In a world where mass media is everywhere and has pervaded all boundaries, pop culture becomes very important! Celebrities have more bearing on society today than ever before. When it comes to fashion, celebrities can make or break trends.
The dress that Marilyn Monroe wore in the seven year itch is so iconic that it makes for common costumes at fancy dress parties, as is the off shoulder top and lycra pants combination from Grease! The fashion choices that create a look for a particular character are made by a costume designer.
Costume designers, who may or may not be fashion designers themselves, are vital parts of the film crew. They work in tandem with the director and the production team including the set designers and light designers.
Costumes can work in more ways than one. They not only add to the character, making it more rich and detailed, but they can also play with the visuals of the film through the use of colour and texture. A shot can be planned in such a way that what a character is wearing could become of supreme importance.
Cinema shapes society and society in turn shapes cinema. Fashion and film have been going hand in hand ever since the birth of cinema. Trends can catch on thanks to memorable characters in films. The film itself may not be about fashion, or even have fashion as one of its themes. How the characters in the film look is still an important part of the fabric of the film.
