My Top 10 Favourite Fashion Movies
From Miranda Priestly to High School Musical—these are the movies that shaped my love of style, and why they still inspire me today.
My absolute favourite place to start when it comes to getting fashion inspiration, learning about personal style, seeing how body types work in action, is to watch a good movie.
The truth is, any film is a fashion film - there are costume designers for every movie you watch, there are choices made for how the outfits will reflect character - but not every one is done well. Here are a selection of films that I love to watch purely for the love of the costumes
1. The Devil Wears Prada
This is the film that started it all for me. At 13 years old I first watched this film and I was a girl possessed. I was determined I would learn everything I could about fashion so that I would be as knowledgeable as Miranda Priestly, I was going to work in a fashion magazine and wear the most beautiful clothes in the world. I stared at Andy’s outfits over and over again, trying to replicate each one. Ten years later, I am still obsessed with this film - there is such a range of looks, each one pretty timeless. Watching it now though I cannot believe I am the same age as Andy - I feel so much less mature!
2. Mean Girls
This movie has to be one of my most watched of all time. As a girl in high school, this film was just everything to me - as well as an easy stepping stone path to the top of the social hierarchy (in real life its actually not quite as simple as wearing a short skirt and doing your hair nice, I quickly discovered). The clothes in this film are insane for a high school context, but also absolutely gorgeous. I point blank refused to watch the musical film version as the costumes were such a let down in the trailers - which is a shame as I actually love a musical. If you want lots of fire and flower, this movie is the one for you.
3. Titanic
I watched Titanic a couple of months ago for the first time in a few years and I was on the brink of tears the whole way through. Yes, from the tragic love story, but also just in awe of the beautiful clothes. Kate Winslet is one of the most beautiful people I have ever seen in this movie, the costume designers do a fantastic job of dressing her for her body type and essence, and the level of detail in each look is mesmerising
4. The Notebook
I am in love with the 1940s and 50s - they are probably my favourite style eras and the notebook is just packed with inspiration. Rachel McAdams (narrow medium medium) is dressed perfectly for her body type throughout, and the outfits are both classic and dainty.
5. High School Musical 1, 2 and 3
HEAR ME OUT. A film which is principally made for children relies on costume to tell you everything you need to know about a character. This means style roots are often really well considered, with characters having clear style patterns and motifs you can borrow from. Whether its Gabriella’s soft, feminine, bohemian looks or Sharpay’s hot, fun, extravagant styles there is so much here to be admired.
6. Clueless
Can you even make a list of fashion movies without including Clueless? This film is really inventive with its fashion, and there are nods to the 90s in which it’s set, but actually the style is so thoughtful and creative that it’s timeless. Cher is a mountain sun flower - her outfits are a little weird, structured and feminine.
7. The Parent Trap
This Nancy Meyers movie can be described in just one word: elegant. The designer, Penny Rose, does a fantastic job at distinguishing the more neutral, English style of Elisabeth James whilst capturing a classic, American style in Nick Parker and Chessy. Every item of clothing is muted, exceptional quality and a perfect fit for its wearer
8. Mannequin
I love a 1980s movie - I was raised on them as a daughter of a woman who was born in 1969. This is a film about a girl who is cursed in the Egyptian era to spend eternity as a mannequin whenever someone looks at her, except for this one man in the 1980s - they fall in love and along the way she wears some amazing costumes. All the outfits in this film are your stereotypical 80s - crazy, bright and fun.
9. Pretty Woman
Julia Robert’s polka dot racing dress goes down in history as one of the most recognisable looks from film. This is just one of the many iconic outfits in this film. This film shows the other side of the 80s (even though it was released in 1990 - it was obviously filmed a little earlier) - sophistication, tailored ladies, formality and class.
10. Grease
Grease brought to life everything we love about style in the 1950s. It captured the variety from wiggle skirts to neck ties to sweet cardigans and kitschy glasses - I actually don’t think the 50s would be remembered this way without this film homaging it two decades later. I was in love with Sandy’s wardrobe as a child, and wanted nothing more than to do the hand jive in a full 1950s skirt
11. Dirty Dancin
Dirty dancing was to the 60s what Grease was to the 1950s - it’s a nostalgic look at the previous generations’ teen years through the lens of what’s new. Baby has the coolest wardrobe - she’s flower, mushroom, stone - with hints of softness and boyishness, whilst always remaining muted and gentle in tone.
Have you watched all of these? Which is your favourite movie for the fashion? Share in the comments below!
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Annie Hall and the 1999 version of The Thomas Crown Affair.
I love all these looks, I think my favourites are from The Notebook and Grease. I have a photo of my mum as an 18 year old in a 1940’s tea dress 🩷. I need to watch some Netflix as some of the movies I haven’t seen. I’ve seen Grease and Dirty Dancing countless times. Ellie-Jean, I was born the same year as your mum and saw Grease in Great Yarmouth when it first came out in 1978 as a 9 year old. I remember begging my mum to take me to see it 🤗