what 'too much' gets right about zillennial dog mom culture
we all deserve someone who will match our freak.
Hi! Today’s newsletter pulls the curtain back on the world of casting and costuming the freaky little dog in Lena Dunham’s new Netflix show.
Last Friday, as another episode of ‘Love Island’ finished to the tropical electronic ba-da-ba-ba-ba/ba-da-ba-DUM sting, my brain prepared to switch gears for ‘Too Much,’ the new autobiographical-ish romcom series from Lena Dunham.
The premise is this: Jessica (a winsome Meg Stalter) moves from New York to London after a breakup, finding herself in a unexpected romance with Felix (Will Sharpe), a brooding but sweet struggling musician type.
My advice? Don’t go into it with GIRLS expectations. It’s not GIRLS.
Reception to the show has drawn comparisons to ‘Emily in Paris’ because of the whole *American being a fish out of water in Europe* thing, but I think it’s tonally more gritty and less frothy. And while Emily is notorious for her aggressively busy designer outfits that she probably styled using ChatGPT, Jessica’s wardrobe is trendy in a familiar way. She reminds me of the local girls in SF who wear sailor collared frocks and dainty floral prints from brands like Lisa Says Gah, Damson Madder, and Rachel Antonoff.
But perhaps the biggest style star of the show is Astrid, the gremlin-esque floppy-tongued dog Jessica adopts from a shelter and spends half her savings on for tumor removal. (This backstory struck a chord with me, because I also have a rescue dog who needed a life-saving expensive surgery).
Astrid’s dog outfits are just as vibrant and whimsical as Jessica’s, which reflects the pair’s deep connection.
In one of the first scenes, we see them bedrotting together in these matching frilly nightgowns (cute, my dream date). You quickly understand that they are attached at the hip. Inseparable.
On their travel day to London, Astrid sports a sky blue cloud sweater from Little Beast, purveyor of the stylish pet onesies you see on Instagram. Sometimes, she’s naked and bundled up in a pastel crochet blanket, wispy hairs sticking out. Other times, she’s throwing fits in a fur trim coat.
So I reached out to two sources to learn more about the “real” Astrid: Tayler Lewis-Bungay from Urban Paws Agency and Arielle Cooper-Lethem, the show’s costume designer.
We talk about:
how she was cast for the role
what was on the dog outfit moodboard
why she is portrayed as more than an “accessory dog”
the deeper symbolism of Jessica and Astrid’s matching wardrobes
The animal actor who plays Astrid is 13-year old Chinese crested dog named Mia. She is repped by Urban Paws, a leading animal talent agency in the UK.
Her agency profile reads: “she is almost completely hairless, with soft pink skin that develops brown markings in the summer. She has a few wisps of hair on her head and just a handful on her tail, making her look truly unique.” Wahhhh. Baby angel!
Star power clearly runs in the family, because Mia’s brother is Mugly, winner of World’s Ugliest Dog in 2012.
Lewis-Bungay shares that Mia has been on the agency’s roster for over a decade, but this was her first major project. “The only reason Mia hasn’t done a huge amount of work previously is because of her very unique breed, which is exactly what makes her such a perfect fit for ‘Too Much,’” she said.
According to Cooper-Lethem, Lena Dunham’s own dog Ingrid (also a hairless rescue) was originally going to play Astrid. However, Ingrid’s health issues wouldn’t allow for the demands of long set days, which led them to seek an animal actor.
Mia had no formal acting experience, but her experience as a therapy dog and shop dog at Mutts-Nutts in Peterborough helped with her sociability. Lewis-Bungay describes her as “social bunny,” adding that “her mum Bev got a trainer to help her do all the requirements, which she smashed.”
She also wants viewers to know that "once an animal is cast in a role as big as Astrid, it isn't as simple as carrying a dog on set a couple of times.” There’s a ton of behind-the-scenes work. Behind Mia's scene-stealing performance lies months of training, custom fittings, and travel to various set locations. And a British Vogue shoot, of course!
I asked Cooper-Lethem whether there were any cultural references she used as inspo for Jessica and Astrid’s outfits (such as Elle Woods and Bruiser). She explained that Jessica’s style was really the “North Star” for Astrid, who is “in no way an accessory dog.”
Astrid is the purest love in Jessica’s life, and I think the show successfully portrays a human-dog bond grounded in respect and care. I’m not saying that Elle loved Bruiser less…but Jessica and Astrid’s bond is particularly tender.
“We treated her like the main character she is […] and even had illustrations for most of her looks,” Cooper-Lethem mused.
Most of Astrid's wardrobe was designed by Cooper-Lethem and custom-made by the show's production team—unfortunate news if you were hoping to buy a “precious gown” for your pet. Some pieces were based on Lena's wardrobe for her own dog Ingrid.
Then, there are the intricate practicalities of animal costuming that most viewers never consider. “We had to design garments that kept their private parts covered,” Cooper-Lethem explained, “which most manufactured dog clothes completely ignore.”
Her favorite look? “Definitely the leopard print coat we made for her with shaggy cream faux fur trim. Iconic!”
The show’s central theme revolves around emotional baggage from previous romantic relationships. Throughout her time in London, Jessica revisits painful memories of the way her ex treated her. His criticism of her outfits, habits, and interests still resurface as negative self-talk as she navigates her new relationship with Felix.
Ultimately, Jessica’s journey is about staying true to herself despite this baggage. We see this arc reflected in her choice to wear big tulle skirts and ruffled pink frocks despite the overall sartorial drabness of her British counterparts.
Cooper-Lethem elaborates on this analysis of Jessica’s healing process: “I think [she] is definitely participating in some form of therapy via Astrid.”
“She’s treating [Astrid] the way she wants to be treated, embracing all of her quirks, and through that is proving to herself that true love does indeed exist.”
When the two wear matching outfits, it’s a way of saying “you belong here and are a part of this pack,” she adds.
Their dynamic is possibly the true romance of the show—a win for fashion girls and velcro dogs everywhere.
xo viv
Thanks for being here. You can find me on IG and TT. My wardrobe pieces and recs are saved here—unless it’s vintage, of course ;)
This now reminds me of the bit in hacks where Meg Stalter's character starts signing pet dogs to her talent agency
Viv this is the style analysis I subscribe for!! You’re amazing at this. I loved every word