Movies have always been very impactful in the fashion world. Whether they are boasting the latest trends or setting them, they provide a huge outlet for fashion inspiration. This summer’s most fashionable film is, without a doubt, Guy Ritchie’s spy thriller, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., staring Alicia Vikander, Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer. Behind the scenes is costumer designer Joanna Johnston, whose work can be seen in other big blockbusters like Indiana Jones, Back to the Future, Saving Private Ryan, and Forrest Gump. This time she channels the simple yet bold fashions of 1960s Russia to create looks that are both classic and current.
In a Vogue interview, Johnston reveals that her inspiration came mostly from 1960s Vogue magazine issues as well as ’60s celebrity sweethearts Marisa Berenson and Jean Shrimpton. What I love most about the U.N.C.L.E. styles, however, is that none of the pieces worn by the actors would look out of place on the streets today.
The styles of Alicia Vikander’s character, Gaby Teller, are what really caught my eye. Gaby rarely wears anything other than shift mini dresses in A-line cuts with high, round necklines. She wears bright colors in either bold print or geometric colorblock patterns. My favorite is the wool, orange, and cream camo playsuit she wears with white, ’60s circle earrings. Unfortunately, most of Gaby’s outfits were made one-of-a-kind for the film, but with a bit of fashion sleuthing it’s not too hard to find something similar.
Bloomingdale’s exclusive brand, Aqua, has a ton of dresses that would be perfect for a Gaby-inspired look. I especially love their Bamboo Print Sleeveless A-Line and Textured Color Block dresses. Modcloth is a neat brand that actually allows you to shop for styles based on what decade of fashion you’re interested in. The Choose Your Words Cheerfully dress is definitely something Gaby would wear in U.N.C.L.E. For budget shopping, Forever 21 is one of the best places to get hot trends for less. Look for simple, structured dresses in bold prints and colors at any of these places.
Just as fun as her clothes are Gaby’s accessories. She wears retro-inspired Marni earrings that feature a big chunky circle and bright, solid colors. Etsy is a great place to find mod ’60s earrings for less. She also sports some pretty big and round House of Holland sunglasses. Forever 21 has an entire section for round, ultra mod sunglasses to complete your look.
Gaby’s foil is the femme fatale Victoria Vinciguerra, played by the equally gorgeous Elizabeth Debicki. She dresses in head-to-toe back and white, not unlike Cruella de Vil, but with significantly more style and jewelry. Her outfits flow off her body and feature high-necked jeweled collars, bold geometric patterns and vintage Versace headscarves. Although Debicki plays a billionaire on screen, her style isn’t attainable for broke college students. Look for long dresses, jumpsuits, and poncho sweaters in black and white patterns. Lulu’s has a great selection for black and white dresses, and I adore the ASOS Halter Playsuit with Mono Scallop Embellishment for a fancy night out Victoria Vinciquerra-style. Her look isn’t complete without accessories. Most notably she is seen in long, gold chain necklaces, jeweled collars and cat-eye sunglasses. All of these things can be found at Forever21, H&M or other costume jewelry stores for less.
Whether you’re more of a Gaby or a Victoria, the girls from UNCLE know how to dress your best. Try adding a mod ’60s flare to your current wardrobe and go see the movie too!
