Top 10 Most Fashionable Movie Couples
#10: Su Li-zhen & Chow Mo-wan “In the Mood for Love” (2000)
Set in Hong Kong in the 1960s, “In The Mood For Love” tells the story of a man and a woman whose spouses have embarked on an affair. Both leads wear stunning outfits throughout the visually ambient film, with Chow in impeccably tailored suits and Su in traditional dresses known as qipao, or cheongsam. This style of dress can be physically restrictive, which makes Maggie Cheung’s performance all the more impressive. Because it’s a period piece as well as a foreign film, this romantic drama exposed American audiences to fashions the likes of which they may have never seen before.
#9: Frances “Baby” Houseman & Johnny Castle “Dirty Dancing” (1987)
Iconic ‘80s film “Dirty Dancing” takes place at Kellerman's resort in the Catskills in the early 1960s. The protagonist is Frances “Baby” Houseman, a naive young girl just coming into her own. Her outfits start out as pure suburban innocence, but evolve to become more risque as the film goes on, displaying the boost in confidence she experiences. By contrast, Johnny, her love interest, is a typical bad boy. Wearing all black in nearly every scene in which he appears and always looking too cool for school in tight jeans, dark sunglasses, and a leather jacket, he’s hard to resist. These two aren’t only good at dancing; they know how to look good while doing so, too.
#8: Thomas Crown & Catherine Banning “The Thomas Crown Affair” (1999)
Both versions of “The Thomas Crown Affair”, from 1968 and 1999, often make lists of the most stylish movies of all time. The former version stars Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway while the latter stars Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo. All four stars look incredibly chic in their roles, despite the decades in between the two films. The more modern iteration of the film focuses on an art heist and everything about the costumes and settings is sumptuous and bathed in luxury. This is the sort of movie that we’d just love to live inside, which is why it takes this spot.
#7: Satine & Christian “Moulin Rouge!” (2001)
Set inside the fantastical turn of the century Paris that director Baz Luhrmann dreamed up, “Moulin Rouge!” is a riot of music and color. The costumes for this entire film are incredible, and it’s no surprise that it took home the Academy Award for Best Costume Design. Luhrmann’s wife, Catherine Martin, was actually the designer behind the costumes, and of course, paid special attention to the outfits that the two romantic leads wore throughout. Satine, a glamorous courtesan played by Nicole Kidmans, goes through countless costume changes throughout the film. By contrast, Christian, is a penniless writer portrayed by Ewan McGregor, whose plainer outfits really let Satine’s shine.
#6: Jay Gatsby & Daisy Buchanan “The Great Gatsby” (2013)
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Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin paired their artistic skill sets yet again for their 2013 adaptation of the much-loved novel, “The Great Gatsby”. Audiences hotly anticipated how this pair would interpret the fashions of the roaring ‘20s. They certainly didn’t disappoint, again winning the Oscar for Best Costume Design. Famed designer Miuccia Prada helped out behind the scenes, providing pieces from the Prada archives to help achieve the correct look for this period piece. At the center of it all are Carey Mulligan’s Daisy, who epitomizes the classic flapper style, and the titular Gatsby as played by Leonardo DiCaprio, who has got to be one of the best-dressed men in all of literature.
#5: Carol Aird & Therese Belivet “Carol” (2015)
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“Carol” is a love story between two women that takes place in the 1950s when their relationship is taboo. Both female leads wear gorgeous period costumes throughout the story, with the more well-off Carol’s being more opulent and Therese’s being more simple. The film is directed by Todd Haynes, and Costume Designer Sandy Powell explained that he had a clear vision for the aesthetic of the film. She said, “Todd is super visual, super prepared and he provides his own visuals at the beginning of the film.” The look of the romantic drama was heavily inspired by artists like Vivian Maier, Helen Levitt, Esther Bubley and Ruth Orkin and the color photos they took post-war.
#4: T'Challa & Nakia “Black Panther” (2018)
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Unlike many of the other couples on our list, we hardly get a chance to see T'challa & Nakia actually be together. Like many of the other films on the list, however, this one brought home the Academy Award for Best Costume Design. Costume Designer Ruth E. Carter took inspiration from a number of different African ethnic groups. These included the Dinka, Zulu, Dogon, and Himba, among many others. She combined the traditional garb with a high fashion and futuristic aesthetic, also being inspired by designers like Yves Saint Laurent, Issey Miyake, and Donna Karan. The on-screen results speak for themselves. Wakanda Forever!
#3: Sandy Olsson & Danny Zuko “Grease” (1978)
Made in the ‘70s but set in the ‘50s, “Grease” features some of the most memorable movie fashion of all time. Danny is a typical greaser, with tight t-shirts and a devil may care attitude. Sandy, on the other hand, has the good girl aesthetic down to a tee. Sandy’s makeover at the end of the musical rom-com has to be one of the most iconic in film history, however. She goes from pastels and poodle skirts to a sexy, all-black ensemble complete with red heels and leather pants. Though it’s less dramatic, Danny undergoes his own transformation, throwing a letterman sweater on over his typical outfit. Together, these two are “electrifyin’!”
#2: Bonnie Parker & Clyde Barrow “Bonnie and Clyde” (1967)
Set during the Great Depression, this classic crime film features outfits that are anything but dour. In fact, the setting and storyline paired with their glamorous outfits is what made the costumes in this film so memorable. Criminals Bonnie and Clyde, played unforgettably by Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway, largely wore costumes created by Theadora Van Runkle, the film’s costume designer. The partnership between Van Runkle and Dunaway was such that she also designed what the actress wore in real life at the time. This included the dress she wore to the 1968 Oscars. Van Runkle changed the expectations of how women dressed at the time, putting Dunaway in outfits that were less traditionally feminine, which made them stand out even more in the 1960s. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Rick Blaine & Ilsa Lund, “Casablanca” (1942) They May Not Have a Happy Ending, but at Least They Have Great Outfits Marcello Rubini & Maddalena, “La Dolce Vita” (1960) This Classic Movie Is a Feast for the Eyes Marge Sherwood & Dickie Greenleaf, “The Talented Mr. Ripley” (1999) The Outfits in This Movie Are Second Only to the Drama Katie Morosky & Hubbell Gardiner, “The Way We Were” (1973) This Couple May Not Sort Out Their Differences, but Their Sartorial Style Is on Point
#1: Holly Golightly & Paul Varjak “Breakfast at Tiffany's” (1961)
With her little black dress and incomparable sleep attire, Holly Golightly has got to be one of the most fashionable women in film history. Because of how well-loved the cafe society girl’s outfits are, it’s easy to forget about the sartorial stylings of her love interest: Paul Varjak, played by George Peppard. While certainly less flashy, Paul exemplifies classic menswear looks with a focus on tailoring and simplicity. Costume Designer Edith Head worked alongside one of fashion’s most respected designers, Hubert de Givenchy, to create many of Peppard and Audrey Hepburn’s looks in the romantic comedy. From the dresses to the jewelry and the outerwear, many - if not all - of this movie’s stylish outfits, remain iconic to this day.
