of the Dark.
Philip as a Janitor (Seasons 1-2)
This look popped up a couple of times in the early seasons of The Americans: once when Philip beat up a creepy, grown-ass man who was flirting with his teenage daughter, and later when he pretended to be a janitor and stole some classified data (and, uh, killed a random researcher who spotted him to boot). Anyone else think he looks like Matthew McConaughey in True Detective?
Elizabeth as Stephanie, the Nurse (Season 6)
It took six seasons for Elizabeth’s most frumpy ’80s look to come to fruition. But we got there with flying colors through Stephanie, the home care nurse who nurses the ailing wife of an American nuclear-arms negotiator. As Stephanie, Elizabeth perfectly absorbs the homeliness that the costume invokes, and she did it so well that I almost forgot that she was a brutal murderer. It’s tough work making Keri Russell not look like an absolute babe, but the shapeless fleece sweaters, sweatpants, and stringy hair did the trick.
Philip as Jim (Seasons 3-6)
Honestly, I always forgot that this alter ego was named Jim. I always called him Scumbag! Philip, because this character is literally just a grown man who ends up getting in a relationship with a girl named Kimmy, the teen daughter of a CIA agent. He’s scuzzy to the core, and it’s emphasized by his tinted sunglasses and long shaggy hair. Philip is the absolute definition of Stranger Danger in this get up. He would probably drive a maroon van, too!
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