Don’t Worry Darling: How the film curated an iconic 1950’s aesthetic through its fashion.
Don’t Worry Darling, made its debut this September, but the film has been taking the media by storm for months now. Although the celebrity drama caught our attention, the film first captivated the audience with its beautiful 1950s fashion which created a unique aesthetic.
The film centers around the utopian community, Victory, where everything looks to be perfect. However, there is more going on in the idyllic town than meets the eye. Costume designer, Arianne Phillips, brought the world of Victory to life with a mid-century modern aesthetic through stylish vintage costumes. Philips has a background in mid-century projects, having worked on Once Upon a Time In Hollywood, Walk the Line, and many others.
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With her resume and expertise, Phillips was able to create an entrancing look for each character, making the film more immersive for the viewers. Phillips was also able to make Don’t Worry Darling’s aesthetic dreamlike to match the theme of the film. Along with the overly uniform and identical set design, each character is dressed overly perfect and well put together. This makes the eeriness of the film more prevalent, showing how impossible it is to achieve the life depicted by this perfect society.
"I pushed the boundaries a bit, given that there are multiple layers to our narrative. I use heightened colors — colors that maybe are uncommon for the time period — and a lot of print to create this facade, in a way," states Phillips in an article with Fashionista, "It's an idealized world with the perfect woman, according to each man in this world. And so these women are embodying their fantasy — really, this fantasy life."
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The 1950s aesthetic is most prevalent in women’s fashion in the film. In order to reflect Alice’s equal-partnership-style relationship with Jack, her wardrobe points forward to the sixties. This is a stark comparison to the overly confident Bunny, whose costumes remain in the fifties. "Like this idealized pinup woman," says Phillips who dressed Bunny in strong colors and vintage pieces.
The film is incredibly entertaining and keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very last minute, as you watch the mystery unfold. With its stunning costume and set designs, the film is absolutely a must-see of the season.
Strike Out,
Writer: Ainsley McCullen
Editor: Madison Sloan
Saint Augustine
