Iconic Movie Characters and Their Outfits

 As Mark Twain famously stated: “Clothes make the man”, and it doesn’t take more than five minutes of walking down your average high street to see swathes of people proving him right: from tracksuits to three-piece suits; battered boots to brogues; and beanies to bowler hats. People are the image they present to the world, and that image—like it or not—is first and foremost determined by fashion.

In much the same way, many of history’s most recognisable TV and film characters would be nothing if not for their (or rather, their costume designer’s) clothing choices. Let’s take a look at some of our favourite characters that are made iconic by their outfits.

Mary Poppins

As far as most viewers are concerned, Mary Poppins as portrayed by Julie Andrews in the 1964 Disney classic is the only ‘real’ version of the character out there. Forget about the three decades of books that preceded it, or the recent remake: Poppins was well and truly immortalised by Mrs Andrews.

So much of the character’s lasting appeal comes from her legendary —and dynamic— array of outfits: the image of Andrews in that iconic black overcoat, flower-adorned hat and striped scarf is perhaps the most recognisable of the entire film. And of course, it goes without saying that her flying umbrella and bottomless bag are among the most famous movie props of all time.

Indiana Jones

From the creepiest fedora of the 80s to the coolest. Indy is everything we wish we could be: brave, intelligent, smooth, righteous and as attractive as a younger Harrison Ford. What’s more, this archaeologist/Nazi fighting hero does it all while pulling off an outfit that wouldn’t look out of place on an elderly man.

An almost entirely brown and beige combination of worn leather jacket, fedora, tattered shoulder bag and khakis? On paper, the outfit is less adventurer, more pensioner; and yet, thanks to the character’s irresistible charm and that trusty whip, the ensemble comes together as one of cinema’s all-time classics.

See more here