Fashionably Ever After: Exploring the Rom-Com Closet
Dionne and Cher Wear Plaid Ensembles to School. Source: McNay Art Museum.
It goes without saying that there is something utterly captivating about romantic comedies. They showcase the bliss of banter, love, and grand gestures as characters don fabulous frocks. Of course, the leads are charming, and the apartments appear like Pinterest boards manifested on screen. Yet, fashion stands out above all else and plays a pivotal storytelling role.
In recent years, the genre witnessed a resurgence with modern rom-coms like Crazy Rich Asians and Anyone But You embracing nostalgia while adapting for a contemporary audience. These films pay homage to classic tropes — lavish wedding scenes, fake dating, and witty banter — while incorporating diverse casts, updated social dynamics, and internet-savvy humor. With the prevalence of streaming platforms, new viewers discover recent hits along with beloved favorites. This resurgence ensures that the rom-com influence on fashion remains pervasive, as seen through the rise of the “Carrie Bradshaw Summer” that followed Netflix’s addition of Sex and the City in April 2024.
As someone who grew up curled up on the couch watching Legally Blonde with her mother, I experienced the impact of rom-com style firsthand. Her homemade photo albums depict various Elle Woods phases, starring ensembles of hot pink and sparkles.
It's easy to get lost in the fashion of rom-coms. Reflecting on How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, I know I have spent more time wishing for that butter yellow, open-back Carolina Herrera dress than thinking about Matthew McConaughey's apparent allure. These clothing choices produce lingering effects.
Beyond crafting aesthetically appealing outfits, these films also convey a deeper story through fashion: a tale of love, transformation, and acceptance. Rom-coms are more than mere escapist entertainment. They reflect cultural values of authenticity and self-improvement, inspire fashion trends, and provide visual language for emotional growth. Through carefully curated costumes, rom-coms present their protagonists’ journeys, from ordinary beginnings to dramatic makeovers, distress, and ultimate self-discovery. These films leave a lasting influence on fashion trends, molding pop culture and our everyday style.
Cozy Beginnings: The Comfort of a Meet-Cute
The beginning of a rom-com often introduces the audience to a heroine with an effortlessly practical wardrobe. Though Cher from Clueless owns a technologically advanced outfit selector that puts her in preppy plaid, such characters are the exception. Generally, rom-com protagonists embody a cozy-chic aesthetic — a visual signal of their down-to-earth nature. They aren’t trying too hard. They're comfortable, relatable, and just like us. This sartorial choice forges an immediate connection with viewers, who are invited into her world: generally, a livelihood in an amazing city with an even more amazing apartment.
The psychological effect of these outfits, composed of soft knits, oversized sweaters, relaxed denim, and causal layers, shape an aura of warmth and approachability, which makes the character all the more endearing. Molly Emma Rowe, the costume designer behind Bridget Jones: Mad About a Boy, recounts her desire to make the witty, British heroine appear “like everybody else” through methodical piece selection. She describes Bridget, who maintains a distinctive love of “little, shrunken cardies” as she chaotically navigates a strange workplace and stranger men. Rowe’s 2025 wardrobe picks reflect those from the original 2001 hit in which Bridget wears a charcoal knit when she decides to embark on her arduous journey of love and self-improvement. Sweaters serve as a baseline — a jumping-off point for the coming changes.
Films formulate these aesthetics to promote characters who feel real, accessible, and relatable. Through these clothing choices, we can easily connect with the protagonist — just like Bridget, most of us turn to our favorite sweaters or holiday pajamas in our everyday lives.
The rom-com closet prompts our support and helps immerse viewers in these aesthetically pleasing realities. After the famed “meet-cute” or when the romantic protagonists meet for the first time, the protagonist's style develops as the audience eagerly follows these iconic scenes unfold.
The Makeover Montage: Fashion as Transformation
A revered rom-com trope, the makeover montage resembles a dazzling sequence that indicates reinvention. During this scene, a protagonist undergoes a dramatic physical transformation accompanied by changes in clothing, hair, and makeup as upbeat music plays. One of the most famous lines from The Princess Diaries summarizes this moment best: “Only Paolo can take this, and this, and give you…a princess.”
The glow-up and wardrobe upgrade visually encode the heroine's evolution, symbolic of newfound confidence or societal acceptance. Although Mia Thermopolis’ transformation involved an external shift, the movie never portrayed her central change as centered around sleek hair and designer gowns. Instead, it utilized fashion to communicate how she begins to honor her new identity and the responsibilities that come with it as she moves from ill-fitting uniforms to Jackie-O-inspired sets. For the audience, this trope resonates deeply, mirroring our real-life aspirations. The idea of a perfectly curated transformation taps into our shared longing for reinvention, self-improvement, and confidence through style. Further, how many individuals would refuse a completely new (often designer) wardrobe? I know I would cherish such an opportunity.
