With our month loving all things fashion coming to an end here at SPICE, we’ve been thinking about the fashspiration we get from our favourite films of eras gone by – getting all nostalgic as we reminisce on some of our most treasured big screen style scenarios from the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s and beyond.
Below is some of the most epic fashion moments from the movies we love most – have a look and let us know if we’ve missed yours.
1. Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Obviously. What kind of list would this be without a mention of Audrey Hepburn’s socialite character, Holly Golightly from the silver screen staple, Breakfast at Tiffany’s?
The film, released in 1961, sees Hepburn play an outspoken young woman that frequents with rich men and who goes everywhere dressed to perfection. Golightly’s wardrobe of heavy-hitters is most well know for its era-telling black shift dress and diamond accessory ensemble, but below is a trailer for the film, which’ll show you what other wardrobe gems Ms Hepburn got to wear on set and just why fashion lovers just love this film.
2. Stacey Dash in Clueless
With the ’90s theme of twinsets, plaid print and sugar brights having its moment in the fashion sphere yet again (see how to style your own cool co-ords, here), it’s only right we remember the cult classic comedy, Clueless, wherein actress Stacey Dash played the great companion of Alicia Silverstone’s character, Cher Horowitz.
As a ditzy, shopping-obsessed Dionne Davenport, Ms Dash rocks a range of striking, playful and purely unmissable looks that will both warm your fashion heart and hurt your eyes at the same time. See some of such ensembles, below;
3. Marylin Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Keeping with that ditzy theme, Marilyn Monroe played a starring role in Gentleman Prefer Blondes - a film widely regarded as the bombshell’s best ever performance, in which she wore an array of stunning outfits, but none more memorable than the one she donned during her rendition of “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend.”
With the whole film rife with nostalgic ’50s glamour and gorgeous figure-enhancing looks, it’s in this specific scene that the most covetable ensemble appears, with Monroe’s body hugged by a bubblegum pink gown and matching gloves, and just dripping with diamonds from the neck and wrists.
Oh, and men …She’s covered in those too. See 20 seconds of the scene, below;
4. Pam Grier in Coffy
So Pam Grier is well-known for her role in many iconic, ’70s-set films (Foxy Brown, The Big Bird Cage and Sheba Baby, anyone?) but our favourite has to be her performance in Coffy – a cool, feisty film that sees her play a violent vigilante with a wardrobe that we’d still wear to this day.
In this brilliant couple of scenes, we see Grier in her era’s best wears – first in a white crochet bikini and then donning a knitted shift dress, paired with a big ‘fro ‘do. And, while her Jamaican accent may be lacking, her bad-ass-ness certainly isn’t, with this scene showing off the movie’s most brilliant fashion moments, as well as why Jay Z and the Knowles’ were wise to leave that party as early as they did…
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5. Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman
American actress, Julia Roberts is certainly celebrated for her role in Pretty Woman – an LA-set rom com released in 1990 that won several Golden Globes and was nominated for an Oscar. With her role as Vivian Ward – a short skirt and knee high boot kinda girl (a prostitute, actually) who meets Richard Gere’s character Edward and changes her luck – Roberts resonates with romantics everywhere as well as us wardrobe enthusiasts, who just can’t get enough of her epic transformation in the film, from lady of the night to simply, a lady.
Here is the infamous shopping scene montage, wherein Ms Roberts’ character shows up a snooty store assistant who’d previously refused to serve her – after judging her (special line of)’work’ clothes. Watch it and see if you think the should pads were a “big mistake… huge.”
6. Dorothy Dandrigde in Carmen Jones
’50s silver screen star, Dorothy Dandridge is well known for her role in 1954′s musical, Carmen Jones, wherein her character – the leading role in a tragic tale of tangled love – dons a plunging black bardot top, bold gold earrings, a bright red pencil skirt and matching flower; a look that matches her sassy yet feminine character in the film.
With stars like Rihanna and Beyonce having re-created this look on many an editorial occasion, it seems Ms Dandridge’s standout look is one that truly lingers. See it in the film’s trailer, below;
7. Jennifer Beals in Flashdance
In 1983, Flashdance hit the big screens (yes, another cult classic based on the merge between smut and romance), with actress Jeniffer Beals playing Alex - an 18 year old welder by day and exotic dancer by night, with a wicked sense of costumery and dressing.
From her cool dinner tux ensemble to her raunchy stage outfits, we watched and fell in love with Alex’s wardrobe. But, of all the looks rocked on this dance flick box office hit, it was the star’s off-the-should grey sweatshirt that stuck and found itself falling off the shoulders of girls everywhere ever since.
Don’t act like you haven’t rocked one or at least wished you had the big hair necessary to really pull it off…
8. Halle Berry in Die Another Day
Halle Berry’s a beauty like no other, and to the delight of the world over, we got to see her entire body exiting water in 2002′s Die Another Day.
Playing the part of Jinx, Bond Girl Berry donned a now-famed look (a contrasting orange and white, belted bikini that fit like a glove) and had the whole world wishing we were her – or with her… or at least a little bit closer in proximity to her as she left the sea.
Below’s the moment the world stopped.
9. Janet Jackson in Poetic Justice
Singer/actress, Janet Jackson starred alongside rapper Tupac Shakur in 1993′s film, Poetic Justice, playing a toughened and troubled young women with a wardrobe to match.
Big braids, boots and stonewashed, high waist denim formed Janet’s character, Justice’s uniform, and no one’s forgetting that hat in a hurry, either – a ’90s staple if ever we saw one. Here’s what the cool kids were wearing then (and are still trying to pull off today, too);
10. Whoopi Goldberg in Sister Act
And lastly, with her signature braids and animated face, comedic actress Whoopi Goldberg managed to wow us when she went back to basics with her wardrobe for the ’92 hit Sister Act.
Wearing a nun’s habit and her best funny face, Ms Goldberg had everyone in stitches, but with the simple addition of the on-trend round, metal-rimmed shades, she also had us in awe of her style – stepping into every scene of the movie with swagger, like;
So, did we miss you favourite, most epic moment in fashion and film? Tell us about it in the comments below or on Twitter via @SPICETVAFRICA.
Image source: Munaluchibridal.com, Tumblr.com, Giphy.com