Movies have given us some of the most iconic fashion statements and moments of all time. People will often buy and wear clothing in order to emulate the fashion sense of a character they saw in a movie. Whether a movie is about fashion or not, it has the potential to be influential to anyone who loves fashion. Costumes and costume designers are essential for creating the style and look of a film that will help audiences sink into the world of the movie. The way a character dresses is tied to their personality and character traits. Nothing is done accidentally when making a movie, everything that is shown or heard serves a purpose.
Whether a movie has anything to do with fashion or not, the clothing that a character wears tells a little bit about them. Even if a character is simply wearing sweatpants and a sweatshirt, it is telling the audience a bit about their lifestyle and personality. Every clothing choice a person makes is deliberate and meant to tell others something about themselves, whether they claim to care about fashion or not. This sentiment has proven true, as numerous film characters have become style inspirations to many regardless of whether fashion is a focal point in the story. The outfits that characters wear in movies get to live on forever, creating endless fashion inspiration. So, here are ten movie characters that have become fashion icons.
15 Movies to Check Out if You Have an Eye for Fashion
Movies have given us some of the most iconic fashion statements and moments of all time.
10Holly Golightly - Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
Played perfectly by Audrey Hepburn, Holly Golightly fromBreakfast at Tiffany’sis one of the most influential fashion icons in film history. Every outfit of hers is intricately designed and beautifully put together.
Holly’s fashion sense oozes style and sophistication, something clothing brands, designers, and everyday women have been trying to emulate for decades. Even her teal sleeping mask with eyelashes embroidered on it has become an iconic piece of fashion. Of course, the first outfit Holly wears at the beginning of the film is her most iconic. From her sunglasses to her huge pearl necklace, everything about this black dress ensemble has stood the test of time.
9Penny Lane - Almost Famous (2000)
It’s no secret that ’70s-inspired fashion has never really ceased to be popular. Over 40 years since the decade ended and the fashion industry is still drawing heavy inspiration from the looks of the time. It helps that the ’70s defined fashion sense for many different styles, from free-spirited hippies to true music lovers. Cameron Crowe’sAlmost Famousis a cinematic treat for anyone who is a fan of classic rock, but it is just as rewarding for fashion gurus.
All the outfits in the film are expertly designed to capture the time period, but Penny Lane’s (Kate Hudson) outfits have become iconic in the 20+ years since the movie’s release. She perfectly captures the essence of ’70s fashion with floral prints, halter tops, mini skirts, and bell bottoms. Her knee-high heeled boots and long coat with fur lining are perhaps her most treasured clothing items, and they certainly cement her ranking as a fashion icon in film.
8Wednesday Addams - The Addams Family (1991)
Wednesday Addams has been providing style inspiration for young girls who don’t quite fit in with conventional fashion for decades now. Jenna Ortega’s iteration of the beloved character of coursehas some amazing outfits, but those outfits wouldn’t exist without Christina Ricci’s version of the character inThe Addams Familymovie.
Wednesday’s instantly recognizable dark pigtail braids are usually paired with an all-black ensemble consisting of a thigh-length dress, under-the-knee socks, and chunky loafers. Her dark fashion sense completely matches her dark persona, and couldn’t be more fitting for her matter-of-fact way of interacting with people.
7Vivian Ward - Pretty Woman (1990)
Gary Marshall’sPretty Womanis a beloved rom-com for many reasons, and one of the biggest reasons is the absolutely incredible outfits that Vivian (Julia Roberts) wears. Her white and blue dress with her over-the-knee black leather high-heeled boots that she wears at the beginning of the movie is arguably one of the most iconic outfits in any movie, but her red dress that she pairs with white gloves that reach the elbow is perhaps the most well-known outfit in the entire movie.
Even the red jacket she ties around her waist has become a fashion inspiration in the last 30+ years. Vivian’s many accessories and jewelry pieces, such as her blonde bob wig and chunky bracelets, have also contributed to her being a fashion icon.
