Cult Classics and Their Influence on Fashion

Coming to a theatre (and closet) near you... by ELLIE BATTEN graphics by GEORGIA FLAVELL

The all-pink business attire worn by Elle Woods in Legally Blonde was my first true love, and I stand by that to this day. It’s no secret that our favorite movies shape who we are as people, and as we all know, what we wear is integral to our personality – we can express what’s on the inside on the outside.

It’s no surprise that well-loved cult classics continue to influence trends. Fashion is cyclical, and as long as we keep re-watching our favorite movies, the impact they have on our wardrobes is a no-brainer. If you look at what’s trending now, there’s a certain sense of nostalgia that continues to remind us of the classic movies we grew up with and continue to love.

#1: Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)

The birth of the little black dress can be traced back to the queen herself, Audrey Hepburn. It’s timeless, iconic, and a staple in almost every girl’s closet. Although the LBD has never gone out of style, elegant minimalism has been having a moment recently. The “French Girl” aesthetic has been super popular within the last few years – think oversized button downs, big sunglasses, and trench coats – which embodies the elegance that the clothes in Breakfast at Tiffany’s helped to create. This movie also played a massive part in combining the worlds of fashion and Hollywood. Now, it’s completely normal to spot couture in TV shows and movies, but Hepburn’s partnership with Givenchy was the beginning of celebrity brand endorsement deals throughout the industry.

#2: Heathers (1989)

When Heathers came out, the costume design embodied the excess of the 1980s, which can easily be seen in today’s trends – monochrome, maximalism, co-ords, and oversized blazers are everywhere right now. And who could forget the 2018 scrunchie revival? Each Heather has her own color – Heather Chandler wears red, which is commonly associated with power and strength, Heather MacNamara wears yellow to show that she is the kindest of the group, and Heather Duke wears green, a color closely related to jealousy and greed. Veronica is primarily seen in blue, which is associated with intelligence and stability. All of these colors represent their individual personalities throughout the film, which is something that made the movie such a classic in today’s age.

#3: Clueless (1995)

The 90s have been in for a while now, and you’d be totally buggin’ if you think the costume design in Clueless is anything less than iconic. Even though the looks in the movie scream classic 90s now, Clueless was revolutionary in terms of fashion. The grunge aesthetic was at

its height in the early 90s – think baggy pants, greasy hair, and plaid everything. Cher Horowitz’s closet ushered in a completely new way of dressing. The bright yellow plaid set, knee high socks, and *the* Calvin Klein mini dress embodied a preppy, feminine look that was a complete 180 from the grunge alternative. Today, chunky Mary Janes, minimalist slip dresses, cropped tees, and tennis skirts are more or less staple pieces, and we have Clueless to thank for that.

#4: Legally Blonde (2001)

This movie is the unofficial official guidebook for Y2K fashion which, as we all know, has defined the 2020s so far. Low rise denim, track suits, Tiffany and sequin bathing suits crept back into the limelight on TikTok and have been further popularized by celebs like Bella Hadid, Hailey Bieber, and Kendall Jenner (just to name just a few). Elle Woods’ wardrobe screams Y2K Malibu Barbie – it’s fun, loud, and unapologetically feminine. The appeal of the early aughts today isn’t that surprising. After living in sweat pants for almost a year and a half, people want to dress up and have fun. Y2K fashion is bold, adventurous, and youthful. Plus, if you’re going to try the bend and snap in anything, it might as well be a hot pink velour tracksuit. Legally Blonde added depth to the Malibu Barbie aesthetic, too. Proving that she could be a Marilyn and a Jackie, Elle rocks pink business attire, which is a total power move. Now, thanks to Elle, it’s way more common to see a more feminine side to classic corporate looks.

#5: Jennifer’s Body (2009)

Do you ever just want to wear a mini skirt and eat boys? Yeah, me too. The looks in Jennifer’s Body put a darker (and sexier) twist on early 2000s fashion. Denim mini skirts, rhinestone belts, and velour zip ups are staples in this masterpiece of a movie. Jennifer’s Body is also a great look into the evolution of Y2K looks. Layered cami’s and henley shirts make up the majority of the costume design – especially since both of these trends grew increasingly popular in the late 2000s. It’s safe to say that this movie has helped influence the rise in Y2K fashion the past few years. I know it’s hard to believe, but Jennifer’s Body was not an immediate hit when it came out. Don’t get me wrong, it’s always had a cult following, but only recently has it become more well-known and appreciated. The amount of Y2K inspo TikTox that pull from this movie is insane, and we love to see Jennifer’s Body and Megan Fox getting the respect they deserve.

Cult classics have had a huge influence on today’s fashion trends, especially when referring to the looks we know and love today. These movies are almost like fashion time capsules… and now that we are old enough to make our own fashion decisions and dress in a way that represents our personality, taking inspo from our favorite movies makes it easy to pull together an outfit. Just remember, next time you pull out that LBD or hot pink blazer, you have to rock it like Elle and Cher would want you to.