Long before TikTok and Instagram turned a look into a trend, cinema was already making fashion leave the screen and reach the streets. Over the decades, costumes stopped being just part of a character’s development; they have also become style references, influencing everything from major trends to the way we perceive certain pieces.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
One of the best-known examples is Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The black dress worn by Audrey Hepburn became practically synonymous with the little black dress, establishing the piece as a timeless wardrobe staple.
Clueless
In the 1990s, coordinated sets, short skirts, knee-high stockings and plaid patterns helped define a preppy aesthetic that continues to appear on runways and in street style.
Grease
The motorcycle leather jacket, tight pants, full skirts and looks inspired by the different 1950s aesthetic helped build a young and rebellious vibe that remains recognizable to this day. The film transformed the costumes of its characters into a kind of uniform for American youth.
The Matrix
The Matrix, on the other hand, took fashion in a completely different direction. Black leather, narrow sunglasses, long coats and minimalist silhouettes created a futuristic aesthetic that marked the public imagination of the 2000s. The characters’ looks continue to be revisited by designers and brands, especially at times when fashion returns to exploring cyber, utilitarian and dystopian references.
The Devil Wears Prada
This film introduced the general public to the power of fashion as a tool for transformation. Andy Sachs’s (Anne Hathaway) wardrobe follows her change in style and, consequently, in identity within the fashion world.
Barbie
And if there is a recent film that shows the power of this relationship on a global scale, it is Barbie. The Barbiecore, marked by pink, feminine silhouettes, eye-catching accessories and an unapologetically “girly” aesthetic, had already been growing before the release, but gained a completely new dimension with the film.
Influence worldwide
This influence is not limited to Hollywood. Cinema from different countries also brings cultural elements into the wardrobes of audiences around the world. For example, Indian productions have enormous influence on the use of saris, jewelry and vibrant colors, while Asian films and series often spark interest in silhouettes, fabrics and traditional references.
The social media impact
Today, the speed is different. A look can appear in a film and, just a few hours later, be circulating on TikTok, being recreated by influencers and making its way into brands’ collections. With social media, the distance between costume and wardrobe has shrunk , accelerating the process through which cinematic references reach everyday fashion.
In the end, perhaps that is precisely the power of fashion in cinema. An outfit can communicate personality, status, desire or even an era without the character having to say a word. And when a costume manages to make audiences want to dress that way, it stops belonging only to the story. It leaves the screen, reaches the streets and becomes part of our own narrative.
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The article above was edited by Sofia Bianco.
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