The Most Iconic Movie Outfits (In My Opinion)

Why are the outfits we see in movies so… memorable? Most of the time, the answer lies in what they subconsciously mean for the character. It could be as simple as the coloring: a red shirt is going to draw attention to someone, or it could be down to the details of the jewelry, diamonds proving to make the character more sophisticated.

1. The LBD in Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)

Let’s start simply with Audrey Hepburn's little black dress from the cult classic Breakfast at Tiffany's.

As someone who considers herself a film junkie, Breakfast at Tiffany’s is on my must-watch list for all those starting to dip their feet in the waters of the film world.

The fashion in 1961 was simple, elegant, and beautiful, something I yearn to see again. Not only is this outfit sophisticated, but it also plays a significant role in Holly Golightly's character.

photo credit: Keystone Features/Getty Images

A little black dress symbolizes a turning point to maturity, while remaining mysterious and exciting, something the movie made sure Holly embodied with her seemingly crazy way of going about life. Paired with a beautiful diamond and pearl necklace, long black gloves, and big sunglasses, this iconic look is high fashion at its finest, becoming immortalized for decades to come.

We not only see it being used as a costume for Halloween but also being paid homage to in other movies like La La Land, where the black dress is used as yet another symbol of a turning point in the main character's life.

2. The Iconic Yellow Dress: How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)

photo credit: Etsy UK on Pinterest

Kate Hudson, you changed LIVES with this scene and this dress. Gentle, elegant, and flowing, the dress clings ever so lightly to “Andie Anderson”, the main character of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. Representative of a character shift with its simultaneous delicacy and intimacy, Hudson did this dress justice. 

The outfit was the perfect choice in color and style for Hudson, representing a shift in her character as she had truly fallen in love with “Ben Berry” (Matthew McConaughey). Yellow is used as a lighter, more delicate representation of change, as it usually triggers the brain to think of happiness.

3. Lindsay Lohan's opening outfit in Freaky Friday (2003)

photo credit: Moviestore/Shutterstock

As a kid, one of the movies I would watch over and over again was Freaky Friday. I remember always wanting to dress like Lindsay Lohan, specifically in this scene, with the bright red rocker shirt and studded belt. The chokehold that 2000s chokers had on me and my friends in 5th grade was unbelievable, and I think we have this movie to blame.

Lohan plays a rebellious teenager in Freaky Friday, a trait that would be incorporated into her outfits (always having some borderline punk style with a red, funky pattern)… until the end, where she pulls out an Audrey Hepburn-esque LBD to represent her mindset shift, starting to understand the world.

You may notice if you look closely that Anna Coleman (Lindsay Lohan) has turned her shirt inside out. That was her method of fixing the “same shirt issue” she had run into with another classmate, setting a new norm of what is considered “edgy” and “different”. Just goes to show you really can style a shirt any way you want; nobody will care, or they’ll think you’re cool!

4. Emma Roberts Tumblr Vibes in Palo Alto (2013)

Alright, hear me out with this one, readers. I can’t say I’m a fan of this outfit, or any of the outfits in Palo Alto, but they do a wonderful job at representing teenage love, loss, and yearning.

You simply can’t tell me this isn’t something you would wear if you were trying to impress your high school crush in 2013, with the tights layered under the denim miniskirt and a nice big soft blazer (???) over it.

Photo Credit: Just Jared on Pinterest

It’s essentially the equivalent of wearing a sweatshirt with your crush's favorite sports team (which I did… multiple times).

If you have ever seen the movie Palo Alto, you’d also understand why this outfit certainly represents the dark time some of these teenagers were going through, capturing teenage awkwardness in a nutshell of an outfit. (Not only this, but the soundtrack to go along with this movie and its outfits was curated to perfection.)

5. Juno’s Poster Perfect Stripes- Juno (2007)

Photo credit: movie "Juno" (2007)

Have you ever tried… this one? Wait, wrong Juno, but still! Have you ever tried watching this movie? If not, you’ll be in for a ride, and if you have, then you know what I mean.

The poster for Juno showcases Juno herself in bright orange stripes and low-rise jeans with a pregnant stomach, already drawing in viewers' attention. But why are these stripes so significant?

Junos' “bland” outfits throughout the movie showcase how she would rather blend in with normal teenagers around her, which normally would have made her fit right in, yet ends up calling more attention to her and her baby bump. The iconic striped outfit that could have been completely normal is not, making viewers wonder about her story.