Keri Russell Reveals Why She Still Wears The Same Black Suit In “The Diplomat”

Keri Russell is back as U.S. Ambassador Kate Wyler in The Diplomat, and she’s still rocking the same black suit she wore in the show’s debut season! During a panel at PaleyFest in New York City on October 20, Keri shared that her character’s signature outfit will continue to be a staple in the upcoming second season of the Netflix political thriller.

“We are three years in, and I still wear the same black suit,” Keri, 48, revealed, adding, “I change my shirt color sometimes, but I wear the same black suit, and – gosh darn it – I love it.”

Keri explained that the decision for Kate to stick to her simple yet powerful uniform is deliberate. It allows her character to focus on bigger issues without the distraction of wardrobe decisions.

“I think maybe men have this more than women get to, but I love dressing up too. I love all of those things, and the power of clothes and fashion and all of that. But when you have a uniform, you’re not thinking – you’re not spending mental time thinking about anything else other than what you want to focus on,” she stated, emphasizing that “there’s a real freedom in that.”

The Diplomat, which first premiered in 2023, follows Kate Wyler, the U.S. Ambassador to the UK, as she navigates the murky waters of international diplomacy to prevent a global war. In the upcoming second season, her world is shaken by a deadly explosion in the heart of London, forcing Kate to deal with a deeper threat that may be coming from within the British government itself.

In season 1, Kate’s wardrobe took a notable shift when she traded in her black suit for a stunning red gown at a gala. The series’ costume designer, Roland Sanchez, explained that the color choice was intentional, with showrunner Debora Cahn having mapped out the reasons for each costume decision. “Red was always in Debora’s script. Debora laid it all out. She’s very in tune. She’s very costume oriented and there’s reasons why she does things for these characters,” Sanchez told IndieWire.

In addition to Keri, The Diplomat stars Rufus Sewell as Kate’s husband Hal Wyler, alongside Ali Ahn, Ato Essandoh, and David Gyasi. At the PaleyFest event, Keri also shared her excitement about working with Emmy winner Allison Janney, who is joining the cast in season 2 as Vice President Grace Penn. According to Keri, she “was nervous, a little bit” as she considers Allison “awesome and so good.”

Fans won’t have to wait long for more diplomatic drama — season 2 of The Diplomat premieres on Netflix on Thursday, Oct. 31.