Film
Fashion
Iconic Styles
Hollywood
Hollywood is one of the biggest influencers in the world and has been for generations. The American film industry is over a century old but continues to be a strong shaper of minds, affecting everything from the latest memes to social norms.
Fashion is another phenomenon that’s hard to separate from the film industry. Over the years, movies have borne iconic styles and shaped generations of clothing, make-up, and hair.
Movies Have Borne Iconic Styles
Movies Have Created Iconic Styles
Clothing
Make-Up
Hair
Think The Devil Wears Prada, the polka-dot dress from Pretty Woman, or just about anything to do with Marilyn Monroe.
Film is inseparable from fashion, so it’s only right that we take the time to celebrate the weird and wonderful styles of Hollywood through the ages. Here, you’ll find a curated selection of the most influential films of the past century, with details highlighting how each one made its mark on the world of fashion.
Are you ready to explore some iconic film outfits? Let’s dive in!
THE GOLDEN AGE OF HOLLYWOOD
Beginning at the end of the 1920s and culminating in 1960, the Golden Age of Hollywood coincided with the development and inclusion of sound in films.
These decades also spawned a huge array of talented actors, directors, and producers who pioneered their own visions to reimagine the world around us completely.
Hollywood Boulevard is littered with the stars of these visionaries, but their legacies extend beyond mere plaques. The world of fashion was shaped by film throughout these years, leading to new trends, fresh ideas, and a shift in societal norms.
We’ll now explore the Golden Age of Hollywood decade by decade as we hone in on the films that had major influences on the fashion industry.
the
1930s
The 1930s were the start of some of Hollywood’s best years. The moving pictures (“movies”) offered respite from global despair and the rumblings of war, infusing people’s lives with little rays of sunshine in the times of hardship that this decade brought.
New sound technology in Films
New technology all but eradicated the days of silent movies during these years. Synchronized speech and stereo audio became mainstream, bringing in actors with great voices as well as faces and paving the way for the early stars of Hollywood to shine.
Celebrities like Judy Garland, Clarke Gable, and Greta Garbo all brought interesting and unique changes to the world of fashion, thanks to their heightened presence on the silver screens.
The following films played key roles in influencing fashion during the early years of Hollywood:
1930
Morocco
Set during the Rif War in the 1920s, Morocco follows the budding romance of legionnaire Tom Brown (played by Gary Cooper) and cabaret singer Amy Jolly (Marlene Dietrich).
Dietrich dressed in a
man’s tailcoat
The film is particularly famous for shattering gender norms and challenging the ideas of women’s fashion. Dietrich frequently dons a tuxedo and top hat and, in one scene, performs a song dressed in a man’s tailcoat, which brought the androgynous style into mainstream media for the first time. The film marked the start of a rethink around gender ideals in fashion.
1934
It Happened One Night
Widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made, It Happened One Night had a far-reaching influence on fashion. Ellie Andrews (played by Claudette Colbert) brandishes a range of outfits during the film that branched away from traditional ideals and toyed with crossing gender stereotypes.
Claudette Colbert’s outfits during the film, particularly her men’s pajamas, sparked trends away from traditional female underwear. It impacted lingerie sales, significantly reducing the popularity of corsets and other classic undergarments.
1939
Gone with the Wind
Adapted from the 1936 novel of the same name by Margaret Mitchell, the 1939 film Gone with the Wind stars Vivien Leigh, Leslie Howard, and Clarke Gable in a wildly romantic tale set in the American South just before the Civil War.
Scarlett O’Hara / Leigh Red Dress
The film’s Southern Belle costumes, particularly the iconic dresses worn by Scarlett O’Hara (played by Leigh), romanticized flowing, billowy gowns and brought them to the forefront of women’s fashion at the time.
