The 25 most stylish movies of all time (original) (raw)

From swoony Old Hollywood romps to gritty, drug-fueled sagas, these films have one thing in common: memorable fashion that transcended trends. Here, EW picks the big-screen aesthetics that are feasts for the eyes.

25. Atomic Blonde (2017)

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James Bond probably thought he'd cornered the market on fashionable ultra-spies—that is, until Lorraine Broughton came along. The MI6 agent, played with ass-kicking excellence by a platinum-blond Charlize Theron, dominates the masculine world of Cold War Berlin dressed in sky-high stilettos, sharply tailored trench coats, oversize sunglasses, and dramatic leather gloves. Fashion heavy-hitters like John Galliano and Margiela contributed to many of Lorraine's eye-catching looks. (The cars, weaponry, and set pieces are also stunning, for those who are into that sort of thing.) —Seija Rankin

24. Drive (2011)

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"Even reading a script, I picture the jacket first," says Drive costume designer Erin Benach. Consider Ryan Gosling's custom satin bomber her proof of concept. The garment took her and the star months to perfect. Benach remembers day one of shooting, when the camera panned up the nameless driver's back to reveal the embroidered scorpion: "I was like, 'Oh, this is gonna be a thing.'" —Marcus Jones

23. Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

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Costume designer Theadora Van Runkle shaped Faye Dunaway's Bonnie Parker look with tweed, Norfolk jackets, and V-neck sweaters—predecessors to today's menswear-inspired trends. To top it off, Bonnie's beret became the accessory du jour. In the French village shops where the hats originated, sales soared from 5,000 to 12,000 per week. —Lauren Huff

22. Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988)

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There's something so fabulously extra about the clothes in a Pedro Almodóvar movie. The bold colors! The exuberance! The polka dots! Breakdown's women may be on the verge of emotional collapse, but they won't go down without a fight—or a well-structured bustier. Hot pink, leopard prints, stripes, spandex, even a pair of earrings shaped like tiny coffee pots: It's all outrageously '80s, and perfectly Pedro. —Leah Greenblatt

21. She's Gotta Have It (1986)

Tracy Camilla Johns and Spike Lee in 'She's Gotta Have It'. Everett Collection

Spike Lee's first feature**,** She's Gotta Have It, follows Nola (Tracy Camilla Johns), a sexually-liberated artist in Fort Greene. What she and her cohorts wear—high-waisted denim, boxy button-downs, statement accessories—may not seem groundbreaking today, but the Brooklyn-bred look has since become the normcore hipster uniform the world over. —Clarissa Cruz

20. Pretty in Pink (1986)

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The precocious, stylish teens in the John Hughes classic Pretty in Pink were effortlessly confident in their fashion choices, from Duckie (Jon Cryer) and his bolo ties and artfully-rolled sleeves to Blane (Andrew McCarthy) with his expensively slouchy suits. And then there's Andie (Molly Ringwald), whose eclectic style—vintage cardigans, costume jewelry, and florals, florals everywhere—is as enviable now as it was in 1986. —C.C.

19. Desperately Seeking Susan (1985)

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Even early in her dynamic career, Madonna was already delivering master classes on the fine art of reinventing yourself. As the title character in Susan Seidelman's comedy, the pop icon wields a hatbox full of thrifted treasures and chaotically-layered mesh over lace and religious pendants over lingerie. Her style becomes an edgy liberation fantasy for Rosanna Arquette's yuppie housewife Roberta—not to mention the film's Reagan-era audience. In Susan's hip, city-kid world, Roberta finally finds the person she'd always been desperately seeking—herself (but so much better dressed). —Mary Sollosi

18. Scarface (1983)

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Elvira Hancock (Michelle Pfeiffer), wife of drug kingpin Tony Montana (Al Pacino), had the slinkiest of uniforms: low-cut, spaghetti-strapped, made of fabrics that render undergarments utterly meaningless. Add the coolest blond bob in movie history, and her silhouette of choice was as minimalist and devastatingly chic as the '80s were not. —C.C.

17. Velvet Goldmine (1998)

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Todd Haynes' dazzling ode to glam rock is a mad fever dream of glitter bombs and (Ziggy) stardust: spangles and satin, fringe, feather boas, and pants so fitted they're practically X-rays. Costume designer Sandy Powell earned two Oscar nods that year, for Goldmine and Shakespeare in Love. She took it for the more refined Shakespeare but years later declared, "I won it for the wrong one." —L.G.

16. A Single Man (2009)

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Everything about designer Tom Ford's directorial debut is hauntingly beautiful, from the cinematography to the interior design to the early-'60s costuming. Ford, who helmed Gucci for a decade, brought his eye for sensual luxury to the big screen with precision; star Julianne Moore dons era-specific details (a sheath dress here, a drop earring there) that still feel contemporary, no matter the era. —S.R.

