THE WATCHLIST
The Best Wardrobes in Cinema: Volume II
Some movie characters stay with us long after the credits roll, and often, their clothes are a big part of the reason why.
For the second part of our series on the best wardrobes in cinema, we’re looking at five more characters whose style has stayed memorable through the years. From 1950s New York to 1990s Beverly Hills, these are wardrobes that still give us plenty of inspiration today.
By Ina Eliska
Carol
2015
Carol is a lesson in 1950s dressing, from the beautiful coats and gloves to the tailored suits and accessories.
Set in 1952, the film follows Carol, a wealthy New York woman with a very fashionable wardrobe, and Therese, whose clothes are much simpler at the beginning of the story. Costume designer Sandy Powell looked through Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar issues from the exact period, and made around 80% of Cate Blanchett’s wardrobe from scratch.
The Talented Mr. Ripley
1999
The wardrobe in The Talented Mr. Ripley is one of the reasons we keep coming back to this film. Set in the late 1950s, it’s full of linen shirts, tailored trousers, printed skirts, knitwear, loafers and sunglasses — all perfectly suited to its Italian setting.
Gwyneth Paltrow’s Marge has some of the most memorable looks in the film, while Jude Law’s Dickie brings his own take on 1950s summer dressing. Costume designers Ann Roth and Gary Jones were behind the film’s wardrobe, which went on to earn an Academy Award nomination.
Pretty Woman
1990
Pretty Woman gave us one of cinema’s most memorable wardrobe transformations.
Costume designer Marilyn Vance designed most of Vivian Ward’s clothes, using them to follow her transition throughout the film. There’s the early cut-out dress and thigh-high boots, the brown polka-dot dress, and, of course, the red gown she wears to the opera.
Vance originally wanted the opera dress to be red, while the studio wanted black — and the red dress became one of the film’s defining looks.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
1961
Holly Golightly is one of those characters whose wardrobe needs very little introduction.
Audrey Hepburn’s collaboration with Hubert de Givenchy gave us some of the most memorable looks in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, including the famous black dress from the opening scene, oversized sunglasses, long gloves, pearls and beautifully simple dresses and coats.
Givenchy was responsible principally for Hepburn’s wardrobe, with Edith Head credited as costume supervisor.
Clueless
1995
It’s hard to think about Clueless without thinking about Cher’s wardrobe. The yellow plaid Jean Paul Gaultier suit, the white Calvin Klein slip dress and the Alaïa dress are just a few of the looks that made the film’s fashion so memorable.
Costume designer Mona May created around 60 looks for Cher, mixing designer pieces with clothes sourced from stores and thrift shops.