1939
The Wizard of Oz
This beloved film has touched the hearts of generations of audiences. Among its many iconic characters, scenes, and songs, one aspect sticks in the mind of all who watch it:
Dorothy’s ruby-red slippers & gingham dress
Dorothy’s ruby-red slippers and gingham dress, made famous by the timeless Judy Garland.
They’re instantly recognizable and played a big part in influencing children’s and women’s fashion at the time. The Wizard of Oz helped popularize colored shoes and inspired women to add a touch of playful innocence to their summer dresses.
the
1940s
Second World War
The following decade spawned a huge range of films that amplified Hollywood’s status as a leading influencer of fashion. Some of the greatest ever movies were created in this decade, despite persisting hardship and the Second World War.
As technology evolved, in part thanks to amplified efforts for the war, so too did film. Global situations even influenced the content and costume choices in films, as themes of war and working women crept onto the silver screen.
Here are four major films from the 1940s that had a key influence on the fashion of the time:
the
1950s
As the Golden Age of Hollywood neared its end and color was introduced to cinema, storytelling methods and approaches to cinematography began to change. New Hollywood was beginning to bloom as films introduced narratives that challenged what the audience had come to expect from the Golden Age.
This shift away from the norms extended to fashion. Costume designers began to highlight both sophistication and casualness in their designs, often blurring the lines between the two. Here are four key films of the 1950s and their impacts on fashion:
1953
Gentlemen Prefer
Blondes
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes is a musical comedy film starring Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe as two American showgirls. It’s one of the most notable films of the 1950s, largely due to the iconic song renditions and outfits.
1953
ROMAN HOLIDAY
Edit Head Won an Academy Award for Best Costume Design for this film,
Which indicates just how successful
Roman Holiday was in Shaping the fashion
of the time
EDITH HEAD / FASHION DESIGNER
Won Academy Award for Best Costume Design for the film
1954
Sabrina
Sabrina was widely praised upon its release and has since been recognized by
the United States National Film Registry as a “culturally, historically, or
aesthetically significant” movie.
Sabrina Film
The United States National Film Registry has recognized the film
as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
1955
Rebel Without A
Cause
One of the most iconic films of the twentieth century, Rebel Without a Cause marked a notable shift away from classic depictions of youth, instead offering a contemporary critique of parenting styles and generational differences.
James Dean’s rebellious look
The costumes reflected this coming-of-age style, popularizing a range of cool and casual garments. James Dean’s rebellious look ー the red jacket, white t-shirt, and blue denim jeans ー became iconic. The film also brought the leather jacket and jeans look into fashion, cementing its place as a devil-may-care outfit fit for teen angst.
THE 1960s & 1970s
A Time of Revolution & Counterculture
As the Golden Age of Hollywood came to a close, a new period of cinema was dawning. The 1960s and ‘70s saw some of the greatest ever directors (think Alfred Hitchcock, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, and Stanley Kubrick) share their pioneering styles with the world.
They revolutionized world cinema by challenging audiences’ expectations of what films could be, redefining genres and creating memorable characters on their way to becoming eternalized in film history. Along the way, these directors introduced a world of unique fashion trends that have come to symbolize the freedom and radicality of the ‘60s and ‘70s.
Let’s now explore some of the key films released in these decades and examine how their wardrobe designers left notable imprints on everyday fashion.
the
1960s
Ask anyone who grew up during the 1960s, and they’ll probably tell you it was the best time to be alive. Liberty, creativity, and colorful carefreeness epitomized that decade, values that were reflected in the films and fashion trends of the time.
Cinema gradually moved away from traditional ideals and into a more liberated movement as narratives began to focus on more contemporary characters, places, and concepts. This led to a notable change in both men’s and women’s fashion, as the movies started to depict more accessible yet stylish looks for everyday people.
the
1970s
In a decade that brought more erotic and gritty scenes into mainstream cinema, fashion trends became equally carefree and out there. The punk scene boomed, while androgynous and gender-bending styles also took the spotlight in what was a tumultuous decade for both film and fashion.
