Great costumes can elevate a movie to classic status. These are 13 of the best fashion films - let us know what you would add.
I watched Phantom Thread recently. I know it was lauded by critics and received a load of award nominations, but I feel like it's been relatively ignored by the general public. It's one of those Very Good Films that people just...forget. It's a shame because it genuinely is a Very Good Film. The story intrigues, the performances are impeccable, it looks gorgeous. And the costumes. It's set in 1954 and the main character - played by Daniel Day-Lewis in his last ever role - is a fashion designer for the highest of high society, so the costumes are bound to be gorgeous. They're actually not. Not quite. They're not 'chic', a word that the Day-Lewis character Reynolds Woodcock spits out like it's cold tea. They are beautiful, though. They're dresses for people with taste. With class.
Although the film wasn't about fashion per se, it couldn't not play a central role. Like New York was Sex and the City's fifth character, the costumes in Phantom Thread all have starring roles. The costume designer for Phantom Thread Mark Bridges deservedly won an Oscar for his work (he also won a Jet Ski for having the shortest speech on the night #funfact).
Fashion films don't necessarily have to be about fashion. But they have to be made all the more memorable because of it. These films were all enhanced because of the costume design; let me know in the comments if you agree, and tell me which ones you would add.
In no particular order...
