Latest news with #DesperatelySeekingSusan
Elle
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Elle
Leggings-Under-Dresses Is This Year's Most Divisive Trend. Here's How To Wear It
The cyclical nature of the fashion industry is of news to nobody. We all know that what goes around comes around and that fashion trends have a lifecycle of around 20 years. What this means for 2025 is that those pieces that shaped 2005 — YouTube's launch year, when Arctic Monkeys released 'I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor', and when Tom Cruise jumped on Oprah's sofa — are ripe for renewal. And this very much includes leggings, and especially the styling choice of styling them under a skirt or dress. Unlike other trends that altogether disappear between their moments in the sun, leggings haven't so much gone away as have become big business for those that have embraced the post-pandemic Park Run towards athleisurewear. Choosing a pair of leggings has become commonplace and, whether you love them or loathe them, are among the defining items of this era's sartorial legacy. Yet, returning to the idea of layering leggings under a dress or skirt is enough to give any millennial who wore the trend two decades ago a little cause for concern. As with many questionable noughties looks, the pairing feels so utterly nostalgic to our tween or teenage choices that it's even perhaps incomprehensible that we'd want to attempt it again now. (It's also worth noting that 2005 came 20 years after 1985, when leggings were also the style du jour – think Madonna's movie Desperately Seeking Susan. So, despite us thinking we were innovators then, we certainly were not.) So, just on time, in 2025 a pervasive argument for their return arrives spearheaded by a cohort of designers: all of them millennials, most of them women and presumed wearers of the style pairing back in the mid 2000s. In her latest lookbook for a collection of pieces sold exclusively at Dover Street Market, Molly Goddard chose to style her voluminous tulle dresses with just-below-the-knee leggings and pointed shoes. The styling choice gives Goddard's familiar silhouette a refresh that feels at once nostalgic as it does future-facing. It raised my suspicions that a full-blown leggings redux could be bubbling on the horizon. But also, if I was going to try my Molly dresses with leggings, I might just need a little more convincing. Flicking through the AW25 collections, I quickly found other designers on the same page as Goddard. NY-based Sandy Liang is renowned for her girlish collections that centre around feminine details and sweet colour palettes and she put forward countless looks completed with leggings. Liang's were styled to be worn under skirts, sometimes clashing, sometimes matching with the patterns of the other pieces. It added to the new route to sportswear she seemed to steer for the season. Another designer on board is one of my favourite emerging stars: Lucila Safdie. The Central Saint Martins graduate has made leggings — even those with frilled buttocks — a central tenet of her sweet-cute aesthetic. 'I love them so much because you can have fun with them,' Safdie tells me. 'I like that they can be all different colours, prints, sheernesses – they can be worn by themselves or styled in so many ways, like with a dress, skirt or even a pair of shorts on top.' For Safdie, the perfect way to wear the look now is with 'a sheer dress and printed leggings,' affirming the ideas also put forward by Goddard and Liang. 'Cuteness!' she adds. Of course, cuteness isn't on everyone's sartorial agenda. At 16Arlington, Marco Capaldo has given the illusion of leggings a more sophisticated edge through solid black options worn with voluminous eveningwear. Here, they bring a directional edge that is easy to add to any pre-existing wardrobe favourite. It's these that have perhaps tempted me most as, like many, I can be more inclined to experiment when it comes to what I wear in the evening. The return of leggings might be in its infancy, but with them being so easy-to-wear, easy-to-access and probably already in all of our wardrobes, it's likely that, 20 (or 40!) years after we first fell in love with them, it might just be time to reconsider them outside of the Pilates class and worn under your favourite dress. ELLE Collective is a new community of fashion, beauty and culture lovers. For access to exclusive content, events, inspiring advice from our Editors and industry experts, as well the opportunity to meet designers, thought-leaders and stylists, become a member today HERE. Freelancer
