Sumptuous costuming can define a film, creating unforgettable visuals – and more than a little wardrobe envy. Fox Searchlight’s The Favourite is the latest movie to pique our sartorial sides and make an only somewhat irrational argument for a revival of side hoops.
With costume design by three-time Academy Award–winning designer Sandy Powell (The Aviator, Shakespeare in Love), the new film was directed by Yorgos Lanthimos (The Lobster) and stars Olivia Colman as Queen Anne, Emma Stone as Abigail Masham, Rachel Weisz as Lady Sarah, and Nicholas Hoult as Robert Harley. It has also impressed at the box office in its limited release, claiming the top per-theater average for two straight weeks.
Below we have a look at some of our favorite gowns from The Favourite, along with some classic costumes that we would love to wear.
The Favourite
Rachel Weisz as Lady Sarah Costumes by: Sandy Powell Awards: Powell has previously won best costumes Oscars for The Young Victoria, The Aviator, and Shakespeare in Love
Lady Sarah’s bold style occasionally gives an androgynous edge to the film that otherwise features glorious 18th century dresses and powdered wigs.
The Favourite
Olivia Colman as Queen Anne
The film’s Queen Anne may have emotional troubles — and engage in some impressive all-day pajama marathons — but her public style is on point.
The Favourite
Emma Stone as Abigail Masham
Lady Sarah’s impoverished relation begins the film caked in mud and human poop. Her maneuvering to replace her cousin in Queen Anne’s affections eventually sees this upstart draped in the finest fabrics and dressed in exquisite gowns.
To Catch a Thief
Grace Kelly as Frances Stevens Costumes by: legend Edith Head Awards: Head won a record eight Academy Awards for her costumes (though surprisingly not for this film)
Kelly’s last film with director Alfred Hitchcock was this French Riviera–set elegant crime thriller that also starred Cary Grant.
Titanic
Kate Winslet as Rose DeWitt Bukater Costumes by: Deborah Lynn Scott Awards: 1998 Academy Award
Despite her impressive list of credits, including Avatar and Minority Report, Scott has only received an Oscar nomination for Titanic.
Thor: Ragnarok
Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie Costumes by: Mayes C. Rubeo
Even her choice of dress says do not mess with Valkyrie, whose sexy bounty hunter look would surely be as effective in the boardroom as hunting garbage heaps on planet Sakaar.
The English Patient
Kristin Scott Thomas as Katherine Clifton and Ralph Fiennes as Count László de Almásy Costumes by: Ann Roth Awards: 1997 Academy Award
Katherine and Count Almászy’s intense, desert-chic style works as easily for casual Friday on a hot summer’s day today as it does for a Hungarian cartographer working in the Sahara in the late 1930s and his soulmate.
Atonement
Keira Knightley as Cecilia Tallis Costumes by: Jacqueline Durran Awards: 2008 Academy Awards nominee for best costume design; Durran would later win an Oscar in the category for her work on Anna Karenina, which also starred Knightley
The star in this emerald slip dress is proof of life’s unfairness: We want it, and we’d wear it — if only we could.
The Duchess
Keira Knightley as Georgiana, The Duchess of Devonshire Costumes by: Michael O’Connor Awards: 2009 Academy Award
Speaking of Knightley, each dress she wore in The Dutchess was a revelation. Described as the most fashionable woman of her time, Georgiana’s wardrobe reflected a woman who was always on stage. Pack our trunks – we’ll take the lot of ´em!
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian Costumes by: David Crossman and Glyn Dillon
If only confidence were a cape, we’d don Lando’s look, which throughout the Star Wars franchise, has been as much about his confident smile as his sense of style. We want both.
Bonnie and Clyde
Faye Dunaway as Bonnie Parker and Warren Beatty as Clyde Barrow Costumes by: Theadora Van Runkle Awards: The three-time nominee (also for 1974’s The Godfather: Part II and 1986’s Peggy Sue Got Married) never took home an Oscar
Set in the middle of the Great Depression, the stylish 1967 film made the most of its handsome stars.
Scarface
Michelle Pfeiffer as Elvira Hancock Costumes by: Patricia Norris Awards: The six-time nominee has never been honored with an Oscar
Despite Pfeiffer’s disco diva-goddess fabulousness, the film’s costuming in many ways pays homage to the 1932 original, including with this flowing slip dress.
Moulin Rouge!
Nicole Kidman as Satine Costumes by: Catherine Martin and Angus Strathie Awards: 2002 Academy Award
Nothing says “party” like a rhinestone-studded top hat and fringe. Would we wear it today? Absolutely!
Marie Antoinette
Kirsten Dunst as Marie Antoinette Costumes by: Milena Canonero Awards: 2007 Academy Award
French history replayed as a high school Mean Girls drama with clothes to die for – which, you know, they did.
Black Panther
Danai Gurira as Okoye Costumes by: Ruth E. Carter Awards: Carter is a two-time Academy Award nominee for Amistad (1997) and Malcolm X (1992)
To just once in this lifetime wear the garb of Wakanda’s Dora Milaje, the all-female special forces that act as T’Challa’s bodyguards, would be as epic as these women warriors.
Elizabeth
Cate Blanchett as Elizabeth I Costumes by: Alexandra Byrne Awards: 2008 Academy Award
Byrne’s creations for both Elizabeth and its sequel, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, are magnificent, like this rich, saffron-colored gown and feathered headpiece.
Crazy Rich Asians
Constance Wu as Rachel Chu Costumes by: Mary E. Vogt Awards: Vogt was previously nominated twice for Primetime Emmy Awards for her work on Hairspray Live! and Pushing Daisies
Actress Sonoya Mizuno’s dreamy fairy-princess wedding dress comes a close second to Wu’s baby blue goddess gown on our must-have list from the hit 2018 film.
My Fair Lady
Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle Costumes by: Cecil Beaton Awards: 1965 Academy Award
Rex Harrison’s Professor Henry Higgins may have taught Eliza elocution, but when she came down those stairs in that sparkling column dress for her big debut, she schooled us all in elegance for the ages.
Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly Costumes by: Hubert de Givenchy, principal wardrobe: Hepburn; Edith Head, costume supervisor
Hepburn’s Holly Golighty taught generations of women that the little black dress works for any occasion and exactly how to wear it.
Wonder Woman
Gal Gadot as Diana Prince Costumes by: Lindy Hemming Awards: Hemming won an Oscar in 2000 for her work on Topsy-Turvy
Goes from day to night with ease – we’d wear it anywhere.
