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The moment Cher Horowitz stepped onto the big screen in her iconic yellow plaid suit and effortless flair, it was clear that her chic style would be talked about and taken inspiration from for decades to come. From the plaid-clad ensembles to the layered shirts and tanks, the costume design of the 1995 blockbuster film âCluelessâ has been recognised as one of the most influential movies in terms of modern fashion.
Of course, this is primarily attributed to costume designer Mona May, who set out to reintroduce colour and patterns to illustrate the individuality and persona of each character. By challenging traditional fashion norms and experimenting with preppy and classy pieces while still drawing inspiration from prior decades as a homage, âCluelessâ created a lasting fashion legacy that became a defining influence on the industry for years to come.
Think âcluelessâ fashion, and you are instantly reminded of knee-high socks, headbands, blazer sets and so much more. The only difference would be the pop of colour and the coordination of outfits.
This is visible in almost all of Cherâs outfits, adding a bit of 80âs colour and boldness to otherwise traditionally âblandâ prep wear. Clueless made classy and elegant pieces cool and mainstream, which we can see today in the âpreppy girl aestheticâ, embodying motifs similar to the 1995 film, such as plaid skirts, blazers, knee-high socks, and Mary Jane shoes.
What made âCluelessâ such a transformative movie for fashion inspiration was that there was something for everyone, as Mona was not afraid to mix different stylistic elements to create dynamic pieces, most notably plaid skirts with sheer shirts and crop tops layered over each other. The âCrop-Topâ, a staple of 90âs fashion, was only further popularised after the movie and continues to remain an item many fashion-forward people tend to gravitate towards, due to its versatility and ability to mix and match.
Clueless turned the casual crop top into something sophisticated, classy, and easily wearable with almost any type of outfit. Clueless also brought out the trend of heavily printed and patterned pieces, most famously seen by the character Amber, who aimed to contrast Cher's chic and classy style with over-the-top prints and mixed-matched elements.
Funnily enough, it worked, and even to this day, 80s loud fashion and prints are seen circulating in some fashion trends (though you may have to dig more rigorously in thrift bins to access them).
Mona fundamentally reinvented aesthetics, blurring the divide between them and making her pieces stand out as humbly as possible. In doing so and embracing traditional feminine aspects such as skirts, hairbands, clips and tight silhouettes, she reinvented the grunge look of the 90s and pushed the decade towards a more colourful and vibrant colour and style palette. People experimented more with colours, style, layering and accessories, and heavily leaned towards looks that were sported in the film.
The style and outfits in Clueless can be defined as timeless, with the embodiment of almost every aesthetic for every season attributed to every single character. So, if you have pieces like cable knit sweatshirts, slip silk dresses, mini skirts and a plethora of crop tops in your wardrobe, you have âCluelessâ to thank because, chances are, these pieces will never go out of style (ugh, As If!)