6Andy Sachs - The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
The style glow-up that Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) receives inThe Devil Wears Pradais nothing short of iconic. Yes, appearance transformations in movies and TV shows can be tiresome, but Andy’s complete 180 when it comes to her sense of style is unmatched. Despite what her friends thought, the upgrade of her wardrobe didn’t change who she was before at all, it empowered her to be herself. Andy’s outfits are absolutely stunning, and every accessory is paired to perfection to complement her designer clothes. Even though the movie was released in the mid-2000s, her outfits still hold up today, and quite frankly might be better than the fashion trends of now.
Movie Characters That Started Big Fashion Trends
Some of the silver screen’s most entertaining and unforgettable characters have also proven to be fashionable trendsetters in their own right.
5Regina George - Mean Girls (2004)
Regina George (Rachel McAdams) is such a fashion icon that she was starting fashion trends within the movie. Cady’s (Lindsay Lohan) character arc inMean Girlsrevolves around her wanting to be Regina, which includes dressing exactly like her. She went from wearing plaid flannels and oversized t-shirts to pleated mini skirts and heels because that’s what Regina wears. When Cady and Janice (Lizzy Caplan) cut two holes in her tank top thinking it would embarrass her, she just walked around school unfazed and inadvertently started a new fashion trend.
Her incorporation of pink into nearly everything she wears has made her outfits live on as styleinspiration over the past 19 years, and her outfits are almost always an option for a recognizable Halloween costume.
4Miranda Priestly - The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
Meryl Streep’s portrayal of a cutthroat fashion magazine editor-in-chief inThe Devil Wears Pradais quite literally Oscar-worthy and one of the best roles in her extensive career. Being the head of an extremely influential fashion magazine, Miranda Priestly unsurprisingly has an impeccable fashion sense. From her luxurious coats to her many designer bags, Miranda is an icon for anyone with even the slightest interest in the fashion world. She has a vast knowledge of the industry, which shines through in her immaculately put-together outfits and a keen eye for dressing others.
3Elle Woods - Legally Blonde (2001)
Elle Woods' (Reese Witherspoon) love of pink and eagle eye for fashion mishaps allows her to be one of the most iconic fashion symbols in any movie. Whether you are a fan of pink or not, you can’t deny that Elle knew how to put together an eye-catching outfit. She waltzed onto the Harvard campus inLegally Blondeclad in a pink leather ensemble and simply didn’t care that she was dressed differently than all the other students.
Her outfits were always color coordinated, never too busy, and were always appropriately matched to the theme of whatever event or class she was attending. Elle showed everyone that a career-minded person could dress both professionally and fashionably without compromising their fashion sense.
2Cher Horowitz - Clueless (1995)
Much like Elle Woods, Cher Horowitz (Alicia Silverstone) fromCluelesshas an uncanny ability to put together an outfit that aligns with the theme or tone of wherever she is headed. Cher prides herself in her ability to curate fashion-forward outfits that are never repetitive and always on par with current trends.
Each outfit she wears makes a statement. So much so that if it weren’t for the yellow plaid blazer and skirt set she wore at the beginning of the movie, it would be difficult to decide which outfit of hers is the most recognizable, but we can try. The simple red dress she wears when Christian (Justin Walker) comes over, the white dress she wears when they go dancing, and the light green cardigan with the puffy white sleeves are also iconic fashion choices.
1Barbie - Barbie (2023)
It’s difficult to think of a character more fashion-forward than Barbie. Barbie is the most famous doll in the world, and her entire brand is focused on making dolls that every little girl can see themselves in. That means that the outfit choices for each Barbie doll have to be accessible to girls of any age with different fashion senses. Greta Gerwig’s mega blockbuster hitBarbietook the world by storm, and gave audiencesan arsenal of ultra-stylish outfitsto draw inspiration from.
Since she is in fact a doll, Barbie (Margot Robbie) has a themed outfit for every event and occasion one could think of. Beach attire, winter gear, professional skirt suits, party dresses, spandex bodysuits for roller skating, you name it and Barbie has just the right outfit for you. Even when she’s in the real world and has to ditch the spandex, she manages to find an adorable pink cowgirl set.