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Madonna, 66, seems to have gotten rid of her 'fillers' as she has a more natural glow when leaving an art gallery
Madonna looked absolutely lovely as she left an art gallery in New York City. The 66-year-old Material Girl was not able to use any of the filters she has on her social media portraits as she was caught on the town. But it did not matter, she still looked youthful with a glow. The Borderline singer wore an all black ensemble with black eyeglasses and red lipstick. The star has been accused of doing too many fillers over the years and now those seem to be gone. Fans have questioned Madge's overinflated cheeks and lips as she looks nothing like the did in her Desperately Seeking Susan days. But at the Met Gala in NYC on May 5, she did not looked plumped up. The Holiday singer debuted her new look at the 2025 Met Gala where she showed off a stunning unfiltered look as she wowed in a cream silk Tom Ford suit, designed by Haider Ackermann. Sticking to the event's Tailored for You dress code, the iconic music artist displayed her interpretation in a double-breasted jacket, white shirt, cummerbund and bowtie. The androgynous look was paired with a bold fuchsia lip and smoky eyeliner, while the star puffed on a cigar. The star's un-airbrushed look on the red carpet was welcomed by fans who proclaimed her as the 'GOAT' and 'mother.' The new sighting comes after Madonna's ex-husband Sean Penn, 64, reacted to her saying he is the love of her life on the Louis Theroux Podcast where he slammed their four year marriage. Sean and Madonna tied the knot in 1985, starting a rollercoaster marriage in which she filed for divorce in 1987, reconciled with him, then left him for good in 1989. Two years later in 1991 Madonna's documentary titled Truth Or Dare was released as she referred to the actor as 'the love of her life.' Louis asked Sean if he had seen the documentary and if he recalled that specific quote to which the actor responded that he did. For years, fans have questioned Madge's overinflated cheeks and lips and rightfully stated that she looks nothing like the did in her Desperately Seeking Susan days. Seen here at the 2025 Met Gala And it's not just age that had her looking like a completely different person – as evidenced in the new pics where the La Isla Bonita singer looks exactly like herself. The Fast Times At Ridgemont High actor said: 'I do. I remember what she said. She's very sweet. Look, she's been a good friend for a lot of years.' Sean then went on to trash their marriage while revealing that they were able to resume their friendship relatively quickly. The actor explained: 'It didn't take us long to realize that we had mistaken a good first date for a wedding partner. It didn't take us long to recover after we got divorced, maybe a year, in a friendship. 'I have a lot of fond memories of it – it's not all jail. But there was a lot of alcohol and she'd be fairly accusing me of that.' In June 2024, Sean once again denied the wild rumor that he physically abused his ex-wife Madonna, insisting: 'She's someone I love.' During their turbulent marriage in the 1980s, sensational claims surfaced that he tied her to a chair on one occasion and struck her with a baseball bat on another. Both Madonna and Sean have staunchly denied he was ever violent with her, and she even testified on his behalf in a defamation lawsuit over the allegations. At the time, Sean cleared the air on the issue again - while admitting one of their marital squabbles resulted in a SWAT team arriving at their home. He and Madonna now enjoy an amicable rapport, partly because, he said: 'It turns out it's a lot quicker to repair a friendship after divorce if there are not kids involved.' In 2015, Madonna testified that Sean never abused her, supporting his $10 million defamation lawsuit against Empire creator Lee Daniels. The fracas began after Empire star Terrance Howard admitted in an interview that he had slapped his wife in front of their children. Amid the explosive controversy that resulted, Lee sprang to Terrance's defense, arguing that he had never done what 'Marlon Brando or Sean Penn' did. Sean sued Lee over the remark and Madonna submitted an affidavit on his behalf, specifically denying the allegations about the baseball bat and being tied up. 