We all find fashion and style inspiration in a number of different places. Whether that be something we are aware of and make a conscious effort to research by reading fashion blogs or creating our own Pinterest board. Perhaps we are influenced in a way we are not aware of with instagram ads, trends becoming popular with celebrities then trickling down to the mainstream highstreet. Whether it's a celebrity's style, social media, Pinterest, street style or fashion runways. There are a number of ways we can be influenced. These can affect us knowingly because we go and look for it, or we are being persuaded by the media and the fashion industry unknowingly.

I like to think about my style or my designs and challenge where this may have come from. What has moved me to want to wear this? For myself, one of the big influences and subsequently one of my lifes loves is movies. Not just literal costumes but also the mood or atmosphere of a movie can determine what style I choose and like. Maybe it's a silhouette I want to try in a design, a colour palette I hadn't thought to try or an era I had looked over for inspiration.

I was a kid of the 90s so I grew up in the Disney Renaissance era. The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin were my everything to me as a young girl. I could not get enough. However, I also grew up with an older brother and a Mum who didn't seem to care too much about what we watched. So, my brother and I would watch movies such as The Terminator, Predator and Die hard to name a few. We were encouraged to consume a wide range of movies and were not beholden to our age. Mum would suggest movies she had seen and loved from her 20s and 30s like, ET, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and To Kill A Mockingbird.

I still hold this passion for movies and story telling now, my partner and I rent 3 DVDs every week from our local independent cinema The Alice and try to absorb as many different movies as possible. I love to discover new movies I’ve never seen before, new stories, new directors and even new genres I’ve yet to uncover. This has also always been and still is one of the best sources of fashion influence for me.

Thelma and Louise is an adventure/thriller that came out in 1991 starring Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis. It follows two best friends who have planned a weekend getaway but end up on the run from the police on an epic road trip getaway to get to Arizona. I don't remember how young I was when I watched this movie (definitely too young for sure) but it changed the way I saw women. I had been exposed to Disney Princesses and 80s action movies with a strong male lead. I distinctly remember this movie changing my brian chemistry, these women were strong, flawed, silly and I completely loved them!

The movie starts off with Thelma in a white off the shoulder dress, very pretty and hyper feminine. Louise is wearing a button up shirt and blue jeans, always very neat and hair tied back. This is in stark contrast to how we find them by the end of the movie. As they navigate running from the law their attire becomes more free and more bold.

The utilitarian and simplicity of the jeans and a white top Louise is wearing by the end of the movie with nothing but a blue handkerchief tied around her neck as an accessory and her hair free flowing was divine to me. These women became their own heroes of their own story. They freed themselves of feminine ideals and restraints and instead embraced their women empowerment and strength.

Poor things is a fantasy/comedy that came out 2023 starring Emma Stone as Bella Baxter and Mark Ruffalo. It is a somewhat retelling of Frankenstein's Monster set in the late 18th century. I was so excited to see Poor Things and I had loved the director's previous movies The Favourite and Dogtooth. His mixture of weird comedy and surrealism have been such a palette cleansers after so many big blockbuster superhero action movies.

I think I may have let out an audible gasp when I saw the opening shot of Poor Things at the coat she is wearing on the bridge. The shoulder detail and colour were incredibly jolting, in the most amazing way and set me up with what to expect for the rest of the movie. After the first opening scene we are then led into a 25 minute black and white section of the movie. This forces you to focus purely on shape, silhouette and stitch detailing. At this point of the movie the character Bella is in her infant stage, she is shown in childlike dresses, gathered puff sleeves and silk shorts. These silhouettes are fun, whimsical and practical.

As we move through the rest of the movie we are jolted with technicolour, showing her liberation and freedom. She definitely is starting to mature and is finding out what is expected of her with clothing, something which she never really experienced while at home. However, we do see her start to play with colour and the mixture of textures. Mixing powder blue with a warm orange and a plush peachy pink. Ruffles and sheer fabrics combined with tailoring and structure.

AS IF I would be able to talk about film and fashion and not mention Clueless. This 1995 comedy starring Alicia Silverstone had and I think still does have a choke hold on us. If we didn't have Clueless would we have had Mean Girls and Legally Blonde?? And other movies like them, Clueless was the blueprint for teen movies and the fashion still lives on to be as popular as ever.

I myself definitely related more to the Brittney Murphy character, the loveable Tai. She was the awkward new girl at school, who was in love with the skater boy Travis (I had the biggest crush on Breckin Meyer) and had a constant sunny disposition. She starts the movie wearing band tees, baggy pants and a plaid shirt but is soon taken under the wing of Cher and Dionna and gets her own classic 90s makeover montage. After the makeover she can be seen wearing graphic tiny tees, mini plaid skirts, cardigans and plaid blazers. Accessorised with her iconic curly loose hair and chokers. Now, don't even get me started on chokers. I can't think of a trend that I myself took part in twice when the style rolled back around into mainstream other than chokers! I loved them, the tattoo style ones, get out of here!!

At one point the girls attend a party in which Tai dons an adorable pair of dungarees with a pink tee. Dungarees are an absolute favourite of mine. I have a pair of blue denim ones that over the years I have been covering in patches and they are positively one of my favourite items of clothing that I will never give up and never get bored of wearing. They completely show my personality, they are incredibly comfy and entirely unique.

When Harry Met Sally is a 1989 romantic comedy starring Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal. This movie is a true comfort movie to me, I can't tell you how many times I have watched it. It's set in New York and seems to be in a perpetual state of autumn/winter. Even though I know it's not the colour tones and style choices give a warm cosy feel to the whole movie.

It is classic fashion, with wonderful tailoring, incredible knits and fantastic accessories. I remember watching it and thinking that's what I want to look like when I'm a “grown up”. The movie follows our two main characters over a 12 year span of their friendship, starting when they have just finished college to them in their early 30s, when they finally end up together SPOILERS. The main way the movie depicts time changing is through fashion and hair styles. Sally starts off with a preppy “good girl” vibe, wearing a cardigan, long shorts, a button up and knee high socks. As the movie progresses she can be seen wearing more formal tailoring, but also softer knits and high waisted jeans.

I particularly like the use of knitwear in this movie. I daydream about Sallys red jumper and Harry’s white turtleneck. These are classic items of clothing, pieces that in my opinion would never go out of style and would be my first option as the autumn winter months come closer. The knit with a good pair of jeans and a comfy pair of boots will always look classic, clean and well put together.

These are just a few of the movies I have and do take inspiration from. Some other honourable mentions would be 2019s Little Womens, 2001s Moulin Rouge, 1996s The Birdcage, 1987s Dirty Dancing, 2013s Great Gatsby and 1993s True Romance.

What are some of your movie fashion icons and inspirations?

I'd love to know and I can add them to my watch list!

Film Inspired Fashion

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