Horror is a genre that’s loved (and loathed), and this season is the perfect excuse to fear the things that go bump in the night. From the paranormal and occult to neo-monsters and the undead, the wide range of variety that comes with thrillers breeds something for everyone to enjoy. Usually.
Costume is a crucial aspect to the mise-en-scene in any film. Young, female protagonists and villains (especially in the 90s) did a bang-up job at not only being stellar characters, but also displaying some impressive fashion choices in the midst of the gore. In no particular order, here are some teen girls who did just that.
Laurie Strode (Halloween, 1978)
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Hailed the ultimate scream queen, this list would not exist without Jamie Lee Curtis, who plays protagonist Laurie Strode in the Halloween franchise. Simple but still chic, Laurie’s relatable, day-to-day style definitely didn’t hinder her ability to fight off mask-cladded villain Michael Myers.
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“There’s nothing to be scared of!”
Laurie Strode, Halloween (1978)
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Laurie’s outfits may be simple, but they showcase a combination of flattering silhouettes and comfortable layers. During the day she opts for earthy tones: a beige, knitted cardigan thrown atop a dark green turtle-neck, white leggings underneath a knee-length patterned skirt, and brown dress shoes. Her choice of babysitting attire is a light blue dress shirt tucked into dark blue, high-waisted, flared dress pants. In both of these outfits, she reflects 70’s girl-next-door style to a T. The fact that Curtis had to buy the clothes herself at JCPenney (with just a $200 budget, by the way) deserves all the props and more.
Tatum Riley (Scream, 1996)
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Tatum Riley (played by Rose McGowan) may have met an untimely demise, but she looked great while doing it. She was not only a bold and spunky best friend, but she also did a great job keeping up the comic relief whenever Sidney (main protagonist of Scream) needed some cheering up. Throughout the slasher, Tatum keeps it light on the makeup and accessories, opting instead for bold pieces to take front and center in her looks.
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Oh, you wanna play psycho killer?
Tatum Riley, Scream (1996)
Tatum’s main outfits showcase a unique style of her own. She pairs a cropped football jersey with medium-rise red pants (a silhouette that screams 90’s), along with black combat boots and red rubber-bands in her braids to tie it off. Her more chic option is the infamous pale yellow, short-sleeved turtleneck, paired with a plaid mini-skirt and white ankle boots. She trades the plaid skirt for a psychedelic pattern by night for the party scene, but it’s in this that she fails to one-up the killer and becomes another X on his list. Tatum’s disregard for classic style rules rightfully deserves the eye of those who appreciate fashion in film.
Helen Shivers (I Know What You Did Last Summer, 1997)
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Though it’s easy not to sympathize with the characters of this teen slasher (they did kill and dump a body, after all), it is plain to see that Helen Shivers (played by Sarah Michelle Gellar) channeled an iconic style prevalent in the 90’s and early 2000’s.
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It's my goal to entertain the world through artistic expression. Through art I shall serve my country!
Helen Shivers, I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997)
The most popular of her many styles is the sleeveless, tied-up white crop top and black mini-skirt combo. Paired with accents like a chain belt, silver arm-band, chunky black head-band, and black sunglasses, Helen sure knows how to accessorize. Her quick, more overlooked outfits demonstrate that as well: for example, the baby blue crop top and black newsboy cap, along with a (not pictured) lime green tank top and jade necklace, were some stylish choices. If anything, Helen’s style is trendy from head to toe, and her eye for detail did not go amiss.
Bonnie Harper (The Craft, 1996)
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1996 was definitely the year of Neve Campbell: famous for playing the lead protagonist and so-called “final girl” Sidney Prescott in Wes Craven’s Scream, Campbell’s first widely-released film was actually The Craft, from earlier in the year. Prescott’s character Bonnie Harper is a witch in a self-made coven of troubled girls, and Bonnie’s style definitely channels the dark and occult.
Bonnie, pictured second to right
I take into myself the power to be beautiful, outside as well as in.
Bonnie Harper, The Craft (1996)
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The girls in the film are famous for making their school uniform their own, and Bonnie exemplifies that. She uses layers (so, so many layers) to both stand out and hide from the crowd. She layers an oversized navy jacket over a black uniform cardigan, over a white dress shirt, over a white turtleneck, along with black leggings under a plaid skirt and combat boots. In an equally as modest but more chic choice, she pairs accessories such as a chunky black scarf and circle-framed sunglasses with a thick black sweater and beige maxi skirt. Often overshadowed in terms of style by main antagonist Nancy Downs, Bonnie delivers much to be appreciated: with no shortage of leather jackets, combat boots, and layered silver necklaces, Bonnie is quite the stylish witch.
Jennifer Check (Jennifer’s Body, 2009)
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Jennifer’s Body has recently been hailed as an iconic feminist horror film with a large cult following (rightfully so), and Megan Fox did wonders at portraying the powerful, boy-eating succubus Jennifer Check. Jennifer’s style, trendy and chic, very well reflects her status in school: resident it-girl.
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And now, I'm eating your boyfriend. See? At least I'm consistent.
Jennifer Check, Jennifer’s Body (2009)
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Jennifer definitely takes inspiration from early 2000’s trends, especially midriff-revealing tops and low-rise jeans. She’s often seen wearing a (usually pink) cropped sweater over a collared shirt with blue jeans. In one particular outfit she uses this combination and adds accents such as heart-shaped acrylic earrings and a heart-locket necklace, a staple to most of her looks. On the night of her sacrifice she’s seen in a cropped white puffer jacket (with, of course, the fur hood), a cheetah print blouse, a frayed denim skirt, and a studded belt that spells ‘LOVE’. She even looks stunning after feeding off her best friend’s boyfriend: donned in a white ball gown with elbow-length gloves to match, she swaps out her infamous heart locket for a black choker. Timeless in its essence, Jennifer’s style is straight-up fun to look at, especially with the callbacks to the early 2000’s. Best of all, it’s easily recreatable. Sans all the blood, that is.
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