Top 10 Times Costumes Made the Scene Better

“Clueless” (1995)

Whether it’s her intellect, her elite popularity, or her unique style, Cher Horowitz is the kind of girl who stands out on a high school campus. For the artists behind “Clueless,” the clothes were a huge part of that. Cher’s unforgettable yellow plaid suit and skirt combo is one of the most memorable ensembles in any teen movie. She struts across her school’s quad, giving us the 4-1-1 on being a teenager in the 90s and dodging the leering eyes of disheveled high school boys along the way. She is an unmissable pop of color among her classmates’ muted, cool colors.

“Legally Blonde” (2001)

So much of what makes the unlikely law student’s colleagues unwilling to take her seriously is her style. But the whole movie is about how Elle finds a way to honor her genuine talent for practicing law and still be herself. In the movie’s final triumphant sequence, she arrives to take over a client’s murder case. Elle stomps into the courtroom in attire that merges her two worlds. She’s decked out in a pink dress that’s embellished with a dramatic collar and sleeves, a deep neckline, and even a glittery sash. It highlights the movie’s themes of clothes and style not necessarily having anything to do with someone’s intelligence.

“Barbie” (2023)

When two living dolls are suddenly thrown into the real world, they experience self-consciousness for the first time. That may have a lot to do with their choice of clothing. Barbie and Ken decide to go for a skate along the boardwalk in outfits that can only be described as retro neon nightmares. With their flashy and colorful leotards and neon elbow pads, they look like they take their fashion inspiration from vintage paper cups. That they don’t realize just how ridiculous they look until people start laughing at them says a lot. It’s the perfect choice to drive home just how out-of-step they are with the real world at large.

“Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion” (1997)

They may not have invented Post-Its, but Romy and Michele win the day at their 10 year reunion just by being themselves. After spending the movie worrying that their lives aren’t impressive enough, they decide to throw caution to the wind and re-enter the party in two outfits of their own creation. Their shimmering pink and teal dresses are very similar, but just different enough to let the two stand apart. They are also peak 90s. These fun and flirty costumes are the perfect representation of the two best friends’ journey as they realize they don’t have to suppress their personalities to be taken seriously.

“Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi” (1983)

The third movie in the original trilogy sees Princess Leia kidnapped by the disgusting slug-like Jabba the Hutt. She is caught trying to free Han Solo from his carbonite prison. The drooling alien enslaves Leia, chaining her to him, and making the unsavory choice of dressing her in an ornate and skimpy bikini. While there’s been plenty of argument about how necessary it was, there’s no denying the outfit became an instant classic. Actress Carrie Fisher wasn’t necessarily a fan of the bikini. Getting to kill the big slimy villain is what made it worth it for her.

“The Matrix” (1999)

Neo and Trinity’s slow-motion shootout in the climax of the first “Matrix” movie is a gravity-defying sequence that boasts breathless action and innovative special effects. It’s also a defining fashion moment. The characters’ black trench coat and sunglasses combo has come to represent an entire cyberpunk aesthetic unto itself. The dark colors and sunglasses reflect the movie’s themes of existentialism and depersonalization. But in all the overwhelming blacks and grays in the movie, the flapping of the trench coats gives the characters a sense of movement as they perform acrobatic stunts and dodge enemy fire.

“Gone With the Wind” (1939)

Scarlett O’Hara starts this Hollywood epic as a southern belle accustomed to a certain level of wealth and resources. After the Civil War lays waste to her family’s home and all their money, she has to go begging Captain Rhett Butler for money, and she needs a new dress to do it. The dress she wears has been fashioned from her late mother’s drapes, one of the few fine things still left in the house. Once we see it again, wrapped around Scarlett’s body as a beautifully tailored gown, it looks so good it’s almost a punchline.

“Grease” (1978)

It’s one of the most famous movie makeovers of all time. In the final scene of “Grease,” Olivia Newton-John’s character trades in her character’s frilly pastels and ankle-length skirts for a whole new image. She reemerges as a retro 50s bad girl, complete with a leather jacket, tight pants, a fresh blowout, and a bad attitude. Not only does she look amazing, but it’s easily the most striking look in the entire movie, and it goes so well with the movie’s final musical numbers. It was the moment Danny and Sandy became a go-to Halloween couples costume.

“The Seven Year Itch” (1955)

Part of Marilyn Monroe’s appeal was always the way she moved. Her hot pink performance costume in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” became a frequent reference point for artists like Madonna, Megan Thee Stallion, and Normani. But in “The Seven Year Itch,” her white dress is just as stunning and luminous as she is. Walking out of a movie theater, Monroe’s character plants herself over a subway grate, letting the passing train blow wind up her billowing, pleated skirt. The scene became the defining image of Monroe, transcending the influence of the movie it actually comes from.

“Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1961)

So much of Audrey Hepburn’s performance as the flighty socialite Holly Golightly is dependent upon the look. It’s fitting then that this is the outfit she’s wearing the first time we see her. As she gets out of a cab in front of Tiffany & Co. early one morning, she looks simultaneously glamorous and completely out of place. Her black evening gown, pearl necklace, and matching gloves came to define an era, a style, and Hepburn herself. But what makes it most interesting is what it says about the character. Yes, she’s elegant. She’s also been out all night, and now, she’s walking the streets of New York City all alone. It says everything we need to know about her without saying much.

Did your favorite movie costume make the list? Tell us what we missed in the comments.