'While we certainly had more than one heated argument during our marriage, Sean has never struck me, "tied me up" or physically assaulted me, and any report to the contrary is completely outrageous, malicious, reckless and false,' she asserted. The lawsuit eventually ended with a settlement, in which Lee was forced to issue a public apology for his original comments and also had to make a donation to Sean's disaster relief organization CORE.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Madonna Pays Homage to 'Desperately Seeking Susan' in New York City, Plus Rami Malek, Usher, Spike Lee and More
Stars have been everywhere this week. In New York City, Madonna commemorates Desperately Seeking Susan turning 40, and Spike Lee cheers on the Knicks. Meanwhile, in London, Rami Malek greets fans at The Amateur premiere, and Usher attends a merch pop-up for his Past, Present, Future tour. Here, are the best photos of celebs out and about this week. Come back tomorrow for more of the latest A-list outings! Madonna honors the 40th anniversary of her first film Desperately Seeking Susan by wearing her character's iconic jacket at an N.Y.C. fashion show on March 29. Rami Malek makes a shocked expression while walking by fans at The Amateur premiere in London on March 31. Usher strikes a pose at the opening of his Past, Present, Future tour's merch pop-up in London on March 31. Spike Lee roots for the New York Knicks during their game against the Portland Trailblazers in N.Y.C. on March 30. Michelle Williams keeps it fun and fashionable while in New York City's SoHo neighborhood on March 31. Jason Momoa snaps a selfie in a bright pink suit at the Today show in New York City on March 31. Max Greenfield and his wife Tess Sanchez leave NBC Studios in New York City on March 31. Laurence Fishburne shows up to The Amateur London premiere in a stylish ornate suit and a bowtie on March 31. Catriona Balfe rocks a bright yellow gown to The Amateur premiere in London on March 31. Rita Ora shows off her new haircare products at a launch event in Warsaw, Poland, on March 31. Demi-Leigh Tebow and Tim Tebow stroll into Good Morning America in New York City holding hands on March 31. Barbara Palvin and Dylan Sprouse walk through Los Angeles with bags of takeout on March 30. Michael Bublé suits up for the 2025 Juno Awards with his wife Luisana Lopilato in Vancouver, Canada, on March 30. A casual Kaia Gerber has her arm around a friend while out and about in Los Angeles on March 30. Lionel Richie performs a special concert exclusively for Wells Fargo credit cardholders in Philadelphia on March 29. Chrishell Stause and G Flip watch the Kings defeat the San Jose Sharks during a game in Los Angeles on March 29. Real Housewives of Miami's Alexia Nepola, Lisa Hochstein and Kiki Barth celebrate costar Marysol Patton's birthday at Maple & Ash Miami on March 29. Natalie Portman reads a book to a patient at the Children's Hospital Los Angeles over the weekend in support of the Make March Matter campaign. Pro boxer Edgar Berlanga meets up with Alex Rodriguez at Univision: Despierta América in Doral, Florida, on March 24. Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott smile together at Bell Media's Northern Lights cocktail event on March 27 in L.A. Mikey Madison makes her Saturday Night Live hosting debut on March 29 in a sequined black dress on March 29 in New York City. Daniel Craig sports a pair of shades at a special screening of Queer at Cinema Colosseo in Milan on March 29. Joel Madden and Benji Madden rock coordinated looks at the 2025 Juno Awards at Rogers Arena in Vancouver on March 30. With the Sydney Opera House in the background, Patrick Schwarzenegger strikes a pose at the Australian launch of Max on March 31 in Sydney. Hailee Steinfeld, Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler attend a photo call for Sinners in Mexico City on March 30. JoJo Siwa and Benedict Polizzi pose with a "Polite Catcalling" sign at Saturday's Billboard Women in Music 2025 at