15. American Gigolo (1980)

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Paul Schrader's erotic thriller stars Richard Gere as an escort whose moves are as smooth as his lapels, every ensemble a sleek symphony of slate and sand and camel hair. The man behind those iconic looks? A then-obscure Italian designer named Giorgio Armani, whose clean-lined, gorgeously louche fashions for the film became his American calling card—and an indelible piece of movie history. —L.G.

14. The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)

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In Norman Jewison's heist caper, Steve McQueen's smooth criminal sports a series of impeccably-tailored three-piece suits, a fit still embraced by fashionable types. Still, McQueen's debonair vibe didn't exactly come naturally, according to costar Faye Dunaway: "He worked for weeks until he mastered life in a suit." Practice made perfect. —L.H.

13. Blow-Up (1966)

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Michelangelo Antonioni's vivid snapshot of Swinging London revolves around a familiar figure of that hedonistic era: the hotshot fashion photographer. David Hemmings stars as Thomas, an amalgam of various real-life lensmen—most notably David Bailey—but Blow-Up's style pedigree doesn't end there. In addition to an early appearance from Jane Birkin, German model Veruschka makes a brief but indelible cameo, writhing on the floor in a slinky, sparkly, shockingly-slit dress while Thomas straddles her, breathlessly taking photos. —M.S.

12. The Philadelphia Story (1940)

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As socialite Tracy Lord, Katharine Hepburn is haughty, capricious, tender, and vulnerable, vacillating between her ex-husband (Cary Grant), and a society reporter (Jimmy Stewart). But it's Hepburn who wears the pants—literally. The actress, who closely collaborated with costume designers and frequently fought to depict her characters in trousers, brought her love of menswear to the set of The Philadelphia Story and met her perfect match in Adrian. "He and I had the same sense of 'smell' about what clothes should do and what they should say," she once said of the renowned mononymous designer. Hepburn's casual, tailored elegance helped define an iconic American style more practical and individualistic than its fussier European counterparts. As Tracy Lord would say: My, she was yar. —Maureen Lee Lenker

11. In the Mood for Love (2000)

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Wong Kar-wai's swooning portrait of two neighbors in 1960s Hong Kong bonded by their spouses' mutual infidelity comes dressed in the most exquisitely period-perfect costumes. Between Tony Leung's tailored suiting and Maggie Cheung's patterned cheongsams, it's still hard to believe they could even exist on the same planet that contains sweatpants. —L.G.

10. Love Story (1970)

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Jenny (Ali MacGraw) first endears herself to Oliver (Ryan O'Neal) by calling him "preppy," and it's precisely that tweedy East Coast vibe that this film helped popularize. "On the heels of the psychedelic revolution, it brought preppy, classic style back," film and fashion historian Kimberly Truhler says of the tearjerker. MacGraw came from the fashion world—she was a former assistant to legendary Harper's Bazaar editor Diana Vreeland—and brought much of her own taste to the set. With Jenny's camel coat, striped scarf, and a knitted beanie from the actress' personal collection that instantly became the fashion must-have of the moment, MacGraw helped define 1970s trends and spurred legions of women to copy her boho-meets-preppy look. Because love (and enduring style) means never having to say you're sorry. —M.L.L.

9. Black Panther (2018)

Letitia Wright, left, and Angela Bassett in 'Black Panther.'. Matt Kennedy/© Marvel Studios 2018

When Ruth E. Carter joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Black Panther, she didn't just design costumes—she designed an entire nation. Wakanda is rooted in ancient African traditions and sleek technology, and Carter's Afrofuturist vision of T'Challa's homeland won her an Oscar, making her the first Black woman to take home the award for costume design. From the Dora Milaje's warrior armor to the royal family's ceremonial garb, every look is, well, heroic. —Devan Coggan

8. Annie Hall (1977)

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Say what you will about Woody Allen (no, really), but nothing can take away the genius of the borrowed-from-the-boys fashions in Annie Hall. With little more than suiting and a well-placed hat, the wardrobe (by Ruth Morley, who also devised the looks for Taxi Driver and Kramer vs. Kramer) added whimsy to the film's neurotic tableau. The movie is at its aesthetic peak whenever Diane Keaton (the eponymous Annie) is on screen, and her much copied, menswear-influenced ensembles—which the actress herself embraced before lending it to the character—is that rare look that never goes out of style.

While Annie is the rom-com's greatest sartorial strength, it doesn't stop there: Janet Margolin wears a paisley-esque caftan paired with a larger-than-life beaded necklace and wire-frame glasses, Allen's character Alvy dons a white-after-Labor Day look, and some tennis outfits offer such an uplifting dose of Americana that they inspire something close to patriotism. La dee da indeed. —S.R.