Our next four films highlight the revolutionary styles of the 1970s in relation to cinematography and wardrobe design. Together, they were responsible for defining an era of fashion notorious for its devil-may-care looks and norm-challenging designs.
1971
A CLOCKWORK
orange
People often point to Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange as a prime
example of the raw and gritty cinema that characterized the 1970s. In line with
its shocking and graphic scenes of violence, youth delinquency, and sexual
assault, this film introduced edgier styles into modern men’s fashion.
The film’s unique and controversial aesthetic, including the bowler hats, white
outfits, and combat boots worn by the main characters, contributed to the rise
of the punk and avant-garde fashion scenes during the 1970s.
1977
Saturday
night fever
One of the more uplifting and light-hearted films of the 1970s, Saturday
Night Fever popularized disco music and all its accouterments. The famous
dance, the timeless soundtrack, and the funky outfits all impacted the
trends of the decade.
Travolta’s outfit became an icon
Starring John Travolta as the protagonist, Saturday Night Fever has become synonymous with the disco era. Travolta’s outfit featured a white three-piece suit, a black shirt, and platform shoes and became an icon of its time. This look greatly influenced men’s fashion, embodying the relaxed disco style that dominated much of the late 1970s.
1977
ANNIE Hall
A defining film in an era of genre-bending cinematography, Annie Hall
was written and directed by Woody Allen, who also stars as one of the
film’s main characters.
Alongside Allen, Diane Keaton shines as the titular Annie Hall, who sports a variety of androgynous outfits that reimagined what everyday women’s fashion could look like. Her long, menswear-inspired pants, waistcoats, ties, and hats inspired a wave of gender-bending fashion choices for women.
1978
grease
Although set in the 1950s, Grease had a major impact on ‘70s fashion. The film
fed the glam rock and punk styles of the time, reviving interest in leather
jackets, high-waisted trousers, and full skirts. Grease flaunted a sense of
nostalgia that influenced the vintage and retro trends during the late 1970s.
Glam rock and punk styles of the time
The leather jackets
of the T-Birds
The leather jackets of the T-Birds, the flashy colors of the Pink Ladies, and
Sandy’s youthful yet chic outfits all found their way into the mainstream fashion
trends of the ‘70s.
THE 1980s
Bold and Flamboyant
All decades have their own iconic styles and trends, but the ‘80s were truly iconic. This decade of cinema was categorized by the rise of the modern blockbuster: big-budget, no-holds-barred movies featuring increasingly more daring antics and innovative special effects.
This boldness found its way into the fashion world, too, as outfits became wackier, combinations became more original, and the lines between traditional gender ideals became increasingly blurred.
Film and fashion were now inseparable, and there were a great deal of style
trends established off the back of each year’s best-selling movies.
These next four movies are a testament to the culture of the ‘80s and
showcase how the boldness and flamboyancy of the biggest movie plots
found their way into this decade’s fashion.
THE 1990s
Minimalism and Grunge
Boom in technological developments
The 1990s saw a boom in technological developments, which meant filmmakers now had greater capabilities than ever before. Countless movies across the decade redefined genres, pioneered techniques, and reimagined the world as we knew it.
But with a world of possibilities at their fingertips, directors and costume designers went the other way. Off the back of the wild and eclectic ‘80s, fashion trends became minimalistic and casual, with movie stars sporting toned-down looks on the big screen.
These next four films shaped a decade of minimalistic and grungy fashion during the 1990s:
1994
Pulp Fiction
Tarantino’s best-known work is likely Pulp Fiction, which received huge praise
for its storytelling, script writing, and costume design. Its unique characters and
even more original outfits inspired a number of trends during the decade.
For instance, Uma Thurman’s character popularized the sleek, black bob haircut and influenced fashion with her simple white shirt and black trousers. This minimalist, monochromatic style became emblematic of ‘90s chic.