the YouTube Theater in L.A. Kaitlyn Dever smiles at the Australian launch of Max streaming platform in Sydney on March 31. Usher is all dressed up for his special event with Spotify at The Box Soho in London on March 30. Fred Armisen performs at the "Comedy for Musicians but Everyone is Welcome" event at Emo's Austin in Austin, Texas on March 29. Shakira hits the stage at the GNP Seguros Stadium in Mexico City during her Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran Tour on March 30. Krysten Ritter celebrates her book, Retreat with a book signing at Barnes & Noble The Grove on March 30 in L.A. Leslie Bibb celebrates the Australian launch of Max on March 31 in Sydney at the Park Hyatt. Hailey Bieber grabs a coffee while out in L.A. on March 29. Megan Moroney sparkles at the Billboard Women in Music celebration at the YouTube Theater in L.A. on March 29. Natalie Portman attends the Garden State 20th anniversary concert at the Greek Theatre in L.A. on March 29. Michael Bublé takes the stage at the 2025 Juno Awards at Rogers Arena in Vancouver on March 30. Melissa Gorga has some fun at the grand reopening of the Dave & Buster's Time Square location on March 27 in New York City. Natasha Rothwell goes for yellow at the Australian launch of Max in Sydney, Australia on March 31. Cynthia Nixon hits the runway during the Mother, Daughter, Holy Spirit fashion show at One for One in New York City on March 29. Lil Nas X rocks a pop of pink while out in New York City on March 28. Adam Devine stops by The Jennifer Hudson Show this week in Burbank, California. Bella Ramsey attends a photo call for the Australian launch of Max on March 31 in Sydney. Charity Lawson stuns in green at the 2025 New You Awards at 1 Hotel South Beach March 29 in Florida. Becky G blows a kiss on the red carpet while attending the 2025 Billboard Women in Music event held at the YouTube Theater in Inglewood, Calif., on March 29. Couple Adria Arjona and Jason Momoa match in purple ensembles while attending the world premiere of A Minecraft Movie at the Cineworld Leicester Square in London on March 30. Danielle Brooks glows on the red carpet before the world premiere of A Minecraft Movie at the Cineworld Leicester Square in London on March 30. Lou de Laâge and Gideon Glick attend a reception for their new Amazon Prime show Étoile in L.A. on March 29. Former Beverly Hills, 90210 costars Tori Spelling and Brian Austin Green pose for a photo together at 90s Con on March 29 in Hartford, Connecticut. Meghan Trainor celebrates winning the Hitmaker award with attendee Madison Beer at Billboard Women in Music 2025 in Los Angeles on March 29. Jack Black poses with a furry friend at the world premiere of his new film A Minecraft Movie at Leicester Square in London, England, on March 30. Rachel Brosnahan, Amy Sherman-Palladino and Lauren Graham reunite for the 2025 PaleyFest L.A. celebrating Gilmore Girls, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Étoile: The Amy Sherman-Palladino Multiverse on March 29 in Hollywood. Doechii and Gracie Abrams catch up at the Billboard Women in Music 2025 held at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles on March 29. Jane Fonda brings the energy onstage at the Homeboy Industries Lo Máximo Awards and fundraising gala at L.A. LIVE on March 29 in Los Angeles Sasha Calle and Suki Waterhouse are in happy spirits as they attend the Billboard Women in Music 2025 on March 29 in Los Angeles. Benson Boone hypes up the crowd as he performisonstage on day two of Lollapalooza Brazil on March 29 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Carla Gugino and Naomi Watts don matching navy looks while making an appearance together in New York City's Upper West Side on March 29. Debbie Gibson smiles backstage at the Black & White Ball at Encore Las Vegas performed at the Nevada Ballet Theatre on March 29 in Las Vegas. Gigi Hadid serves retro glam vibes while stepping out in N.Y.C. on March 29. Melanie Lynskey and Natasha Lyonne pose for the cameras while attending a season 2 screening of Poker Face at PaleyFest LA held at the Dolby Theatre on March 29. Usher performs during his 10-night Past Present Future tour at The O2 Arena in London on March 29. Model and actress Sara Sampaio attends the Reformation x Devon Lee Carlson Party at La Dolce Vita in Beverly