7. Clueless (1995)

'Clueless'. Everett Collection

A list of fashionable movies without Amy Heckerling's influential teen comedy? As if! In 1995, Alicia Silverstone's Cher Horowitz welcomed us into her candy-colored automated closet, teaching us that yellow plaid is the best way to make a statement and Alaïa is, like, a totally important designer. Costumer Mona May took inspiration from both light '90s grunge (so much plaid!) and high-fashion European streetwear. Runway designers like Versace, Chanel, and Calvin Klein have been influenced by Clueless ever since. "That was the most fun part, creating that unique look," May says. "[We wanted] something that's from the runways, mixed with the malls and then mixed with the thrift store."

Silverstone had about 60 different costume changes throughout the film, each one more memorable than the last. May's decision to eschew neutrals in favor of bright, youthful colors (again, that yellow!) and classic silhouettes like peacoats and shift dresses allow Cher's wardrobe to still feel fresh decades later. "I think maybe part of the timelessness of the movie is because the fashion is still cool now," May says. "Kids are loving it because it's still wearable." —D.C.

6. Mahogany (1975)

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The breathtaking images in Berry Gordy's romantic drama are in part thanks to star Diana Ross, who also designed the film's costumes. As aspiring fashion designer Tracy, she twirls in a striking rainbow outfit. But it's the dreamy montage where she transforms into supermodel Mahogany that cemented Ross as the prototype for modern Black Hollywood glamour. —M.J.

5. High Society (1956)

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Any mention of Grace Kelly tends to evoke a single phrase: classic beauty. Oscar-winning designer Helen Rose crafted the exquisitely elegant looks for what would be the star's last screen role (Rose also designed the wedding dress Kelly wore to marry Prince Rainier III of Monaco that same year). Every drape and swirl of Kelly's wardrobe in this breezy romantic farce is impeccable. From the blue organza cloud of a party gown to a pristine white swimming costume, she's practically a princess already. —L.G.

4. Marie Antoinette (2006)

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The great miracle of Sofia Coppola's lavish period piece is that it feels utterly immediate, not lecturing on the history of the doomed French queen so much as living inside it. Milena Canonero, who won an Oscar for her work, created star Kirsten Dunst's wardrobe of sugary pink and airy blue gowns to reflect the perspective of the wearer—just someone with an unchecked budget—and Marie's timeless, teenage-dreamy point of view (along with a few cheeky anachronistic details) renders her 18th-century chic eternally, essentially modern.

Despite having been dead for a few hundred years now, Marie Antoinette remains one of the most enduring style icons in human history and Coppola's film feeds that insatiable fascination with a fresh, girlish vision of the tragic monarch. But there's a darkness, too, woven into Marie's dainty pastels. The decadence on display is as damning as it is intoxicating, and that tension makes the biopic a testament to the seductive power of truly killer style. It's enough to make one lose their head. —M.S.

3. The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

The cast of 'The Royal Tenenbaums' (2001). James Hamilton/Disney

Wes Anderson's dramedy is an ode to faded glamour, and costume designer Karen Patch gave every Tenenbaum a signature '70s-inspired look, from Ben Stiller's fire-engine-red tracksuits to Luke Wilson's sweatbands. But it's Gwyneth Paltrow's chain-smoking, eyeliner-wearing Margot who endures as a fashion icon, rocking a fur coat, blunt bob, and general sense of malaise like no other. —D.C.

2. Funny Face (1967)

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Breakfast at Tiffany's is the obvious choice: As Holly Golightly, Audrey Hepburn's little black dress, strands of pearls, and oversize sunnies are nothing short of iconic. But for pure sartorial exuberance, consider the Tiffany's predecessor Funny Face: Hepburn stars as a waifish bookseller–turned–fashion plate, donning couture gowns and sporty crop tops with equal aplomb. The film melds Hollywood and the fashion industry in much the same way Hepburn herself did. As Hubert de Givenchy, the famed Parisian designer who worked closely with her on Funny Face, Tiffany's, and more, once said, "Audrey wore clothes with such talent and flair that she created a style, which in turn had a major impact on fashion." Hepburn may have learned everything from the movies, as she famously quipped, but we learned everything about effortless elegance from her. —M.L.L.

1. Breathless (1961)

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Neither the years nor the copycats can diminish the thrilling originality of Jean-Luc Godard's seminal debut feature, which heralded a new era in filmmaking and has since become emblematic of the French New Wave. Jean Seberg and Jean-Paul Belmondo are Patricia and Michel, the gamine and the criminal, simultaneously artless and deliberate. Pixie-haired American-in-Paris Patricia styles herself à la française with cigarette pants, crisp striped dresses, and constant vocabulary questions for her dashing French boyfriend, Michel, who self-consciously emulates Humphrey Bogart and enhances his image with a steady stream of stolen American cars and a steadier stream of half-smoked cigarettes.

Endlessly surprising in its form, wit, and rhythm, the sexy crime drama pays an affectionate homage to Hollywood genre films and marks a high point of both cinematic and sartorial style—the perfect marriage of French chic and American cool. Patricia and Michel are the other's greatest accessory (along with his jaunty hat, which passes effortlessly between them), and decades later, the striking pair proves that truly great style doesn't fade over time—or get lost in translation. —M.S.