01-08-2025
Fashion on screen: When style nostalgia works (and when It doesn't)
Sex & The City was THE pinnacle of television fashion, setting trends in the early 2000s with every designer-heeled step the characters took.
Its sequel, And Just Like That, however, has stirred debate over whether the franchise still delivers the same impact.
In the first episode of the third season, which aired in May this year, the main character wore an oversized floppy hat paired with sandals.
Fans did not go easy on the look, with many taking to social media to question whether the show's once-iconic sense of style has become more caricature than chic.
Notably, Patricia Field – the iconic costume designer behind Sex & The City – is not involved in And Just Like That. However, she did style one returning character for a brief cameo appearance.
'The Devil Wears' Prada is an iconic film remembered for its designer costumes. Photo: Collection ChristopheL via AFPField has cited scheduling clashes for her absence, as she was working on another fashion-focused series, Emily In Paris.
This other show started out strong, but has since fallen somewhat out of favour with the fashion crowd. Field stepped down from her role as consultant after two seasons.
It also faced criticism for having an unrealistic portrayal of Parisian fashion – seen as overly trend-driven and flashy.
Read more: 'It's about celebrity clickbait': Beyonce steals the show at Paris Fashion Week
Field's other big project was 2006's The Devil Wears Prada.
It is now getting a second film, and fans are eager to see how the fashion will evolve nearly two decades later. Social media users have already started posting behind-the-scenes photos of the returning cast on set.
It has sparked renewed excitement over the film's style legacy, though, whether it will fully meet expectations remains to be seen.
Perhaps, nostalgia is just too big of a fashion force to ignore.
Last year's Mean Girls remake received lukewarm response over the costumes.
The original from 2004 was taken to be a defining moment for Y2K aesthetic.
The former's outfits were instantly recognisable – think fetch mini-skirts, pink everything, none of which translated strongly in the new, more Gen Z-friendly version.
Gossip Girl, which defined preppy dressing back in the late 2000s, also got a reboot.
The 2021 release, which introduced a new generation of characters, embraced a more street style-inspired aesthetic.
Original costume designer Eric Daman returned to reimagine the wardrobe, this time leaning into edgier, more youthful looks that reflected contemporary trends.
The updated fashion direction was largely well received, praised for its fresh take while still nodding to the original show's style legacy.
The Gossip Girl reboot shows off a younger style, with street-style aesthetic being the focus. Photo: Handout
Read more: 30 years on, 'Clueless' is still defining fashion trends – here's how
Clueless from 1995 is rumoured to be getting a follow-up series as well.
The cult classic film is so adored for its fashion that the plaid yellow suit, mini backpacks and knee-high socks have become enduring style references – regularly revived on runways, in editorials and across TikTok.
And finally, you have 2006's Legally Blonde, remembered for its unapologetically pink wardrobe.
The film that made hyper- feminine fashion a symbol of confidence and empowerment is set to return in the form of a prequel series.
All eyes are on whether the show's wardrobe can live up to the original's iconic legacy of pink-powered style.
Not every revival has nailed the fashion brief, but their very existence proves one thing – when it comes to pop culture, style nostalgia still holds serious sway.