1994
Reality Bites
Starring Winona Ryder, Ben Stiller, and Ethan Hawke, Reality Bites perfectly depicts the struggles of young adults trying to find love and work in the 1990s. Its wardrobe design is noted for capturing the essence of the Gen X and early millennial style.
Winona Ryder’s character, with her grunge-inspired wardrobe consisting of flannel shirts, oversized knits, and combat boots, reflected the laidback and alternative style that was prevalent among young adults at the time.
1995
Clueless
A legendary film for many reasons, Clueless became iconic for the main characters’ chic yet simple outfits. This teen comedy movie had a huge impact
on women and girls of the decade.
Alicia Silverstone, who plays protagonist Cher, sported plaid skirts, knee-high socks, and preppy blazers, which combined to bring back the schoolgirl look and cement its place as a staple of ‘90s fashion.
1999
The Matrix
The Matrix is one of the biggest science-fiction films ever made and has
contributed greatly to the popularity of cyberpunk culture. The movie stars
Keanu Reeves as Neo, a computer hacker who learns the truth about humanity and the eponymous “Matrix”.
The Matrix ushered in a wave of futuristic, cyber-inspired fashion. The long leather coats, sunglasses, and sleek, all-black ensembles worn by the main characters created a distinctive and stylish aesthetic that influenced everything from casual streetwear to high-end fashion.
THE 2000s TO PRESENT
A Blend Of Past And Future
With the start of the new millennium, global attitudes and dynamics took a notable turn. Films and fashion began to reflect growing appeals for more sustainable, ethical, and responsible practices, as well as rightfully giving more opportunities to underrepresented communities.
This led to more inclusive filmmaking, which in turn triggered more diverse and worldly fashion trends. Modern minimalism and casualness grew, but old styles also returned as people began searching the past for both inspiration and introspection. Over the next two decades, cinema opened our eyes to even more innovative fashion ideas.
the
2000s
The 2000s were a peculiar decade, as it was like everything and nothing had
changed as soon as the clocks ticked over to the new millennium. Film and
fashion frequently drew inspiration from the past to produce innovative looks,
combining vintage clothing with modern styles.
The following three films are all movies of the ‘00s that have contributed to the
decade’s iconic and creative fashion trends:
the
2010s
Closing in on the present day, the 2010s saw more diverse filmmaking crews drawing inspiration from their non-traditional upbringings and colonial heritage. This, in turn, led to a wider variety of fashion trends, a range that defined the decade as non-conformative and non-restrictive.
These next three films are all prime examples of how diverse innovation and introspection can create a true spectacle, with costumes ranging from cultural headwear to modern twists on vintage classics.
2018
Black Panther
Directed by Ryan Coogler and starring the late Chadwick Boseman, the film
drew a lot of inspiration from traditional African heritage and the costume
design reflected this.
Film’s Afrofuturistic Costumes
The film’s Afrofuturistic costumes inspired by cultural African attire influenced
both high fashion and streetwear, encouraging more diverse fashion trends and
promoting African heritage in the Western world.
2015
Mad Max : Fury Road
In keeping with the out-there styles of the 2010s, Mad Max: Fury Road depicted
a post-apocalyptic world that influenced dystopian, rugged, and distressed
fashion during the decade.
The film was widely praised for its cinematography and
costume design, which encouraged creatively brutalist
outfits among viewers.
2016
La La Land
A light-hearted and glamorous musical film, La La Land features Emma Stone
and Ryan Gosling singing and dancing in colorful outfits with beautiful vocals
and expert choreography.
The film’s brightly-colored and classic Hollywood style revived an
interest in vintage glamor and mid-century silhouettes.
FASHION FILMS
A Genre Of Their Own
Of course, there are plenty of other films that have influenced fashion trends over the years. Included in this are the numerous films about fashion that have graced our screens throughout the past century, depicting wonderful stories about models, designers, and fashion photographers.
