Seven of the most fashionable films to watch
Now is the perfect time to get lost in a classic movie.
Whether it’s glittering costumes or Nineties minimalism, film often uses fashion to dazzle – or even give inspiration for your own wardrobe.
When it comes to fashion, some films are a cut above the rest – where the style or certain characters have become iconic for a reason. Here are some of the most fashionable movies you can watch while you have some time on your hands…
1. Breakfast at Tiffany’s, 1961
No discussion of fashionable films would be complete without a mention of Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Hubert de Givenchy created the iconic black dress for Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly, which she wore with strings of pearls and chic black sunglasses.
With Hepburn’s sleek bouffant and a long cigarette holder perpetually in hand, Breakfast at Tiffany’s shows that fashion doesn’t have to be OTT to make a statement. Golightly’s style has truly stood the test of time, and is still being copied today.
2. Pretty Woman, 1990
Pretty Woman stars Julia Roberts as a Vivian, a prostitute who falls in love with rich entrepreneur Edward. With Edward’s money, Vivian gets a whole new wardrobe, serving some of the most memorable fashion moments in movie history.
The most stand-out look is when Vivian goes to the opera, wearing an off-the-shoulder red gown which played off Roberts’s auburn hair. While this is certainly the knock-out look, the rest of the film is full of incredible outfits; whether it’s the brown polka dot dress Roberts wears to the polo, or the chic white sun dress paired with matching gloves and a black hat.
3. Pulp Fiction, 1994
There isn’t much to say about the menswear in Quentin Tarantino crime thriller Pulp Fiction. John Travolta and Samuel L Jackson’s stick to suits which aren’t perfectly fitted (this was the Nineties, after all), with the occasional trench coat worn on top.
However, it’s the women’s clothes which really shine. Uma Thurman plays Mia Wallace, who stood out for her androgynous tailoring and an interpretation of Nineties minimalism which still resonates today. With black cigarette pants and white shirts, there wasn’t anything not to love about Thurman’s outfits.
4. Clueless, 1995
Few leading ladies have a style as covetable as Cher from Clueless, played by Alicia Silverstone. Her fashion was the epitome of Nineties cool – we bet you can already picture Cher’s yellow plaid skirt and jacket set, or the Calvin Klein slip dress.
It wasn’t just Cher, but the whole cast serving up some iconic looks – whether it was Dionne’s black and white top hat or Amber in a fluffy headband. This was a preppy take on Nineties style, with plenty of over-the-knee socks and perfectly matching ensembles. The film provided a fashion education to a whole generation; when Cher is robbed at gunpoint, she argues about getting on the ground by saying: “You don’t understand, this is an Alaïa!” who she calls a “totally important designer”.
The movie might have been made in 1995, but thanks to the current obsession with Nineties fashion we’re still seeing Cher-inspired looks everywhere.
5. The Royal Tenenbaums, 2001
In terms of fashion, Gwyneth Paltrow as Margot is the real star of Wes Anderson’s The Royal Tenenbaums, with her fur coats, tennis dresses and heavy eye make-up.
The film’s style is as eclectic as can be expected from Anderson – the quirky director loves to play with bright colours. Special shout-out has to go to Ben Stiller’s character and his children, who wear matching red Adidas tracksuits throughout.
6. Atonement, 2007
You might not expect a film telling of love and betrayal in WWII to make this list, but Atonement – an adaptation of an Ian McEwan novel – isn’t an ordinary war film. In a particularly pivotal scene, Keira Knightley wears an unforgettable green silk dress with a low back and sweeping hemline.
There have been countless replicas of the dress made, some of which have sold for hefty amounts of money. Even though the green dress overshadows the rest of the film’s fashion, the other outfits are just as beautiful – as Cecilia, Knightley wears everything from a white bathing suit with matching cap to more androgynous tailoring when the film moves into wartime.
7. The Great Gatsby, 2013
It’s hard not to be blown away by the costumes in Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of F Scott Fitzgerald’s book. Set in the flapper era, the outfits are a feast for the eyes.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, costume and production designer Catherine Martin was in charge of 1,700 vintage costumes, and she enlisted the help of Miuccia Prada to do so. With sparkles, geometric shapes, headbands and plenty of feathers, the ensembles were a modern take on Twenties dressing, adding a glamorous and almost otherworldly note to the film.
Image: PA
