Films to Watch if You Are Looking to Enter the Fashion Industry

Movies are a great inspiration for anyone interested in the fashion industry, or just fashion in general. Costumes, characters and plotlines allow for interesting fashion choices, some of which have sparked fashion trends in the past and present, proving their influence on the industry. Here are 9 films to watch if you are interested in entering the fashion industry.

1. Clueless

Clueless is a staple film to understand the fashion trends of the mid-1990s.  The '90s apparel seen throughout the film sealed its place as a genuine classic. Clueless purposefully set out to establish a teen world that ran counter to the casualness and gender expression of the grunge era when it was released, especially when this was the dominating trend among teens. The outfits in Clueless were eye-catching, enjoyable, ambitious, extremely feminine, and carefully thought out. The outfits Cher wore in the film, including her iconic yellow plaid suit and strappy red slipdress, epitomised peak '90s fashion.

2. Breakfast At Tiffany's

Breakfast at Tiffany's created countless renowned fashion scenes, making it arguably the most influential movie to merge fashion and cinema. Hepburn had already established herself as a fashion symbol through the 1950s, and this film helped her enter the 1960s fashion and establish herself as a style icon for yet another era. The LBDs, the cat-eye sunglasses, her pink princess dress, and her stylish coat are some of the movie's most iconic ensembles. The fashion style echoes the movie's chic plot and themes as well.

3. The Devil Wears Prada

As a film about fashion, fashion style is clearly a key aspect of the movie. The Devil Wears Prada, which perfectly depicts all the upscale styles and designers of the 2000s, is the pinnacle of fashion movies. Thanks to Patricia Field, the outfits in The Devil Wears Prada have real-world cred significance, taking inspiration from ideas of popular designers at the time.  Although Field's outfits are luxurious and flawlessly set together, they frequently have a slight edge to them and tend to flout the proverbial rule that you should always take off one accessory when leaving the house. After undergoing her high-fashion makeover, the main character Andy is never seen without a fashionable accessory, be it a hat, a plethora of necklaces, a statement bag, etc.

4. Wall Street

Wall Street portrayed corporate finance in a way that many Americans had never encountered before: as aggressive, brutal, and wholly unethical. But it also created a fresh look tailored to that perception. By using contrast collars and button suspenders, their clothes were easily alluring. For years, fashion trends were influenced by Gordan Gekko's eye-catching clothing, which featured bright colours, contrast collars, and flamboyant accessories.

5. Crazy Rich Asians

Crazy Rich Asians highlight high fashion, designer brands and the essence of Asian influence on western fashion. From Nicholas Young's white linen, Jay Gatsby-inspired fitted suit to Goh Peik Lin's golden closet full of animal patterns and bright costumes, the designers meticulously planned in advance each scene to ensure that the clothing continually resonated with events in the story. While prominently featured worldwide brands are in the film, the inclusion of Southeast Asian studios conveys the unique elegance of Singapore.

6. The Great Gatsby

The exclusive upper-class society that The Great Gatsby is set in has a dominant fashion sense. The movie immerses viewers in the lavish world of extravagant possessions and growing social privileges that characterised The Roaring Twenties. The 1920s fashion cliches are presented in The Great Gatsby. However, the flappers are less peppy, the gowns are more bejewelled, and the colours are deeper. The film takes classic fashion trends from the time that the plot is set and adds a modern twist, bringing the style into the new era. Historical accuracy is not entirely followed in the film, however, the style is immaculate nevertheless.

7. Marie Antoinette

Through the beautiful costume design, Marie Antoinette highlights the outrageously lavish realm of the Queen of France's monarchy. Silks, ruffles, and florals are what best capture Marie Antoinette's surreal splendour. The clothing is "candy-like," with men's suits and women's gowns both featuring vivid, and sorbet-like pinks, pastel yellows, azure blues, and velvet reds. While yet historically true, Canonero's clothes have a fanciful and vibrant feel to them. This twist effectively celebrates femininity as it places the spotlight on and luxuriously dresses the female characters.

8. Aisha

Aisha is one of the first modern Bollywood films to argue for high fashion; it is modelled on Jane Austen's classic Emma and is similar to the Hollywood film Clueless. Sonam Kapoor Ahuja delivered us some memorable looks in the film that are still spoken about today. Parts of the movie's fashion were a tribute to the 19th-century book it was built on. Additionally, the film brought in western brands such as Chanel, Manish Arora, L'Oreal Paris, DLF Emporio, and Portico, making it the first Bollywood movie to do so. The film outfits draw inspiration from iconic moments in Hollywood, including Aisha's lilac and white lengha, Lady Dior bag, and extravagant gowns.

9. Funny Face

Watching Funny Face is like experiencing a journey through fashion history, from Audrey Hepburn's couture outfits to the tributes to Diana Vreeland and Richard Avedon. Funny Face and Audrey Hepburn both have a passion for style. The clothes in this film tell a tale of shifting attitudes, a move away from Balenciaga's parallel lines in favour of Dior's New Look, and the growing acceptance of practicality above extravagance.

10. Legally Blonde

Legally Blonde is a film that aims to extravagantly reflect the aesthetic of sophistication and femininity, specifically done through the fashion choices of the main character Elle Woods. The fact that the apparel and styling went beyond mere decoration is what makes the film endure as a fashion movie. The aesthetic decisions were carefully considered; for example, the colour pink served not only as a symbol of femininity; it also highlighted some of the movie's major issues around gender stereotypes. Elle sports a number of fabulous and classic outfits, all while studying law at one of the more prestigious universities in the United States.

Fashion and film clearly go hand in hand, and these 10 fashion films embody trends ranging from the early 1900s to the modern era. Whether it's the extravagant gowns or brightly coloured suits, these films truly inspired many trends, and are key for anyone interested in understanding the history of fashion and the inspiration behind many prominent trends.