Hills, Calif., on March 28. Diplo, Walshy Fire and Ape Drums attend BPM Beach with Major Lazer Live at SiriusXM Studios in Miami Beach, Fla. on March 28. Padma Lakshmi and her daughter Krishna are twinning with their looks as they attend Apple TV+'s screening of the new series The Studio in New York City on March 28. Viola Davis makes a glamorous appearance in a red sparkly gown at the Los Angeles premiere of her new film G20 in Hollywood on March 27. Naomi Watts is spotted out in the New York City neighborhood of SoHo on March 28. Fran Drescher is all-smiles as she attends Apple TV+'s screening of the new show The Studio at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City on March 28. A$AP Rocky attends the opening party at the Pacific Design Center on March 28 in West Hollywood, California. Mark-Paul Gosselaar chats to a fan at the 2025 90s Con held in Hartford, Connecticut, on March 28. Kel Mitchell arrives as his iconic character Ed from Good Burger at the 2025 90s Con on March 28 in Hartford, Connecticut. Dascha Polanco makes a dash out in Midtown in New York City on March 28. Felicia Day speaks onstage at Comic-Con's The Cruise: An Immersive Fan Experience event held during WonderCon 2025 in Anaheim, California, on March 28. Susan Lucci beams on arrival at the Apple TV+ screening of The Studio on March 28 in New York City. Sunglass-clad Mikey Madison takes her sleepy pup for a walk in New York City on March 28. Heidi Klum steps out in New York City wearing a low-cut blazer and statement necklace on March 28. Dua Lipa dazzles onstage during her Radical Optimism Tour stop in Sydney on March 28. Peter Dinklage performs while in character on March 26 on the set of Dexter: Resurrection in New York City. Also on the Dexter: Resurrection set is Uma Thurman, filming in New York City on March 28. Joe Jonas wears a brown leather jacket, jeans and black boots as he zips around New York on March 28. Dylan Efron speaks onstage during the 36th Annual GLAAD Media Awards on March 27 in Beverly Hills, California. Giveon and Lena Waithe get close for a photo at the fifth anniversary event of his debut project on March 27 in Los Angeles. Kali Uchis throws up a peace sign at her 'Sincerely, The Premiere' event in Los Angeles on March 27. Tamron Hall shares a laugh with Jodie Tuner-Smith during The Cut's How I Get It Done event on March 27 in New York City. JoJo rocks a baby blue sweater and curly hair on March 28 in New York City. Jon Heder hands out Ore-Ida tater tots while attending the Sweet 16 March Madness game on March 27 in Newark, New Jersey. Marsai Martin and Anthony Anderson's black-ish costar Miles Brown supports them at the G20 premiere in Hollywood, California, on March 27. Kieran Culkin and Sarah Snook have a belated Succession reunion at the opening night of The Picture of Dorian Gray on Broadway in N.Y.C. on March 27. Paul Rudd beams on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon while promoting Death of a Unicorn in New York City on March 27. Gracie Abrams and Alicia Keys smile together at the Women Sharing the Spotlight event hosted by She Is the Music in Los Angeles on March 27. Jason Momoa promotes the new Minecraft movie on Lorraine in London on March 28. Chelsea Handler appears as a guest on Jennifer Hudson's talk show for a March 28 episode, filmed in Burbank, California. Viola Davis and Julius Tennon bring their daughter Genesis, 14, to the G20 premiere in Hollywood, California, on March 27. Joshua Jackson speaks during the GLAAD Media Awards in Beverly Hills, California, on March 27. Honoree Cynthia Erivo totes a handbag on the red carpet of the GLAAD Media Awards in Beverly Hills, California, on March 27. Maren Morris and Lil Nas X take a photo together at the GLAAD Media Awards in Beverly Hills, California, on March 27. Also at the GLAAD Media Awards, JoJo Siwa kisses her partner Kath Ebbs in Beverly Hills, California, on March 27. Ana Ortiz, Mark Indelicato, Michael Urie and Becki Newton have an Ugly Betty reunion at the GLAAD Media Awards in Beverly Hills, California, on March 27. Doechii, Sophia Bush and Dylan Mulvaney glow at the GLAAD Media Awards in Beverly Hills, California, on March 27. Agatha All Along stars Sasheer Zamata, Patti LuPone and Joe Locke reunite at the GLAAD Media Awards in Beverly Hills, California, on