In 1952, a troupe of carnival freaks make their way to Jupiter, Florida.
As the freaks attempt to draw an audience to a dying art, they’re being attacked by an evil that no one, freak or human, is safe from.
This is the premise of “American Horror Story: Freak Show,” which premieres Wednesday as the next installment of the “American Horror Story” series by co-creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk. 
And with a new installment comes a new series of costumes.
Costume designer Lou Eyrich is the woman behind the clothing of “American Horror Story” veterans Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters and all other “Freak Show” actors.
Eyrich couldn’t say much about what viewers would see in the new season, but said it’s all that’s been shown in the trailers along with more twists and turns. She said viewers learn all of the freaks’ backstories and how they ended up at the carnival.
“[It] might be my favorite season,” Eyrich said.
Eyrich has worked with Murphy for years on multiple projects including all three previous seasons of “American Horror Story,” as well as “Glee” and “Nip/Tuck.” Eyrich was awarded the Costume Designers Guild Award for Career Achievement in Television in 2012.
Eyrich said the beginning stage of designing is the most engaging. She reads the script and puts together who she thinks the characters are deep down and what their environment is.
For “Freak Show,” Eyrich researched carnivals, circuses and freak shows for historical information, along with how past famous freak show characters were portrayed.  Once research is finished, Eyrich formulates an idea of how each character should look. After that, she goes over the designs with Murphy to decide what stays and what goes.
Eyrich also works with the makeup and hair department when putting together all the characters’ looks.
Eyrich said “Freak Show” was challenging compared to the costuming she did for “American Horror Story: Coven.” For “Coven,” she said she was able to pull most costumes off the rack from mainstream clothing stores such as Urban Outfitters.  But for “Freak Show,” she said much more building was involved.
“This season is completely different as far as designing,” Eyrich said.
She said more planning was involved in dressing the “freaks” in the new season, like a character with no legs and another who is 7 feet tall.
With the dimension challenges, Eyrich put together a combination of pieces that were custom-designed, rented from Los Angeles and vintage. She said some actors will be wearing the same outfit for the entire six months of filming. So, when having to design for a character with needs, like extreme height, Eyrich had to make sure enough vintage fabric could be found.
Eyrich said she keeps the actors’ needs in mind as well as their characters’ needs.
“I know their special little things,” Eyrich said.
Eyrich said one actor doesn’t like things to go over their head, another can’t wear heels and some get their makeup and hair done before getting dressed. All of these factors go into the costume design plans to make sure the actors are comfortable in their clothing.
Once the curtain is lifted on “Freak Show,” all costumes and plot points will be unveiled.
You can reach Meg Ryan on Twitter @The_MegRyan.

Gallery • 5 Photos

FX

AMERICAN HORROR STORY: FREAK SHOW "Monsters Among Us"- Episode 401 (Airs Wednesday, October 8, 10:00 PM e/p) --Pictured: Jyoti Amge as Ma Petite. CR: Michele K. Short/FX