5 Most Fashionable Movies of the 2000s

By Alexus Mosley

Ahhhh…. the aughts…. A decade of totally creative freedom in terms of self expression, especially in the realm of fashion and self dress. The rise of technology had an immense influence on design, birthing the rise of fast fashion, and thus producing readily available styles for everyone and everything.

Though we are almost two entire decades removed from the break of the new millennium, many would argue that 2000s fashion is almost as relevant now as it was then, with the hashtag “y2kfashion” garnering more than four hundred and sixty million views on Tik Tok alone. (More than any other time period.) However long it may last, society’s obsession with nostalgia as well as fashion’s infamous twenty year cycle can be attributed to the focus of this trend. But quality cinema has the ability to trascend any fashion trend, allowing the of a decade to be live on and be appreciated time and time again. Fashion may fade, but film fashion is forever.

Marie Antoinette (2006)

Though the time period of this film in set in the 1860s and not the 2000s, there is no denying the costume design in this film influenced the fashion in the decade. This macoron filled historical drama which could arguably be credited with the discovery of millennial pink, retells the tragic chronicles of iconic, French Queen, Marie Antoinette.

The film’s director, Sophia Coppola, immaculately narrates the life of the stylish get controversial journey of the historical figure, beginning the movie in her early teenage years, briefly giving insight into her life before becoming a political pawn, if you will, forced into a heap of responsibility, such as bearing an heir to solidify a treaty between Austria and France. Doing so allows the viewer to sympathize with Marie Antoinette, portrayed, by Kirsten Dunst, seeing her as a naive and docile adolescent rather than the cold, idealistic ruler we often hear about.

The films costume designer, Milena Canonero, brilliantly utilizes fashion to execute this agenda. Between the lavishly, bright Patel clothing and candy colored Manolo Blahniks (Yes, every single pair of shoes in this movie were custom Manolos) the halls of the Versailles palace feel synonymous to those of a fancy, private school high school. As the storyline and Marie’s character progress, the constant flow of champagne comes to a holt and the fanciful, sugary, satin desert resembling garments she wore that once acted as a symbolism of youth, hope, and well... fun begin to mimic the walls of the palace, signifying the losing of her true self as she steps into her role as Queen. Canonero is sure to forecast Marie Antoinette’s grave future by dressing the character in very somber clothing after the death of her son and as the French Revolution approaches.

Mean Girls (2004)

It’s been almost two entire decades since Tina Dey’s cult classic film, Mean Girls, was released, yet still it is the very reason so many of us opt for Pink outfits on Wednesdays.Mary Jane Fort, the movie’s costume designer, credits the 1950s as her greatest reference. She went on to tell Nylon that in the 1950s Nails were done, hair was done, and dresses were impeccable. The inspiration of the 50s is evident throughout the film. Not so much in the actual style of the clothing, but in how much pride Regina, Gretchen, Karen, ans eventually Caty, put into their appearance daily. So much so that wearing a ponytail more often than once a week is treated as a deadly sin.

When Caty is introduced she is simply dressed, an obvious ode to the simpler, more innocent life she lived in Africa. With ill fitted shirts, jeans, and tribal bracelets being the original base, Caty gradually makes the very dramatic wardrobe change to fit in with the other girls who happen to be the most popular at school. Their clique name being “The Plastics” is a reference to Barbie and the idea of perfection that they strive for daily.

During filmmaking was the era of Paris Hilton, pastels, and all things preppy so in true Y2K form, printed pleated miniskirts, velour tracksuits, jeweled initial pendants, tiny handbags, and graphic t-shirts such as Regina’s “A little bit dramatic” & Karen’s “Bling Bling” tees are seen throughout the film. Mary Jane Fort uses clothing to showcase the rise of Caty Harding and the dethroning of Regina George. This is probably most noticeable at Caty’s house party. Caty is shown in a strapless mini dress with a hot pink bra peaking through while Regina is fully covered in a coat and jeans.