March 27. Meanwhile, Agatha herself, Kathryn Hahn, is in New York City for a chat about her new show The Studio on March 27. The Studio's actor, producer, director and writer Seth Rogen arrives at The Paley Museum to talk about his new show with the cast in N.Y.C. on March 27. Chase Sui Wonders enters The Paley Museum for a conversation with her costars on The Studio in New York City on March 27. Warfare costars Will Poulter and Kit Connor embrace on the red carpet at the film's premiere in Los Angeles on March 27. Also at the Warfare premiere in Los Angeles, Nick Offerman arrives in a gray dress shirt on March 27. Joseph Quinn holds Michael Gandolfini's face at the Warfare premiere in Los Angeles on March 27. Cynthia Nixon walks the carpet during the opening night of The Picture of Dorian Gray on Broadway in N.Y.C. on March 27. Chris Pine has a close-up at the opening night of The Picture of Dorian Gray on Broadway in New York City on March 27. Brooke Shields strikes a pose at a dinner hosted by Balmain in New York City on March 27. Martha Stewart mixes shades of brown in her stylish outfit at the L'AGENCE store opening celebration in New York City on March 27. Steve Coogan looks dapper at a screening of The Penguin Lessons in New York City on March 27. Nathan Lee Graham, Nathan Lane and Matt Bomer pose for a group photo at 92NY's conversation about Mid-Century Modern in N.Y.C. on March 27. Kim Turnbull and Romeo Beckham keep it casual at the Gabriel Moses: Selah opening reception in London on March 27. Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren are looking sharp at the premiere of MobLand in London on March 27. Prince William attends an event marking the launch of Invisible Cities Aberdeen on March 27 in Scotland. Jennifer Garner flashes her bright smile while on set in Paris on March 27. Matt Bomer sports a snazzy blue blazer for his appearance on The View in New York City on March 27. Valerie Bertinelli stops by The Drew Barrymore Show in New York City on March 27. Tom Hardy adds a flower to his lapel for the premiere of MobLand in London on March 27. Timothée Chalamet looks out from under his baseball cap while out in L.A. on March 26. Leslie Bibb smiles in all-white while out in New York City on March 27. Bon Jovi, Jake Bonjovi and Millie Bobby Brown catch the women's semifinal tennis match at the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 27. Read the original article on People
CNN
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Remember when ‘Desperately Seeking Susan' helped cement Madonna's signature style?
Every now and then, a piece of pop culture will capture the perfect storm of talent, story and style to withstand the test of time. One such example is the 1985 comedy-drama 'Desperately Seeking Susan,' starring Rosanna Arquette as bored housewife Roberta and Madonna as the titular Susan, an enigmatic downtown punk who captures Roberta's attention through personal advertisements in a newspaper. When Madonna was cast, ahead of filming in the summer and early fall of 1984, she was a fledgling pop star with only modest hits such as 'Borderline,' 'Holiday' and 'Lucky Star' to her name. Studio executives had to be convinced of her role in the movie, director Susan Seidelman recalled, on a Zoom call with CNN. But, during filming, a rare phenomenon occurred: Madonna became a superstar after the release of her second album, 'Like a Virgin', and suddenly, 'Desperately Seeking Susan' became largely viewed as 'the Madonna movie' instead of a second-rate feature film. Studio executives then rushed to release the movie to capitalize on the singer's success, which they thought would be a flash-in-the-pan (little did they know that Madonna would go on to create 18 multi-platinum albums and wield cultural influence 40 years later). Madonna became an influential figure in pop culture, in part through her style, which included headscarves, heavy costume jewelry and wearing underwear-as-outerwear — all of which became synonymous with her character in 'Desperately Seeking Susan'. Despite the film's 40th anniversary this year, it still feels modern. And while '80s fashion can easily veer into costume-like territory, the simplicity and effortless cool of Susan's outfits wouldn't look out of place today. Related gallery Madonna's most