Costumes can really make or break a film. They can be used in different ways to convey different meanings, emotions, and sometimes even foreshadow the rest of the plot. Below is a list of five films that we agree belongs to the category of stunning costumes of film history. And you, what do you think?

Vertigo (1958)

At first glance, the costumes in Vertigo, designed by Edith Head, seem rather unassuming. The main female character wears a drab grey suit, which turns out to be a crucial part of the plot. One actress played two characters and the differentiation between the two was helped by two very different wardrobes. It is only once the story starts to unfold that you realise the significance of what each character wears. The garish green jumper worn by Judy is such a huge contrast to Madeline’s famous grey suit that you forget they’re played by the same actress. It is only when Judy is forced to wear a grey suit just like Madeline’s that you start to understand the plot and piece everything together. After all, Oscars.org states that these costumes “are arguably some of the most important costumes in film history.”

The Wicker Man (1973)

Set on the Pagan Scottish Island of Summerisle, The Wicker Man follows the journey of a prudish police officer from the mainland investigating the disappearance of a young girl. It is May Day and the island is preparing for their celebration. Come celebration day, we see the islanders come out to celebrate in some unusual and quite frightening costumes. These frightening folklore-based costumes create an eerie edge and contribute greatly to the atmosphere. You really feel as though you are on a Pagan island yourself as you watch the islanders process. The level of detail put in to these costumes by designer Sue Yelland is phenomenal. 

Saturday Night Fever (1978)

Whilst Saturday Night Fever may be best known for John Travolta’s shiny white suit, it is actually the street style that is the real star of the show. Due to a low budget, costume designer Patrizia von Brandenstein was instructed to purchase off-the-rack clothing and combine that with the actors’ own wardrobes. Travolta’s character, Tony, wears a lot of red and black during the film, especially at the start, which reflects his strong personality and desire to be different from the beige that surrounds him at home and work. Even the famous suit itself was off-the-rack, coming from a cheap men’s boutique in Bay Ridge. Due to the suit being 100% polyester, Travolta had two identical suits which he had to change between due to sweating profusely. We can almost feel the heat now just thinking about pulling those moves in a three-piece polyester suit!

Death Becomes Her (1992)

The costumes in Death Becomes Her, starring Meryl Streep, scream elegance and extravagance. A film that battles with themes on romance, the afterlife, and immortality is bound to have outlandish costumes but designer Joanna Johnston adds a flare of class and sophistication to this horror comedy. The variety of skin-tight red, black, and white dresses worn by the women reinforces that this film was made in the 1990s however, the necklace bra top worn by the mysterious Lisle von Rhuman gives a futuristic edge to the costume design and reminds us that this is the woman responsible for the potion.

Little Women (2019)

The most recent film on our list leads us into period drama territory. Whilst there is some historical accuracy to the costumes, designer Jacqueline Durran mainly tried to reflect each character’s personality through the clothes they wear. “I tried to make things period-accurate, so that the clothing exists properly within a period — but letting the girls wear it how they wanted.” This resulted in each character having their own colour palette, all of which blend perfectly together to create an aesthetically pleasing watch. Durran’s choices went down so well that the film picked up an Oscar and a BAFTA for best costume design.