Costume designers turn on-screen looks into real-world fashion statements, transforming celebrity style beyond the set.
In recent years, the lines between on-screen fashion and real-life celebrity style have become increasingly blurred, thanks to the influential role of costume design in shaping the looks of today’s biggest stars. What was once relegated to the confines of movie sets and TV shows has now spilled over into everyday fashion, with iconic outfits from film and television inspiring real-world trends. Costume designers, who traditionally worked behind the scenes, have emerged as key influencers in the fashion world, with their designs dictating the styles of not just characters but also the celebrities who portray them. This seamless fusion of on-screen aesthetics and real-life wardrobes is now revolutionizing how we perceive celebrity style.
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Jacqueline Durran’s costume designs for Anna Karenina starring Keira Knightley
In the past, the role of a costume designer was confined to ensuring that characters in a film or show looked the part, with little recognition for their influence beyond the silver screen. However, over the last decade, this has shifted dramatically. Designers like Jacqueline Durran (who worked on Little Women and 1917) and Mary Ellen Stebbins (from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) are now household names in the fashion world, with their creations receiving just as much attention as the movies and characters they were designed for. Costume design is no longer about simply creating period-accurate outfits or dressing characters to suit the narrative; it’s about creating iconic, memorable looks that leave a lasting impact.
This change has had a ripple effect, making costume designers highly sought after in the world of celebrity styling. Today’s fashion icons, from Zendaya to Emma Stone, are often seen wearing pieces inspired by their on-screen personas, thanks to the collaboration between stylists and costume designers. The influence of film and television characters has transcended fiction and made its way into red carpet events, photoshoots, and everyday looks, allowing stars to bring cinematic aesthetics into their personal style.
The most significant transformation in how costume design influences celebrity fashion lies in how characters’ outfits are increasingly reflected in real-world wardrobes. The buzz surrounding a character’s costume after a film or series airs has become a massive part of the cultural conversation. Take the case of Bridgerton’s Lady Whistledown-inspired Regency-era gowns or the futuristic looks from The Hunger Games; the fashion in these shows has influenced global fashion trends, seen in everything from runway collections to high-street fashion.
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Zendaya’s portrayal of Rue in Euphoria also highlights the role costume design has in shaping celebrity style. Rue’s mix of oversized hoodies, baggy jeans, and eclectic accessories struck a chord with fashion enthusiasts worldwide. Styled by costume designer Heidi Bivens, Rue’s grunge-inspired, gender-fluid wardrobe contributed to the growing demand for streetwear and off-beat, comfort-first styles. Zendaya herself has become an advocate for embracing individuality in fashion, and her public appearances often reflect elements of her character’s wardrobe, proving how on-screen fashion can influence celebrity dressing in real life.
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Zendaya’s costume in Euphoria
Similarly, the outfits worn by stars like Emma Corrin in The Crown as Princess Diana and Anya Taylor-Joy in The Queen’s Gambit have inspired fashion collections that honor those same iconic looks. The blue "revenge dress" worn by Princess Diana, for instance, has been reimagined and recreated by designers for the modern-day red carpet. These off-screen influences not only highlight the power of costume design in shaping public fashion but also illustrate how celebrities increasingly draw inspiration from characters they’ve played, merging art with their personal style.
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Emma Corrin’s costumes in The Crown
As costume design continues to reshape celebrity style, it is particularly evident on the red carpet, where actors bring their on-screen characters’ most iconic outfits to life in unexpected ways. The red carpet, traditionally seen as a platform for showcasing haute couture, has embraced a new wave of costume-inspired glamour, with outfits that echo the worlds of film, TV, and even historical figures.
Celebrities like Billie Eilish have gone from the "grunge" looks of her early career to experimenting with more extravagant costume-inspired gowns, demonstrating how costume design influences not just casual streetwear but also high-fashion glamour. At the 2021 Met Gala, Eilish wore a corset-inspired gown designed by Oscar de la Renta, which seemed to draw direct inspiration from the Victorian-inspired looks featured in film and television period dramas. Eilish’s dramatic, period-reminiscent outfit was a clear nod to how costume design from movies and shows now dictates red-carpet trends.
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The collaborations between high-end designers and film studios also point to the growing synergy between costume design and celebrity wardrobes. In 2025, for example, fashion houses are releasing capsule collections inspired by famous film characters. These collections, often limited-edition and highly exclusive, see celebrities embracing outfits that directly reflect the onscreen wardrobes of beloved characters, creating an entirely new dynamic in red carpet dressing.
It’s not just the red carpet or casual streetwear that is benefiting from the growing collaboration between costume designers and celebrities. The impact of this partnership has extended to high fashion and fashion weeks as well. Runways are now showcasing looks that bear a striking resemblance to iconic cinematic costumes, blurring the lines between film-inspired fantasy and ready-to-wear designs. Haute couture shows are increasingly referencing films like Moulin Rouge and Marie Antoinette—films known for their jaw-dropping costumes and historical aesthetics.
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Marie Antoinette Portrayals and Costumes over the years
Designers at Fashion Week often look to film for inspiration, channeling the grandiosity and drama of cinematic wardrobes into their collections. For instance, shows like those by Jean-Paul Gaultier, whose collections have drawn heavily from film costumes, consistently push the envelope in terms of theatricality and character-driven designs. Celebrities, in turn, eagerly adopt these looks, either directly channeling characters or choosing outfits that embody the spirit of iconic cinematic style.
Behind every celebrity’s red carpet look is a stylist who works to merge on-screen inspirations with real-world fashion sensibilities. Today’s stylists are increasingly relying on costume designers for inspiration, often mixing elements of character-driven fashion with custom pieces from high fashion designers. This collaboration between stylists and costume designers has given rise to a new era of celebrity style, where character-driven designs influence the fashion world beyond the screen.
As a result, celebrities are no longer just famous for their personal wardrobes—they are now trendsetters whose looks are directly influenced by the creative forces behind the costumes they wear in movies and TV. Costume designers have become central figures in this ecosystem, shaping celebrity wardrobes in ways that resonate with global audiences and redefine the intersection between fashion and cinema.
The growing influence of costume design on celebrity style is redefining how we think about fashion. What was once a behind-the-scenes art form is now influencing what we wear in the real world, with film and television providing endless sources of inspiration. As costume designers continue to push boundaries, the influence they have on both on-screen and off-screen fashion will only continue to grow.a
