Cousteau vs Zissou

Did you know:
Costume designer for The Life Aquatic, Milena Canonero, based Steve Zissou's look on that of legendary oceanic explorer and conservationist Jacques Cousteau.

Top 10 Movie Costumes of the Past 10 Years

Maybe not the most popular, but certainly the most unexpectedly perfect costumes from some of the past decade of cinema. I will freely admit that I don’t care for elaborate period costumes. They get all the glory because of the flash factor when modern costumes don’t get nearly the credit they deserve for quietly bringing to life the most awesome characters we’ve ever known.

10. Napoleon Dynamite

Pretty much the most majestic movie costumes ever.  Jerusha Hess takes the awkward Midwestern teen to new heights of cringe-worthiness.  The movie is set in modern day  with the costumes being vaguely reminiscent of the 80s in a way that suggests a small town so far out of the loop that they’re  a good 10-20 years behind the rest of the us. Polyester suits and moon boots.  Face it, this movie was a fashion event.

 9. Helen in Troy

The men are breathtaking and the women are gorgeous.  The white and blue color scheme of the royal family was flawless, echoing the color palette of the Greek islands.  Brad Pitt was at his physical peak and that leather armor proved it.  I have never seen Diane Kruger look better in her life; befitting of the most legendarily beautiful woman in history.  The entire mise en scene is gorgeous!  Bob Ringwood, designer, deserved every bit of his 2005 Oscar nod.

8. Dreamgirls

In a movie that spans a good 10 to 15 year time frame, Sharon Davis hits the nail on the head, historically.  You’ve also got the extreme ends of the socio-economic scale, elaborate show costumes, not so elaborate show costumes, and African American Motown fashion at its finest.  Seminal costume moment: Deena in pant suit, ruffled shirt and fedora channeling Diana Ross.

 

 7.  Xerxes in 300

Rodrigo Santoro was transformed into the King of Persia.  On paper, a costume made of chains, collars and a shitload of jewelry gives one pause.  On film it was magical.  And he’s terrifying – a 9’ tall man wearing nothing but jewelry is terrifying!  His transformation was nothing short of fantastic.  Costume design by Michael Wilkinson.

6. Ron Burgundy in Anchorman

Here’s another movie that deserves mention purely for its visual historic progression.  As satirical as this movie is, the costumes couldn’t be better.  The suits are perfect, the hair pieces are even better and I defy you to keep a straight face when Ron steps out at the pool party in his burgundy Speedo, chest hair and painfully short orange robe.