iconic tour outfits The film's costume and production designer Santo Loquasto pulled garments and inspiration from across several decades, including his own mother's wardrobe for Susan's black bustier, which was actually two pieces: a corset and a longline bra. '(Madonna) put it on and looked at her bust and said, 'your mother is some lady', in her best Mae West delivery!' laughed Loquasto as he spoke to CNN via Zoom. One can't help but wonder if the seeds of the iconic Jean Paul Gaultier cone bra, which Madonna would go on to wear in the music video for her song 'Vogue' and on her 'Blonde Ambition' tour in the '90s, were planted here. Loquasto explained that his approach to creating the looks for Susan in the film was guided by Madonna's own approach to fashion, which made for an 'organic' and 'harmonious' amalgam that he simply 'embellished' with his own touches. 'I'm going to exploit your sensibility totally because we're all fascinated by it and you're comfortable with it,' Loquasto recalled telling her. 'I would shake a baggie of jewelry onto (Madonna's) couch in the trailer and say, 'I'll be back in an hour, have a ball.' And she would go at it,' he continued — layering chunky beads, crucifixes and rubber bangles that she would later become known for. However, there was one item of clothing that wasn't gleaned from Madonna's personal tastes but was included in the script written by Leora Barish — a 1950s olive green tuxedo jacket with a golden pyramid embroidered on the back, which was so often worn by Susan that it became not only one of her character's key identifiers but also a major plot point. (Though, Madonna herself wasn't a fan of the jacket, according to Seidelman.) In the film, when the jacket is traded by Susan for a pair of rhinestone boots at a second-hand clothing store, it is purchased by Roberta, who in her fascination with Susan has been following her after answering one of her personal ads. But after an accident in which Roberta hits her head, she's mistaken by an acquaintance for Susan because of the jacket, and Roberta reluctantly assumes her identity as an escape from her suburban existence. On Roberta's return home, her purchase is met with derision by her ineffectual husband Gary: 'You bought a used jacket? What are we, poor?' he mocks. It's a jeer that now feels laughably uninformed as vintage and secondhand shopping enjoys a surge, particularly among younger shoppers, who view it as an environmentally conscious alternative to buying new, while also being drawn to unique pieces that allow them to express their individuality. While Susan's style gets all the attention, there's a story to be told in Roberta's awkward glow-up, too. When viewers first meet Roberta, she's wearing a shapeless pink muu-muu with a Peter Pan collar that one would imagine being worn by a toddler or grandmother. Upon securing the pyramid jacket — the only cool item of clothing Roberta has ever come into contact with, it would seem — she clashes it with garish pinks and purples despite her desperate attempt to mirror what Susan would wear. Roberta's sensibilities may have inadvertently left a mark on Madonna, according to Seidelman, observing that some of Roberta's girlishness in later scenes appeared to have rubbed off on the singer. For example, the white lace thigh-high stockings and matching garter belt worn by Susan bear an uncanny resemblance to the costumes worn by Madonna in the video for 'Like a Virgin,' which was shot around the same time. 'In a way the pyramid jacket is used as a symbol of transformation,' explained Seidelman. 'The idea wasn't that Roberta was becoming Madonna's (character); it was that she was becoming a more empowered version of herself. She's not there yet, but she's on the way.' Ultimately, that was the film's message: reinvention. The same can be said of Madonna, whose personal style evolution over her boundary-pushing career has influenced many pop stars that followed. Yet, despite Madonna's many legendary wardrobe moments, her style in the '80s remains one of her most iconic and instantly identifiable looks — and perhaps that's in no small part thanks to 'Desperately Seeking Susan.'
CNN
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Remember when ‘Desperately Seeking Susan' helped cement Madonna's signature style?
