Counting down the more Influential Films in Fashion

Film and fashion have always gone hand in hand, with one influencing the other more often than not. From cult classics to chick flicks, many of the trends we know and love are inspired by films. Here, we have complied some of the most influential looks from the silver screen and their impact on the fashion world.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)– We’ve all seen Audrey Hepburn standing outside the window of Tiffany & Co with a pastry in hand and sunglasses on her nose. Hepburn’s character undoubtedly helped popularise the little black dress as a staple in every girl’s wardrobe, showcasing its versatility, timelessness and elegance. To this day, the little black dress remains a staple and a go-to outfit for many.

Source

Top Gun (1986) – Tom Cruise’s iconic 1986 film Top Gun featured no shortage of aviator glasses. The timeless frame of the glasses, and the effortlessly cool look of them led to a sharp uptick in sales of the Ray-Ban glasses. In fact, it was reported that Aviator sales rose by 40% in the 7 months after the movie’s debut.

Pulp Fiction (1994) – Tarantino’s cult classic film had no shortage of iconic outfits. Uma Thurman as Mia Wallace sported a simple button-down and black trousers in one of the most iconic dance sequences in television, and her trench coat has also been a staple of style. The traditionally masculine outfit takes on a new light on Thurman, with the pants shortened and shirt taken in to create a more feminine silhouette that skyrocketed in popularity. The outfit has been recreated time and time again and remains one of the most recognisable outfits in film, despite its simplicity.

Source

Clueless (1995) – The 1995 film Clueless featured no shortage of iconic, chic outfits. Despite being almost 30 years old, the outfits in this movie remain influential. Plaid sets, mini skirts, Mary-Jane shoes and preppy aesthetics – Clueless had them all. Cher’s iconic yellow plaid set remains a staple of fashion and Clueless was instrumental in the popularity of the preppy aesthetic.

Source

Legally Blonde (2001) – Elle Woods made history in early 2000’s cinema with her pink ensembles. Her feminine looks never took away from her legal skill, and brought forth an era of over-the-top, Barbie-like fashion inspiration. Elle Woods served up feminine yet chic looks which took the early 2000s fashion scene by storm, leading to a rise in pink miniskirts, strappy sandals, sparkles, and pink accessories.

Source

13 Going on 30 (2004) – Jennifer Garner wore her fair share of baby doll dresses in the film, but none more iconic than the Versace rainbow mini dress that has been worn over and over again on social media. As fashion trends swing back towards brighter and bolder colours, Jenna’s magazine party dress seems to also be making a comeback.

Source

Mean Girls (2004) – Mean Girls has been a cultural phenomenon since its release in 2004 and has contributed to defining the 2000s era of fashion. Mini-skirts, tight tops and kitten heels were seen throughout the movie and quickly set a new standard in fashion. The “on Wednesday’s we wear pink” slogan has also influenced fashion, with the phrase printed on shirts and pink clothing rising in popularity. The film helped define fashion in the early 2000s and set trends that continue to come back – such as the pleated mini skirt and crop tops. The movie’s lasting impact on fashion is also notable in the fact that Regina’s black off-shoulder top and jeans from the end of the movie has been recreated every year at Halloween.

Source

The Devil Wears Prada (2006) – A staple in fashion films, the 2006 movie remains a timeless classic. Anne Hathaway’s Andy undergoes a transformation from “girl in the frumpy sweater” to style icon dressed in Chanel. Her over-the-knee boots, paired with a blazer, have become an iconic look, and the film played a large role in the popularity of knee-high boots. . The popularity of knee-high boots remains clear, featuring on runways of Stella McCartney, Chanel and Victoria Beckham in 2023. Meryl Streep’s Miranda Priestly also wore countless iconic outfits featuring oversized sunglasses and fur coats – both of which remain fashion staples even in 2025. The popularity of ‘office-siren’ outfits in 2024 also drew inspiration from the film, and many of the timeless outfits from the film remain popular today.

Source

Barbie (2023) – If Elle Woods started the pink revolution, Greta Gerwig’s Barbie took it even further. Over the years, there have been no shortage of iconic pink outfits from films such as Legally Blonde and Mean Girls, but Margot Robbie’s classic Barbie outfits and red carpet looks led to a resurgence of feminine and fun fashion. Pink sequin dresses rose 26% in sales, as did pink jumpsuits and matching pink sets by 73%. Barbie led to a resurgence of bolder outfits and more creative expression, and Barbie-core took social media by storm.

Source

Challengers (2024) – The 2024 film Challengers led to a rise in popularity of the ‘tennis-core’ aesthetic – identifiable by pleated skirts, quarter zips, polos and minimalistic jewellery. Tennis style grew in popularity between March and April 2024 by almost 80%, and clothing companies were quick to follow the trend. Zendaya’s red carpet looks furthered this trend, as she appeared in pleated skirts, tennis-ball shoes, V-neck tops and collared dresses. Its similarity to the viral ‘old-money’ aesthetic also fuelled this popularity, and tennis-core outfits have become more and more popular since the film’s release in April.

Source

Wicked (2024) – We can’t mention pink dresses without the latest addition to the ‘iconic pink dresses’ ensemble – Ariana Grande’s Glinda. Glinda wears exclusively pink outfits throughout the film, and her outfits such as the Oz Dust Ballroom dress have been recreated and highly sought after. Wicked’s collaborations with designers such as Marc Jacobs have also cemented its place as an influential fashion film, and pink and green outfits have become synonymous with the film.