7 films for fashion inspiration that aren’t ‘The Devil Wears Prada’

“The bright dresses, robes, pyjamas and ballet wear makes the contrasting blood and depravity alarmingly effective.”

Fashion and film go hand-in-hand. Who doesn’t remember Kiera Knightly’s green dress in Atonement or Sofia Coppola’s exaggerated historical fashion in Marie Antoinette? Humans are visual beings and we make assumptions about one another based on how we choose to express ourselves, and characters in films are no different.

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The way filmmakers utilise fashion is as important as any other aspect of the movie. Below, I’ve curated a list of seven iconic movies that are renowned for using fashion in innovative and effective ways that are still relevant today.

Roman Holiday (1953)

It’s hard to only choose one Audrey Hepburn film to include on this list, but the effortless yet put-together Italian-inspired wardrobe of Ann in Roman Holiday has to be discussed. Princess Ann, who has lost her memory, spends her time wearing gorgeous, feminine and movable outfits while enjoying the bliss of being an independent young woman.

Legendary costume designer Edith Head (To Catch a Thief, What a Way to Go!, and All About Eve to name a few) wanted Ann’s iconic sleeves-rolled-up blouse, long skirt and neck scarf to represent the desires of the modern woman – movement, freedom, joy and authentic beauty.

Watch it here.

La Piscine (1969)

Long before Emily was in Paris, Jane Birkin was in La Piscine. Set in the stunning calm of St Tropez, the couple Marianne (Romy Schneider) and Jean-Paul (Alain Delon) are disturbed when Marianne’s ex, Harry (Maurice Ronet), appears with his daughter (Jane Birkin).

The fashion in Jacques Deray’s thriller effortlessly complements the stunning backdrop of France. The minimalist bathing suits, women wearing typically masculine clothes and contrasting psychedelic mini dresses encapsulate ’60s fashion. Blues, greens and natural colours are exclusively used, making this film a perfect reference point for those looking to create a cohesive capsule wardrobe.

Watch it here.

Suspiria (1977)

Packed with ballet shoes, chiffon, leotards and silk, Dario Argento’s dazzling film set in an Italian ballet school showcased the most breathtaking fashion Europe in the 1970s had to offer. Suzy (Jessica Harper) is an American ballerina who finds herself in a ballet-core web of mystery and evil. Her soft colour palette and traditionally feminine textiles speak to her exploration of womanhood while she sets off to find herself in a school of horror.

The bright dresses, robes, pyjamas and ballet wear makes the contrasting blood and depravity alarmingly effective. There isn’t a more important and terrifying venture than finding yourself, so why not do it in glamorous clothes? 

Watch it here.

Clueless (1995)

It’s probably illegal to discuss fashion in film without talking about Clueless. The film’s costume designer Mona May managed to create a fashion aesthetic that’s egregiously ’90s yet somehow timeless. The juvenile but confident style that permeates Clueless is still incredibly popular today and has been referenced by numerous designers and brands and influenced countless Halloween costumes and social media trends.

Best friends Cher (Alicia Silverstone) and Dionne (Stacey Dash) have costumes that complement one other perfectly, while still containing contrasts to represent the character’s differences. They both have playful wardrobes full of bright colours and mini dresses but Dionne’s style is slightly more mature, reinforcing Cher’s youthful naivety.

Watch it here. 

Love Jones (1997)

Theodore Witcher’s cult classic isn’t just admired for its depiction of young love but also for Nina’s (Nia Long) perfect model-of-duty aesthetic. Photographer Nina encapsulates the simplistic chic of the ’90s as she begins to challenge and question what romance means.

She’s a character who knows her worth, and her oversized leather jackets, flipped-up hair and billowy shirts were used to convey her strong sense of self. Seriously, if you need style inspiration stream Love Jones. 

Watch it here.

In the Mood for Love (2000)

This may be the most gorgeous movie ever shot, and the costumes don’t disappoint. Wong Kar Wai’s renowned and timeless exploration of love is told through fashion, underpinning how it can act as an unspoken language. When journalist Chow Mo-Wan (Tony Leung) and secretary Su Li-Zhen or Mrs Chan (Maggie Cheung) are in sync, so are their outfits.

Kar Wai’s film is visually impactful and Su’s outfits showcase the textiles, patterns and colours popular with women in Korea during the 1960s. Every perfectly tailored and thought-out qipao depicts exactly what Su is feeling and where her loyalties lie. As much as this story is a feat of filmmaking, it’s also a feat of what fashion in film is capable of.  

Watch it here.

Phantom Thread (2017)

Paul Thomas Anderson is known for his wildly entertaining aesthetics, and the fashion in his haute couture-inspired film about artists’ obsession with their work is no exception. Set in 1950s London, designer Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis) falls into a twisted romance with European immigrant Alma (Vicky Krieps).

To me, this is the most impactful use of fashion in modern cinema (sorry House of Gucci). Woodcock’s meticulously constructed dresses are considered both beautiful and boring. Anderson uses fashion to invite the viewer into the film’s location and time period but to also encourage them to question whether Woodcock is the designer the world makes him out to be. 

Watch it here.

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