The list of films that influenced what appeared on runways, in glossy magazines and in the streets is practically endless. Some films have inspired entire collections; others added a look, a garment, or an accessory to the contemporary fashion scene. Here are a few examples that stand out.
The T-shirt and cropped slim black pants, plus stripes, full skirts, and the short hair that Jean Seberg displayed in the 1960 film Breathless are still one of the most recognizable looks in film history.
Everyone wanted to wear shoes like those after spotting them from under the hems of the floor-sweeping skirts in the 2006 film Marie Antoinette.
After Audrey Hepburn wore it in the 1961 Breakfast at Tiffany’s, the little black dress became a staple in every woman’s wardrobe.
The belted bikini is still popular, though not everyone sporting it looks like Ursula Andress did in the 1962 film Dr. No. Of course, that caveat does not go for another Bond girl, Halle Berry, or the models pictured below.
Diane Keaton’s boyish wardrobe in the 1977 Annie Hall left a lasting influence on the fashion world. The two images on the right are from a 2009 fashion shoot.
Men are not immune to the fashion first seen on the screen either. Just think of Marlon Brando’s leather jacket in The Wild One (1953) or John Travolta’s white suit in Saturday Night Fever (1977)! Accessories-wise, the word is that Tom Cruise single-handedly kept one sunglasses manufacturer in business after donning a specific pair of eye shades in Risky Business (1983).
And Richard Gere’s wardrobe in American Gigolo (1980) was – still is – a veritable manual on how men should dress. No wonder. Everything Gere wore in that film was designed by Armani.
Other famous designers were involved in dressing actors and actresses in a variety of films: Ralph Lauren (Annie Hall); Manolo Blahnik (Marie Antoinette – duh! who else could have made those shoes); Givenchy (Breakfast at Tiffany’s); and so on.
And here we come to the crux of the matter: the relationship between fashion and film is a two-way street. On one hand, films influence what we wear and how we want to look. On the other hand, fashion designers are involved in creating clothing for films, thereby influencing what we wear…
As long as the interplay contributes to all of us dressing better, I’m all for it! Browse the bidorbuy clothing category for the movie look that inspired you.
