Iconic Costumes In Film And Tv History

DAVID WOODERSON

Woodersson is supposed to be based on an actual schoolmate of Linklater’s, Bobby Wooderson, who, together with a couple of other friends, filed a lawsuit against Universal Studios in 2004, saying that the director did not get their permission to use their likenesses and surnames.

Whether the Ted Nugent t-shirt and the salmon-pink pants were also something the real-life Wooderson wore remains unclear.

Dazed and Confused (1993), directed by: Richard Linklater, costume design by: Katherine Dover

RALPHIE’S BUNNY SUIT

If you want your own “pink nightmare”, as Ralphie’s father calls it, here are some step-by-step instuctions: http://www.instructables.com/id/Christmas-Story-Bunny-Costume/?ALLSTEPS

A Christmas Story (1983), directed by: Bob Clark, costume design by: Mary E. McLeod

JOHN SHAFT

Pretty much the only man that can make turtlenecks look cool.

Shaft (1971), directed by: Gordon Parks, costume design by: Joseph G. Aulisi (as Joe Aulisi)

ALEX OWENS

(from IMDb) Jennifer Beals’ trend-setting collarless sweatshirt came about by accident. The sweatshirt, which Beals brought from home, had shrunk in the wash and she had to cut the collar off in order to get it over her head.

Flasdance (1983), directed by: Adrian Lyne, costume design by: Michael Kaplan

WEDNESDAY ADDAMS

Regardless of which version you prefer, the costume is still influenced by the original cartoons. Happy Wednesday!

The Addams Family (1964-1966), Addams Family Values (1993) - both based on the characters by Charles Addams

LYDIA’S WEDDING DRESS

Married in red, better off dead.

Beetle Juice (1988), directed by: Tim Burton, costume design by: Aggie Guerard Rogers

THE GRADY TWINS

We might as well get on board with October and post some iconic Halloween-appropriate looks, so there you go: the Grady twins, famously inspired by this photo by the legendary Diane Arbus.

The Shining (1980), directed by: Stanley Kubrick, costume design by: Milena Canonero

RON BURGUNDY

Burgundy by name, burgundy by fashion.

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004), directed by: Adam McKay, costume design by: Debra McGuire

THE LISBON SISTERS’ PROM DRESSES

“It made no difference which pattern of their dream dresses the girls chose. Mrs Lisbon added an inch to the bust line and two to the waist and hems. And the dresses came out as four identical sacks”

The Virgin Suicides (1999), directed by: Sofia Coppola, costume design by: Nancy Steiner

RANDY “THE RAM” ROBINSON

You know a character is extremely well designed when you can find multiple fan-made custom action figures representing him.

The Wrestler (2008), directed by: Darren Aronofsky, costume design by: Amy Westcott

MARIA COUGHLIN

An excellent example of a movie letting us know how the character feels about herself at any given moment, with nothing but a simple detail - just check whether she’s wearing her glasses or not. Seek out “Trust” if you haven’t yet!

Trust (1990), directed by: Hal Hartley, costume design by: Claudia Brown

THE DUDE

If you sometimes find it hard to distinguish between The Dude and the actor who played him, this info might confuse you further - amazingly enough, a lot of The Dude’s clothes in the movie (including the jelly sandals) were Jeff Bridges’ own. 

The Big Lebowski (1998), directed by: Ethan and Joel Coen, costume design by: Mary Zophres

PAULIE BLEEKER

Short shorts obligatory, hot pockets or tic-tacs optional.

Juno (2007), directed by: Jason Reitman, costume design by: Monique Prudhomme

HARRY AND LLOYD’S TUXEDOS

…also known as the most refined costumes ever worn on film.

Dumb & Dumber (1994), directed by: Peter and Bobby Farrelly, costume design by: Mary Zophres

STORMTROOPERS

An army of thugs, all dressed in white - pretty similar to the Droogs, no?

Star Wars (1977), directed by: George Lucas, character design by: Ralph McQuarrie