Movies That Help Your Style: Winter Edition
Throughout all of Hollywood filmography, popular culture has always played part in the style of character wardrobes. We all watched those ‘90s films growing up, and returning to watch them today makes us look at the actors’ outfits and unanimously say “that’s so ‘90s.” Same for those of any other era, and even cinema filmed now but intent on portraying a different time in history (fictional or not), the fashion will reflect the culture of that time period. The cool thing is that this works both ways, meaning we can also draw from the fashion in filmography and let it assist our own wardrobe off-screen. Here are three movies, recent and otherwise, that can help you look your best this winter.
“Love Actually”
Image Courtesy: Marie Claire
Released all the way back in 2003, you might be thinking about what you could possibly draw from the style culture of the early 2000s, but there’s more than you think. I’m not specifically referring to Bill Nighy’s matching jacket and pant combination for “Billy Mack” in the middle there either. Depending on the occasion, a number of outfits could be called upon to suit your needs. Hugh Grant’s black blazer with an open-collared white dress shirt never goes out of style, and in multiple scenes, Keira Knightly dons beautiful, comfortable and practical winter outfit options. In the famous ‘to me, you are perfect’ scene between Knightley and actor Andrew Lincoln, she wears an off the shoulder, white, short sleeve sweater that combines elegance and warmth in a great winter leisurewear option. Colin Firth’s ‘Jamie Bennett’ also has some excellent scarf/overcoat choices to draw from. With the variety of characters, this is a great film to draw some winter outfits from, especially considering the plotline takes place around Christmas.
“Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald”
Image Courtesy: Digital Spy
This film has a ton of great styling choices from the costuming department since the first installment of the series, and although the plotline is based after World War I, there are still many pieces from each character that could be used for some great winter fashion. When you screen the movie, particularly look at what the Aurors wear when confronting Dumbledore in Hogwarts. Each has beautifully crafted trench coats accompanied by suit and tie and oxford shoes. If you’re seeking to make the look more modern and not so 1920s, scratch the suit underneath and make it more casual by throwing in a hoodie and some joggers, or even a flannel, jeans and some combat boots or sneakers. With some of the female characters, you’ll notice a lot of sheek and shiny silk in dresses or long coats. Draw from that and modernize it with some oversized fur jackets, a scarf, some Chelsea boots, or maybe change the dress to a sheen shirt paired with jeans instead. Definitely include the trench coat, though. The theme here is trench coats with layers, if you couldn’t tell.
“Last Christmas”
Image Courtesy: Cinema Blend
This particular film is very ‘present day’ in plotline and release date, coming out just last year in 2019 (the time we all want to retreat to). Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding star in this romantic comedy based on the song “Last Christmas” by George Michael. The soundtrack is great, but the fashion is even better. You don’t have to get that far into the film to see Clarke’s character sporting anything from red leather jackets to this leopard print fur coat. Golding has a nice outer beige overcoat, zip-up hoodie and sweater underneath. In other scenes, Golding changes the styling of the sweater and pants under the same beige overcoat seen. Numerous other characters reflect carefully chosen wardrobe as well, like Emma Thompson’s ‘Petra,’ with variety in corduroy jackets and fur coats. Definitely give this film a watch if you’re looking for even more layered options.
This is definitely a very brief list in the multitude of options for films that you could draw winter fashion ideas from. What’s here are some relatively recent movies that most of you have likely seen and biased favorites of my own. Just make sure to pay attention to the costuming when you watch movies this season, as you may just find some inspiration for your own wardrobe.
Strike Out,
Writer: Jacob Willeford
Orlando