Every now and then, a piece of pop culture will capture the perfect storm of talent, story and style to withstand the test of time. One such example is the 1985 comedy-drama 'Desperately Seeking Susan,' starring Rosanna Arquette as bored housewife Roberta and Madonna as the titular Susan, an enigmatic downtown punk who captures Roberta's attention through personal advertisements in a newspaper. When Madonna was cast, ahead of filming in the summer and early fall of 1984, she was a fledgling pop star with only modest hits such as 'Borderline,' 'Holiday' and 'Lucky Star' to her name. Studio executives had to be convinced of her role in the movie, director Susan Seidelman recalled, on a Zoom call with CNN. But, during filming, a rare phenomenon occurred: Madonna became a superstar after the release of her second album, 'Like a Virgin', and suddenly, 'Desperately Seeking Susan' became largely viewed as 'the Madonna movie' instead of a second-rate feature film. Studio executives then rushed to release the movie to capitalize on the singer's success, which they thought would be a flash-in-the-pan (little did they know that Madonna would go on to create 18 multi-platinum albums and wield cultural influence 40 years later). Madonna became an influential figure in pop culture, in part through her style, which included headscarves, heavy costume jewelry and wearing underwear-as-outerwear — all of which became synonymous with her character in 'Desperately Seeking Susan'. Despite the film's 40th anniversary this year, it still feels modern. And while '80s fashion can easily veer into costume-like territory, the simplicity and effortless cool of Susan's outfits wouldn't look out of place today. Related gallery Madonna's most iconic tour outfits The film's costume and production designer Santo Loquasto pulled garments and inspiration from across several decades, including his own mother's wardrobe for Susan's black bustier, which was actually two pieces: a corset and a longline bra. '(Madonna) put it on and looked at her bust and said, 'your mother is some lady', in her best Mae West delivery!' laughed Loquasto as he spoke to CNN via Zoom. One can't help but wonder if the seeds of the iconic Jean Paul Gaultier cone bra, which Madonna would go on to wear in the music video for her song 'Vogue' and on her 'Blonde Ambition' tour in the '90s, were planted here. Loquasto explained that his approach to creating the looks for Susan in the film was guided by Madonna's own approach to fashion, which made for an 'organic' and 'harmonious' amalgam that he simply 'embellished' with his own touches. 'I'm going to exploit your sensibility totally because we're all fascinated by it and you're comfortable with it,' Loquasto recalled telling her. 'I would shake a baggie of jewelry onto (Madonna's) couch in the trailer and say, 'I'll be back in an hour, have a ball.' And she would go at it,' he continued — layering chunky beads, crucifixes and rubber bangles that she would later become known for. However, there was one item of clothing that wasn't gleaned from Madonna's personal tastes but was included in the script written by Leora Barish — a 1950s olive green tuxedo jacket with a golden pyramid embroidered on the back, which was so often worn by Susan that it became not only one of her character's key identifiers but also a major plot point. (Though, Madonna herself wasn't a fan of the jacket, according to Seidelman.) In the film, when the jacket is traded by Susan for a pair of rhinestone boots at a second-hand clothing store, it is purchased by Roberta, who in her fascination with Susan has been following her after answering one of her personal ads. But after an accident in which Roberta hits her head, she's mistaken by an acquaintance for Susan because of the jacket, and Roberta reluctantly assumes her identity as an escape from her suburban existence. On Roberta's return home, her purchase is met with derision by her ineffectual husband Gary: 'You bought a used jacket? What are we, poor?' he mocks. It's a jeer that now feels laughably uninformed as vintage and secondhand shopping enjoys a surge, particularly among younger shoppers, who view it as an environmentally conscious alternative to buying new, while also being drawn to unique pieces that allow them to express their individuality. While Susan's style gets all the attention, there's a story to be told in Roberta's awkward glow-up, too. When viewers first meet Roberta, she's wearing a shapeless pink muu-muu with a Peter Pan collar that one would imagine being worn by a toddler or grandmother. Upon securing the pyramid jacket — the only cool item of clothing Roberta has ever come into contact with, it would seem — she clashes it with garish pinks and purples despite her desperate attempt to mirror what Susan would wear. Roberta's sensibilities may have inadvertently left a mark on Madonna, according to Seidelman, observing that some of Roberta's girlishness in later scenes appeared to have rubbed off on the singer. For example, the white lace thigh-high stockings and matching garter belt worn by Susan bear an uncanny resemblance to the costumes worn by Madonna in the video for 'Like a Virgin,' which was shot around the same time. 'In a way the pyramid jacket is used as a symbol of transformation,' explained Seidelman. 'The idea wasn't that Roberta was becoming Madonna's (character); it was that she was becoming a more empowered version of herself. She's not there yet, but she's on the way.' Ultimately, that was the film's message: reinvention. The same can be said of Madonna, whose personal style evolution over her boundary-pushing career has influenced many pop stars that followed. Yet, despite Madonna's many legendary wardrobe moments, her style in the '80s remains one of her most iconic and instantly identifiable looks — and perhaps that's in no small part thanks to 'Desperately Seeking Susan.'
