Thirty years after its release, the film “Clueless” continues to attract new audiences, particularly among young women. The 1995 comedy, directed by Amy Heckerling and adapted from Jane Austen’s “Emma,” remains popular for its dialogue, story, and especially its costumes.
Kelsey Moore, a doctoral candidate in film and media studies at UC Santa Barbara, described the film as “a beautiful mix — empowering while also being fun and funny.” Moore will join Mona May, the movie’s costume designer and author of “The Fashion of Clueless,” for a discussion following a free screening of the film on January 31 at UCSB’s Pollock Theater.
May recalled that working on “Clueless” was an important opportunity early in her career. She said she met Heckerling during another project and that they shared a creative vision. “She wanted to make this film very California — very bright, very colorful. We created a color palate reflecting what she wanted. We used very little brown or black.”
According to May, Heckerling wanted the characters—wealthy teenage girls—to have stylish but age-appropriate outfits. May explained: “I borrowed from what’s happening in the high-fashion world and translated it to the world of 16-year-olds — made age-appropriate. It was not easy. I did not have a big budget. When Amy started shopping the script around town, she found nobody wanted to make a movie about girls. It wasn’t until she came to Paramount, where Sherry Lansing was in charge, that she got the green light. But even there, we were a bit of a stepchild.
“So I had to be inventive. For the most part, I had to create the looks from thrift shops and mall stores. I had to come up with fresh, new looks — a lot of them! Alicia Silverstone’s character had 63 changes.”
Moore said that “the film’s look is true to its time and brings a ‘90s flair, but it’s also unique.” She added: “They embraced a beautifully loud color palate with tailored fits.”
May noted that costumes helped define each character’s journey: “Each character’s journey, and how they view the world, is reflected in the outfits Mona puts them in.” Moore echoed this point: “The clothes allow you to identify that each character is unique in their own way,” adding that viewers can follow their individual journeys through these visual cues.
May cited Tai’s transformation as an example—initially awkward when arriving from an East Coast school but evolving under Cher’s mentorship into someone more confident both in style and self-assurance.
By the end of “Clueless,” Tai’s outfit reflects both Cher’s influence and her original personality—a visual metaphor for her personal growth.
Moore praised how well-integrated design elements are within the narrative: “Like a form-fitting outfit, ‘The film is very tight,’” she said. “‘It doesn’t slow down at any point… Because the visuals are complementary to the story, it all works together seamlessly.’”
Moore first saw “Clueless” at sleepovers as a preteen and found it relatable despite differences in background: “You really feel Cher’s innocence and optimism… This was particularly inspiring as preteen girls trying to figure out our own sense of style.”
The impact of “Clueless” extends beyond its initial release; it has inspired books, television spin-offs, other films such as “The Devil Wears Prada” and “Legally Blonde,” and influenced costume choices in recent movies like “Barbie.” As Moore reported: “Margo Robbie has credited ‘Clueless’ as an inspiration for how the clothes were used in ‘Barbie.’ I think it’s a movie filmmakers go back to and try to emulate.”
Admission for UCSB’s screening is free; reservations are recommended due to expected demand.
