WHO’S THAT GIRL?

Michelle J. Li is a Chinese-American Costume Designer for film, TV + stage. She combines her extensive graphic and fine arts background in order to wield color, form and pattern with finesse to create fresh and whimsical work.

Michelle’s culture shifting talent has graced screens worldwide and premiered at renown film festivals like Sundance, Tribeca, TIFF, and SXSW.

At 27, she is also the youngest Costume Designer on Broadway, making her debut with JOB at The Hayes Theater.

She most recently designed Amy Wang’s forthcoming satirical drama, Slanted, premiering at SXSW 2025 under Narrative Feature Competition. Additional feature highlights include Emma Seligman’s breakout cult favorite Shiva Baby, award-winning mockumentary Theater Camp, and Alex Lehmann’s time-travel rom-com starring Kaley Cuoco and Pete Davidson, Meet Cute. Select shorts credits include Newbies directed by Kimiko Matsuda-Lawrence + Megan Trufant Tillman, Bea & Sofia directed by Victoria Pedretti, Tiger Ji’s Wuhan Driver, and Chaperone starring Zachary Quinto. She was also tapped to design Season 3 of Comedy Central’s Awkwafina is Nora From Queens.

Select commercial clients have include Condé Nast (Vogue,Teen Vogue, Allure, Glamour), Laura Mercier, Nylon, Ampersand, and Amazon.

Michelle holds a BFA in Costume Design, summa cum laude, from Carnegie Mellon University. She is her design year’s sole recipient of the Elizabeth Kimberly Schrader Costume Design Award in addition to being selected as a 2024 Tartan On The Rise.

Michelle is based in NYC and is a proud member of Local USA 829 as well as the Production Designers Collective.