Legally Blonde (2001)

Being that this film is centered around a California sorority girl that worships the color pink and treats the pages of Cosmopolitan as those of the Holy Bible it should come as no surprise that Legally Blonde made the cut. With classic lines such as “Whoever said orange was the new pink was seriously disturbed.” The movie adaption of Amanda Brown’s self inspired Novel put a twist on the so called dumb, rich, blonde  character that was really popular in the 2000s.

Costume design is monumental in this film as we follow Reese Witherspoon’s character, Elle Woods, from being dumped by her beloved boyfriend, Warner because he doubts her intelligence and capability of fitting into the plans he and his family for his life of becoming a successful lawyer to becoming top of her class at Harvard Law passing up her then ex boyfriend. Sophie Carbonell portrays Elle’s character development through a series of outfit changes, mixing vintage and designer, making the transformation from a “clueless” girl that filmed her video essay for her law school application in a bikini and arriving on to campus in a pink leather driving suit to a much more mature look, with pencil skirts, plaid, and the recognizable Green Missoni cardigan.  We witness Elle Go from a bubbly, candid girl that doesn’t know the first thing about law school to almost completely losing her personal style to fit in with the rest of peers. Thankfully, she learns how to blend fashion’s past with her new reality, which is executed perfectly in the courtroom scene.

Sex and The City (2008)

Ok, so technically this a TV series AND a movie, but you simply cannot discus fashionable films of the 2000s without mentioning our girls, Samantha Jones, Miranda Hobbs, Charlotte York, and of course, Carrie Bradshaw. First introduced to us on the small screen two years prior to the new millennium and ten years before the they hit Hollywood, the four main characters are frequently credited with changing the way women dress forever.

Patricia Field, the costume designer for both the TV show and the movie had already earned a reputation as a fashion expert since the opening of her eponymous boutique in New York City in 1966. But her role in Sex and the City elevated her brand even further. With looks like Samantha’s vibrantly colored, super fem but powerful skirt suits and Carrie’s bohemian chic style, Elle once said that Sex and the City was the best thing to hit the fashion world since the invention of pants.Though the show is heavily noted for its steamy sex scenes, heart throbbing romances, such as the on again, off again relationship between Carrie and Mr. Big, and the strong sense of sisterhood between the four ladies, it’s oftentimes the clothing they makes special scenes even more memorable.

Such as the time Carrie is experiencing robbery for the first time and foolishly pleads for the thief to not take her Manolos or even g her signature nameplate necklace when she joins Aleksandr in Paris, a subtle foreshadowing technique used to let the audience know that their love would soon come to an end. I mean in the film it’s a beautiful high shoe that ultimately brings Carrie & Big back together after months of separation. There is no denying that fashion is the fifth character.

The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

At the top of our list is, you guessed it, The Devil Wears Prada. Based on Lauren Weisberger’s 2003 novel of the same name, there is no denying the influence of the 2006 comedy-drama film in Fashion and Pop Culture to this very day. I mean I still think twice before wearing floral print in the springtime because of Miranda Priestly’s crude, classic, one -liner which was perfectly delivered by the acclaimed Meryl Streep.

Since the story is centered around Andy Sachs, a naive, non -fashion conscious personal assistant at Runway, a high fashion magazine (which is by the way “allegedly” inspired by Weisberger’s days at American Vogue) and the formidable, powerful, self-assured editor in Chief, Miranda Priestly (also believe to be based Vogue’s Editor in Chief for thirty two years and counting, Anna Wintour) Being that Runway is presented as the style magazine of all magazines, the constant name drops of designer labels such as Dolce & Gabbana, come as no surprise. Patricia Field, who was also head of costume design for this movie *surprise surprise* said wanted to be sure to create a classic clothing capsule that wouldn’t age the film. Stating in Harper Bazaar, “timelessness is a very important factor in whatever I do. That’s what makes a classic.” And doing so she went into the archives of Donna Karan to find the silhouettes that held in time and flattered women for Miranda & she even suggested her staple white hair. GENIUS! For Andy, she stuck with mostly Chanel pieces, beautifully illustrating her transformation from frumpy aspiring editor the Miranda’s first assistant. Much like Cady from Mean Girls.