Crisis & Couture: Dressing for Turmoil
Unfortunately for our rom-com protagonist, the butterflies begin to falter. They confront heartbreaks, career setbacks, and personal dilemmas, and, naturally, their wardrobe alters to reflect their inner turmoil. Clothing serves as a shield: a manner of protection or an expression of emotional vulnerability. For many, this manifests in oversized hoodies — makeshift shells, allowing us to shrink into the comforts of fleece as we battle academic burdens and agonizing breakups.
In Legally Blonde, Elle Woods undergoes style changes in her state of distress. The protagonist originally defines herself through her signature, Malibu-Barbie pink. However, after a crushing heartbreak at the hands of, in my opinion, an insufferable, egotistical, good-for-nothing man, she temporarily adopts more muted tones. Her clothing choices express her loss of self as she navigates the coldness of the Ivy League. Yet, as she regains her self–belief at Harvard, she reclaims her style and proudly dons a fuschia, sparkle-adorned dress into the courtroom. Her fashion journey conveys that strength does not equate to changing who you are and exemplifies how clothing shifts visually represent character arcs and growth.
Glamour & Grand Gestures
From Queen Latifah’s show-stopping, red, off-the-shoulder gown in Last Holiday to Constance Wu’s ethereal, flower-accented, baby blue gown in Crazy Rich Asians, romantic highs in rom-coms often shape the most revered fashion moments. These scenes feature statement pieces, which become synonymous with the film’s emotionally charged scenes. In addition to inspiring prom/wedding shopping for eras to come, these outfits fall beyond the label of “eye-catching.” They signify the heroine’s transformation and total embrace of confidence.
In Crazy Rich Asians, that opulent tulle gown at the wedding corresponds with Rachel’s long-awaited feeling of belonging. After being thrust into the extravagance of Singapore’s elite, she battles criticism from her boyfriend’s social circle. This scene exhibits her journey of self-assurance and cultural identity. That breathtaking Marchesa gown allows her to embody quiet strength and self-belief in a previously hostile environment. The dress choice — a striking yet delicate frock — parallels her evolution, signaling that her view of herself will not be crushed in the face of hardship. This scene represents a broader societal narrative of belonging and fashion’s ability to assert self. Such looks transcend beyond the screen and communicate to viewers how fashion can indicate empowerment. Although Marchesa ensembles may be financially inaccessible, that feeling of confidence in those outfits from special moments remains universal.
Happily Ever After…
After the fervent fights and the grand gestures, the rom-com arrives at the beloved happily ever after. At this point, the protagonist’s wardrobe finds a balance — the convergence of their original self and their transformed identity. This subtle shift expresses emotional growth and a newfound sense of self-assurance.
In 13 Going on 30, Jenna Rink merges her adventurous spirit with adult sophistication. After making a wish on her 13th birthday, Jenna wakes up in the body of her 30-year-old self, working for a Vogue-esque magazine. Though she initially dresses in extreme, overly playful attire, her style culminates into a synthesis of fun and professionalism. Towards the film's end, Jenna wears a knee-length, pastel-toned floral dress with artful accessories. Illustrating her developed sense of self, she juxtaposes the elegance of pearls with the youthfulness of headbands. Unlike the grand gestures and gowns of earlier moments, these final wardrobe choices primarily signify an arrival at self-acceptance rather than emphasizing transformation. They demonstrate that growth does not translate to erasing one’s past. Instead, it means evolving while staying true to oneself — like how Jenna retains her child-like spirit in the high fashion world.
From First Impressions to Lasting Trends: Rom-Com Fashion’s Enduring Charm
The magic behind rom-com fashion extends beyond the screen; it leaves a lasting impact on culture. Through methodical decision-making, costume designers curate wardrobes that resonate with audiences, prompting fashion movements years beyond the film’s release. Many contemporary staples can be attributed to these films. Clueless single-handedly revived plaid skirts, knee highs, and preppy aesthetics. And year after year, When Harry Met Sally inspires fall fashion through its cozy academic aesthetic. The power of rom-coms reaches beyond merely reflecting style; these films dictate it.
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Rom-com fashion is not about aspirations; it’s fundamentally about identity and growth — a visual metaphor for self-discovery, emotional journeys, and the transformative allure of romance. Beyond inspiring ideas of love and Ariana Grande music videos, these films retain a cultural defining power that sends viewers like me sifting through our wardrobes or our nearest thrift store to find a skirt like Cher’s or some model-esque shades worthy of Julia Roberts. Even if we cannot live in a rom-com ourselves, at least we can dress like we exist in one.