The films that changed fashion

There are films that are sharp and stylish, films that love fashion and ooze it. And then, there are the films that metamorphose it. We round up 10 films that impacted the way a generation dressed; plus honourable mentions, of course.

- Saumyaa Vohra

When you think of stylish films of all time, many spring to mind. But when you compare aspirational films to those that actually changed the way people dressed, the number is far smaller. The 10 films we're celebrating today are the ones that changed the game. Some started trends that were revolutionary at the time. Some introduced an iconic garment to the world. And some created looks that people had to have in their wardrobes right away, leading to a huge uptick in sales, and designers changing collections around them. Each film delivered something different, starting a movement in some way. And they are still as sartorially on-point as they were when they were released into the world...

MUGHAL-E-AZAM (1960)

This iconic piece of 60s cinema didn't just have a ripple effect on fashion; it had a cascading impact, the traces of which we see in bridal couture to this day. At the time, Madhubala's character, Anarkali, put together by costume designer Manzoor, brought the dramatic salwar-kameez to the forefront (think the flowing embroidered white one with the sheer dupatta from the Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya song), giving tonnes of tailor's orders. It also put luxe fabrics like velvet, silk, and brocade in the spotlight, particularly in Mughal silhouettes like the red bridal Anarkali with its intricate gold and silver work from the scene where she imagines being Prince Salim's bride. The jewellery was equally classic, with kundan and polki chokers, maang tikkas, and naths all coming into bridalwear due in large part to this heartrending love story.

BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S (1961)