How iconic fashion pieces become characters of their own.

The Oscars (aka the Super Bowl for fashionistas) just blew through in a cloud of peplum (there’s always too much peplum), fringe (why Jennifer Garner, why?), and blue hair (you get a pass Liza, but only because you’re Liza). Year after year, it seems that the actual awards portion of the telecast continues to take a back row seat to the red carpet…not that I’m complaining.  Conversation around the office water cooler the next day tends to be “Who wore what?” not “Who won what?”  Over the years we’ve seen fashion take center stage in the film industry, both on screen and on the red carpet. This year’s Oscars pre-show featured a couple of short segments paying homage to fashion in film.

Fittingly titled “Fashion in Film,” the segments highlighted two iconic fashion staples that got a ton of screen time in a couple of the nominated films. The first was the famed Hermes Birkin bag that appeared in Blue Jasmine and the other was Diane von Furstenberg’s legendary wrap dress (Happy 40^th Anniversary!) featured in American Hustle. If you saw either of these two films you know the role that the fashion played in each. In Blue Jasmine, Cate Blanchett’s character clung to her Birkin like a life preserver. To her, it was a reminder of her past life and a promise that she would get back there again one day. It showed up in nearly every scene and was even formally acknowledged by several characters. That bag was her identity, both past and present. It took on a life of its own.

The same was true in American Hustle. Amy Adams wore that wrap dress like a badge of honor. The streamline design and clingy jersey fabric flaunted her character’s smarts and sexuality. Costume designer Michael Wilkinson chose the perfect piece to reflect the constant tread of “the fine line between supreme confidence and fragile vulnerability” of Adams’ character. The dress helped Adams steal practically all of her scenes and secure an Oscar nod for Best Actress in a Leading Role.

This really got me thinking about other iconic fashion staples that made their mark in TV and film. A few standouts include the Givenchy LBD (that’s Little Black Dress for those not fluent in fashion) that’s been a wardrobe essential ever since Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Then there’s the menswear trend that flooded the streets after Annie Hall hit the theaters.  And despite the fact that they never actually appeared in the film, the not-so-innocent heart shaped sunglasses in the Lolita publicity photos became an accessory necessity for any girl trying to bridge the gap between naughty and nice.

The clothing as character trend isn’t limited to just the silver screen; we’ve seen fashion cast members in tons of our favorite TV shows as well. Name one American woman who was familiar with, let alone could pronounce, Manolo Blahnik before that fateful baby shower in Sex and the City where Carrie Bradshaw had her precious silver D’orsay pumps stolen. And we all know an episode of Gossip Girl wouldn’t be complete without Blair Waldorf sporting one of her signature headbands while deviously plotting to destroy her closest frienemy. And most recently, on Scandal, Olivia Pope’s fierce white Burberry trench trended not only in the streets but also on twitter.

Fashion has been stealing scenes and ushering in trends through film and TV for decades. Great costuming can not only sell scenes in a movie but also sell merchandise in a store. Capitalizing on the fact that fashion is such a powerful form of self expression, both designers and directors alike have been sending their audiences to the mall to stock their closets full of their favorite characters’ signature pieces for years. So the next time you head to the theater to see the latest blockbuster,  keep in mind that it may just cost you more than just the $13 price of admission.