Queen Bees: Sarah Michelle Gellar in I Know What You Did Last Summer

"Hey, it's all about the hair. Don't you forget that."

There was something magical about style in the 1990s. After the over-the-top stylings of the 80s, fashion definitely experienced a hangover during this decade, resulting in some extremely lazy, laid back looks. 

When you think of the 90s, the Grunge look is generally what first comes to mind (or perhaps it's the Clueless style?). But that's not the only look that has carried on to influence us up to modern day.

Lazy chic. Or laid back chic. Which is more forgiving? Hangover chic? Blasé chic?

Whatever.

What is better than wearing ultra simple clothes, paired with silly accessories?

The popular, beauty-pageant type girls such as Helen (Sarah Michelle Gellar) in I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) perhaps rocked this look the best. Mom-jeans, crop tops, denim shorts. It's somewhere between Grunge and Clueless. 

What's so fantastic about this look is that it is completely effortlessly cool. 

Cult Status: The Women of Machete Kills

"This dress cost more than your f***ing life!"

Where do you draw the line between extravagant mockery and insulting exploitation? Gratuitously skimpy costumes? A machine gun bra? That thing that Sofia Vergara wore around her crotch, which was supposed to look like something else, that turned out to be a pistol?

To describe Robert Rodriguez's Machete Kills (2013) as "problematic" would be an overwhelming understatement. Whilst watching it, it's difficult not to get distracted from the so-called storyline and drift into an internal debate about which female character (and her costumes) are the most offensive. 

It should come as no surprise that this sequel to Machete (2010), which was hugely disappointing, would be utterly lacklustre as well. What is somewhat surprising, however, is the array of well-known actresses who chose to participate in this abomination.  

Amber Heard plays Miss San Antonio, a secret service agent / spy / assassin (I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention), posing as a Texan beauty pageant contestant. 

Sofía Vergara is Desdemona, a literal maneater, a madame at a brothel who despises men so much that she either eats parts of their bodies or shoots them with her machine gun bra.

Lady Gaga, unsurprisingly, plays La Camaleón, a hit-man (again, not sure about this one) who changes face and apparently gender whenever he/she is seen.

Then of course there is Michelle Rodriguez's Luz, a.k.a. Shé, the leader of an illegal immigrant aid movement, who wears an eye-patch.

What is interesting, as well as a little unsettling, about all these characters is the question as to whether or not they are intended to be empowering, or if they, much like their costumes, are simply mockery disguised as empowerment. To what degree are these characters and their costumes a reflection of classic tropes of exploitation cinema? Has it been taken too far?

Interesting side note: costume designer Nina Proctor has previously worked on the likes of Grindhouse epics Death Proof (2007) and Planet Terror (2007), as well as the first Machete, and we will next see her work in the upcoming Sin City: A Dame To Kill For. Seems she has a knack for dressing some controversial female characters.

The Dark Approach: Amanda Seyfried in In Time

Time is money. Style is infinite.

Sci-fi and style have a very tricky relationship. Quite often you'll find that futuristic depictions of somewhat dystopian societies centre around characters who either have very little to no financial stability, or live in a world where money is not a contributing factor to existence. These types of films barely typify influential style.

Unless it's The Hunger Games.

However, every once in a while, a sci-fi film will emerge where style plays a big role in the storyline. Although In Time (2011) may not be great film in itself, it does present some outstanding looks.

Sylvia Weis (Amanda Seyfried) is a sheltered rich girl who is taken hostage by the poor Will (Justin Timberlake). Obviously, they fall in love, and she converts to his righteous cause.

Whilst on the run, Sylvia dons some incredibly chic, yet somehow intense attire and platform heels. Though her looks seem overwhelming impractical, you simply must take them for what they are: badass looks.  

Costume designer extraordinaire Colleen Atwood has yet again outdone herself.

Americana: Coyote Ugly

Badass Chick style at its finest. 

Now that the sunny season has finally arrived, it's necessary to consider what type of theme your summer will take through style.

Will it be ultra-feminine, with pastels, florals and flowy fabrics?

Will it be laidback beach-babe, with shorts and tank tops?

Personally, I will go for the Coyote Ugly (2000) route. Nothing screams a good time quite like crop tops, denim, occasionally leather, belt buckles, band t-shirts and drinking in dingy bars.

If ever there was the perfect attire for a road trip across the USA, this would be it.

Costume designer Marlene Stewart has worked on the likes of Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991), Gone in Sixty Seconds (2000), The Holiday (2006), Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013), just to name a few.

Now all I need to do is find a bar where they won't kick you out for dancing on the bar.