ellie illustration2

The Last Of Us Reveals Costume Designer Illustrations

4 Comments | Bella Ramsey, hbo, hbo max, pedro pascal, The Last of Us | By | | 2 minutes of reading

Believe it or not, even folks in the zombie apocalypse need fashion guidance. Enter Ann Foley and Imogene Chayes, two clothes designers for Hollywood productions who were responsible for the outfits Ellie, Joel and other characters are wearing in this season of The Last Of Us. As a bit of midseason promotion, HBO shared their sketches with Popgeeks.

Foley is a costume designer and Chayes is a costume concept illustrator — the former thinks up the designs and the latter draws them in detail. Here’s how the characters’ attire got started:

ellie illustration
With her dual holsters and powerful rifle, Ellie is not to be messed with. She’s picked out a lovely denim windbreaker and distressed jeans to complement her arm tattoo. Now she’s the Bella Ramsey of the ball!

joel illustration
He may be somewhat older than you saw him last season, but Joel Miller is still the same — a grizzled zombie hunter and fierce protector of Ellie. He’s sporting a colorful sweater overlaid with a furred winter jacket. They seemed to be somewhat estranged in the season premiere. Hmm, wonder if we’ll find out what that’s about…

abby illustration

For those who complain that HBO Abby lacks the musculature of the original, it might’ve started here, with this outfit where you can’t see her arms at all (she’s dressed for the winter, though, we get it). Abbs hasn’t been in every episode, as they’ve chosen to follow the video game plot nearly exactly. This just means there’ll be a lot LOT more of her next time.

seraphite priest illustration
There are many dangers our characters face beyond just the infected. The larger territory is currently embroiled in a war between the cult of the Seraphites and the military army WLF. As Ellie witnessed in the most recent episode, if the Seraphites catch you, they gut and hang you at the same time. Although maybe there might be friendly Seraphites out there. Maybe we’ll see some next season.

The Last Of Us currently runs new episodes Sunday nights on HBO.

Join the club!

Video interviews, reviews, game news, and pure fandom - be the first to know!

Related Posts

4 replies

Join the discussion →

Loading new replies...

Avatar of Leon_Wong
Leon_Wong

Ada Finally Waited!

62 messages 0 likes
#1 May 16, 2025

These illustrations show how much thought goes into grounding the characters in their environment. Ellie’s outfit is a great mix of rugged and expressive—her denim windbreaker especially reflects her age and toughness. Joel’s costume choice, with the layered textures, really sells the idea that he's aged and adapted. I also noticed the Seraphite priest's robes seem ceremonial but still functional, which reflects how their belief system blends with survivalism. Abby's winter coat doesn’t address the debate about her physique, but honestly, character depth isn't defined by visible muscles. These sketches are more than promo—they show the care that Foley and Chayes put into visual storytelling.

Reply Like

Avatar of AbbyB13
AbbyB13

Just call my name! Abbygail!

11 messages 0 likes
#2 May 16, 2025

I just like that they stuck with the video game looks. Abby’s winter outfit doesn’t bother me much—I know she’ll have her time to shine. And Joel’s sweater actually looks kinda cool in the drawing. I remember his model in the second game wearing stuff like that, so they kept it close. Ellie’s denim jacket is a nice touch too. She’s becoming more of a fighter now. It all feels natural.

Reply Like

Avatar of Ellie Chamberlayn
Ellie Chamberlayn

New Member

10 messages 0 likes
#3 May 16, 2025

Wow, I didn’t realize they actually do drawings like that first! Ellie’s sketch looks awesome. You can totally tell she’s ready for action. And Joel’s got this cool mix of warm and worn-down vibes. The Seraphite one creeped me out though. I remember that episode where they showed up—it felt so tense. I’m still catching up, but I like knowing how much care they put into every outfit.

Reply Like

Avatar of 0preretgf90
0preretgf90

New Member

50 messages 0 likes
#4 May 16, 2025

I’ve followed HBO series for years, and I always find their costume work reliable. It doesn’t shout for attention, but it supports the characters beautifully. These illustrations reinforce that. Foley and Chayes know how to mix practicality with subtle expression. I particularly appreciate Joel’s layers—it reminds me of how aging men carry both physical and emotional weight. As for Ellie, the tattoo and dual holsters in the drawing remind us she’s come into her own. This isn’t just the girl from season one anymore.

Reply Like

Join the full discussion at the PopGeeks.com Forum | Indie Games, Movies, TV & Comics →