The next list highlights some of the greatest movies about fashion ever made. It’s by no means exhaustive, but it represents a broad array of incredible fashion films from over the years:
CONCLUSION
Film and fashion have been inseparable throughout the years. From Audrey Hepburn’s little black dress in Breakfast at Tiffany’s to Winona Ryder’s grunge-inspired outfits in Reality Bites, iconic outfits have continued to spawn innovative style trends decade after decade.
Movies also immortalize these trends, helping them to be revived time and again with modern tweaks and retrospective charm. The bomber jackets of Top Gun are enjoying newfound popularity in the modern world, as are 19th-century vintage corsets thanks to movies like Moulin Rouge!
Contemporary fashion is always linked with film, and vice versa, and there is simply no separating these two art forms.
Citation
Judy Garland/h1
Audrey Hepburn/h2
It happened one night/h2
Sabrina Film/h2
Dietrich in man’s tailcort
Vivien Leigh/ red dress
Dorothy/judy Garland
Dorothy’s Red Slippers
Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Hepburn / Attire
Meet Me in St. Louis_1
Meet Me in St. Louis_2
Marilyn Monroe/pink Dress
Audrey Hepburn/ Sabrina
Hepburn Holden Sabrina
Vanessa and David / H2
Audrey Hepburn / H2
Alfred Hitchcock
Breakfast at Tiffany’s_1
Breakfast at Tiffany’s_2
Bonnie and Clyde_1
The Thomas Crown Affair_1
Malcolm McDowell
Rutger Hauer / H2
Ton Vos & Rutger Hauer / H2
Harrison Ford / H2
Jennifer Beals
Kelly McGillis
Alicia Silverstone
Lindsay Lohan
Moulin Rouge / Nicole Kidman
Fashion Films_1 / H2
Why is fashion important in film?
Fashion is important in film because it helps define a character’s personality, social status, and time period. It also sets the tone and atmosphere of a scene, contributing to the overall visual storytelling of the film. Additionally, fashion in film can inspire trends and influence the way people dress in real life.
How do movies influence fashion trends?
Movies influence fashion trends by showcasing the latest styles and designs worn by actors and actresses on screen. These looks often inspire viewers and want to replicate them in their wardrobe, leading to certain trends becoming popular due to their visibility in films. Additionally, costume designers play a crucial role in creating memorable and iconic looks that can have a lasting impact on fashion trends.
What was the first fashion film?
The first fashion film is considered to be “The Birth of a French Fashion” released in 1923. It showcased the latest Parisian fashion styles and was created by designer Coco Chanel and director Jean Renoir.
Who decides on clothes in movies?
The decision on the clothes worn by characters in movies is typically made by the film’s costume designer in collaboration with the director and production team. The costume designer considers the character’s personality, background, and the overall ambiance of the film when selecting appropriate costumes. They work closely with the actors to ensure that the clothing choices accurately reflect the character and help convey the desired emotions or messages in the film.
What impact do iconic film fashions have on real-world trends?
Iconic film fashions have a significant impact on real-world trends by inspiring designers, influencing consumer preferences, and setting the tone for upcoming seasons. These styles often become timeless and iconic, shaping the way people dress and express themselves in everyday life.
Are there any awards for costume design in film?
Yes, there are several awards for costume design in film. Some of the most well-known awards include the Academy Award for Best Costume Design, the BAFTA Award for Best Costume Design, and the Costume Designers Guild Awards. These awards recognize the talent and creativity of costume designers who contribute to the storytelling and aesthetics of films.
What future trends might we see in iconic film fashion?
Some future trends we might see in iconic film fashion could include a greater focus on sustainability and ethical fashion choices, as well as a blend of futuristic and retro styles. We may also see more diverse representation in terms of cultures and styles being showcased on screen. Additionally, with advancements in technology, we might see more creative and innovative approaches to costume design that push the boundaries of traditional fashion.
