How Hit Fashion Changes the Way We Dress

FROM THE BIG SCREENS TO YOUR CLOSET

Cover Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash

From the TV show ‘Friends’ in the 90’s, to Sex and the City in the early 2000’s, and more recently HBO’s ‘Euphoria’ and Netflix’s ‘Bridgerton’ series, fashion trends are forever influenced by hit movie and television shows. Particularly in the time of our current pandemic, where we’re consuming more shows as we stay at home, the celebrities we look to for style ideas are also staying at home, and the disruption of the fashion industry in general, the influence of pop culture media on fashion has become even more prominent.  Below, we’ve listed just some of the beloved shows and movies that have created hit fashion trends and wardrobe staples. 

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1. Moto Leather Jackets - ‘The Wild One’

The classic 1953 movie, ‘The Wild One’ featured Golden Age Hollywood actor Marlon Brando as the leader of a motorcycle gang named The Black Rebels Motorcycle Club. Brando’s character exuded effortlessly cool confidence with the motorcycle leather jackets as his gang’s signature look. This was the one of the first times that the motorcycle leather jacket was featured in popular cinema, and with it also being actor James Dean’s signature off-camera look, teenagers across the United States quickly took notice and adopted the leather jacket. Rock and roll celebrities began to incorporate the jacket into their looks as well, and different subcultures like punk culture took a liking to the motorcycle leather jacket as well. With it being such a versatile item, the motorcycle leather jacket has a long history of being a closet staple. 

(Images from The Wild One, 1953)

2. Bold Makeup Looks - ‘Euphoria’

HBO’s hit gritty teen melodrama series, ‘Euphoria’ starring Zendaya, featured not just fabulous fashion looks, but dramatic makeup looks that elevated the storytelling of the show. Head Makeup artist Doniella Davy created the looks at the direction of show runner Sam Levinson, who wanted the makeup to be an expression of each character’s personality and emotions, as described in this teen vogue article. From bold graphic liners, glitter tears, rhinestone studded eye looks, colourful neon eyeshadow, and other bold makeup looks, the makeup in this show take front and center. They’ve inspired trends of graphic liner and glitter tears, and encouraged everyone to be more expressive with their makeup. 

Not to be outdone, however, is THE iconic outfit of season one: Maddy’s carnival look, featuring a purple I.AM.GIA outfit set complete with her iconic rhinestone liner. Not only did this set rocket in popularity, but pants with cut outs and flare pants also become immensely popular. 

(Images from Euphoria, 2019)

3. The 20’s Revival - ‘The Great Gatsby’

Every decade has its revival moment in fashion, as we look to the past to inspire ourselves. The roaring 20’s had its moment in 2013, with the release of ‘The Great Gatsby’, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as the mysterious, obsessive Jay Gatsby. The movie showcased the enduring lure of the 1920’s- endless parties and decadence, as people celebrated the end of World War II and the end of the Spanish Flu (perhaps a clue to what’s in store for us this upcoming decade). Flapper dresses, fringe, sequined dresses, and short little hair cuts came into trend quickly after the release of this movie. 

(Images from The Great Gatsby, 2013)

4. Corsets, Bustiers, and More - ‘Bridgerton’

Produced by legendary showrunner Shonda Rhimes, Bridgerton follows the love lives of the Bridgerton family and is set in 1800’s England. This period of time, called the Regency Era, featured trends inspired by ancient Greek and Roman style. The dresses were quite simple and featured empire silhouettes that drew tight underneath the bust and loose in the rest of the dress. The show’s costume designer, established Ellen Mirojnick of ‘Basic Instinct’ fame, had the challenge of creating costumes that would both reflect the time period the show was set in and appeal to modern tastes and understanding of historical clothing. The end result was gorgeous, glitzy dresses with dazzling accessories that have inspired the revival of the empire waistline, and somewhat surprisingly, corset- inspired pieces. 

The styling in this series inspired viewers stuck at home, tired of wearing lounge wear and PJs, to embrace colourful complicated pieces like corsets, bustiers, and puffy sleeves. Social media challenges that inspired creators to share their Bridgerton-inspired outfits exploded. This particular bustier top from Victoria’s Secret sold out in floral white after circulating on TikTok, a win for the company struggling to keep up with modern day lingerie trends.

(Images from Bridgerton, 2020) 

5. The Little Black Dress - ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’

Another wardrobe staple that has endured the test of time, the little black dress was popularized in Audrey Hepburn’s classic ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’. Released in 1961, the plot of the movie follows Audrey Hepburn as a New York socialite whose past follows her even as she becomes romantically interested in a young man she just met. The iconic Givenchy little black dress that Hepburn wears in the opening shot has become one of the prime examples of fashion cinema history. Part of this was the grace with which Audrey Hepburn presented herself in this outfit. The simple sheathe, paired with long black opera gloves and a classic pearl necklace is one of the most famous images from the Golden Age of Hollywood, and is a look that is still emulated. Today, you can find a little black dress that suits your personal taste and aesthetic for an ode to one of the most loved fashion looks in movie history.

(Images from Breakfast at Tiffany’s, 1961)

6. Blast back to the 80’s - ‘Stranger Things’ 

Stranger Things, a science-fiction Netflix show set in the 1980’s, took over the TV scene when it came out in 2016. Not only did it have an extremely talented cast comprised of breakout child stars and well-known faces such as Winona Ryder, the show created an ambience of nostalgia by fully immersing its audience in the 80’s. As a result, 80’s fashion trends came back with a vengeance. Think colorful windbreakers, denim overalls, block patterned coats, bomber jackets, long denim shorts, and high, high ponytails. 

(Images from Stranger Things, 2016)

This list is just some of the iconic movies and shows that have inspired our wardrobes. Did we miss anything? What shows and movies inspired your fashion? Let us know in the comments!