The Most ICONIC Movie Party Outfits of All Time

Baz Luhrmann’s 1995 adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is one for the ages. The Bard’s star-crossed lovers pack a sartorial gut punch  and you can recreate their garish 90s MTV aesthetic with oversized Hawaiian shirts, utilitarian cargo pants, combat boots and candy-coloured hair dye.

Still, it’s Leo DiCaprio who steals the show – his quintessential 1990s haircut, disheveled suit, and floral ties still pulling on our heartstrings all these years later. 

Dazed and Confused is stoner fashion at its absolute best. Set in 1976, the story follows a group of Texas teens on their last day of school.

Richard Linklater’s film is still smoking with stylistic inspiration nearly three decades on, the light wash denim, Canadian tuxedos, earthy corduroy pants and slacker flannel button ups an archetype of mid-70s flower power and youthful revolt. 

Starring an unforgettable performance by Matthew McConaughey as David Wooderson, his wardrobe features everything from cowboy boots, to salmon pants and Ted Nugent & The Amboy Dukes tees that just scream ‘alright, alright, alright’.

Keen to slide into an insouciant beachcomber this summer? This is your vibe. 

In a world of wasted rockstars and giddy groupies, it’s Penny Lane (Kate Hudson) who shines in Cameron Crowe’s noughties hit Almost Famous. 

Another ode to 1970s rock and roll, the vintage Levi’s 501s, lacy crop tops and fur hats (inspired by Janis Joplin) all bring the volume to ear-piercing levels. It’s Lane’s signature fur coat that akes things to a whole new level, with its shearling-lined styleevoking the opulence of the 1920s.

Made specifically for the film, legendary costume designer Betsy Heimann (who is also responsible for the wardrobes of Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction) pulled out all the stops for Almost Famous, giving the fur coat a cream finish to ensure Hudson sparkled on set. 

A special mention also goes to Sapphire’s rainbow vest, a key piece in her thrift shop energy (inspired by Bianca Jagger).

It takes a particular kind of outfit to shine in the bright lights of Vegas. 

Utilising vintage pieces from her own closet, Sharon Stone plays Ginger, a Las Vegas socialite, showgirl and scam artist. Wearing mountains of Bulgari, finely cut suit jackets and one particularly neck-cranking gold gown (that even manages to draw Ace’s attention on black and white security camera), Stone’s Ginger is a reference point for partygoers well beyond the Vegas strip.

Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers is still a cult favourite among cinephiles and fashion acolytes alike. 

Harvesting clothing from stores like Forever 21 and Hot Topic, costume designer Heidi Bivens nailed the mallrat mise-en-scène, the three-quarter pants, white singlets and Hawaiian shirt souvenirs soiled by one too many shots. James Franco’s portrayal of Alien steals the show with his seedy sweatpants, cornrows, and grills, with his ‘scumbags by the seaside’ look being the perfect articulation of Disney stars gone bad.

Is this where Post Malone stole his look from? 

The Safdie brothers’ Uncut Gems grinded teeth to dust when it first premiered in 2019. A rollicking, anxiety-inducing ride through NYC’s Diamond District, the film follows Adam Sandler as the character Howie, a grade- A hustler with a penchant for mid-tier luxury labels. 

An ode to the garments of real-life characters of Manhattan’s 47th Street, Sandler is fitted in oversized leather jackets, pastel-coloured knit polos, tinted rimless glasses, apricot blazers and single diamond earrings (maybe just leave the diamond-encrusted Furby at home).