The Philippine Online Chronicles

It’s easy to come up with a list of the greatest novels of our time yet it’s another thing to come up with a list of best-dressed fictional characters. In some cases, novelists would describe the facial or physical features of their characters but barely they take pains to describe their fashion preferences.

There are only a handful of writers, especially from the classics, who realize fashion’s defining role in making their characters more endearing and real to the readers. Thanks to film makers and costume designers who pour their talent into turning books into film, fashionable characters are given life outside of the paper pages.

In this feature, we share with you our list of fashionable fictional characters - some which we have grown to love - that have appeared in books as well as film adaptation.

Scarlett O’ Hara, Gone with the Wind

In Margaret Mitchell’s best-selling novel of the old south, we learn from the onset that Scarlett is no breathtaking beauty. Her charm, spunky attitude, and especially her opulent wardrobe were her weapons in capturing three consecutive husbands, Charles Hamilton, Frank Kennedy, and the handsome Rhett Buttler.

Everyone who has read and watched the film adaptation can remember her floral green ball gown she wore at the barbecue in Twelve Oaks - the most photographed costume in the film world. Moreover, we can also fondly remember the velvet green dress she made out of her mother’s drapes, the inappropriate feathery red dress she wore at Ashley Wilke’s birthday party, as well as the corsets that help cinch her waistline to a perfect 18 inches.

Holly Golightly, Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Truman Capote’s novella feature Holly as a high-class call girl. Unlike the stereotypical call girl who wears tacky makeup and loud outfits, Holly exudes style and elegance. In the film adaptation, the first scene opens to Holly eating a croissant right in front of Tiffany’s window display. Wearing the iconic black dress, which fetched almost a million dollars when it was auctioned off, Audrey Hepburn’s character emanated beauty and a quiet sadness that instantly captured everyone's hearts. Aside from the Givenchy dress, her impeccable updo with short bangs and her accessories (sleek cigar holder, ribbon hats, pearl bead necklace, oval sunglasses, and vintage tiara) completed that timeless look.

Rebecca Bloomwood, Confessions of a Shopaholic

Rebecca’s flamboyant character is easy to love, and so is her wardrobe that’s filled with lots of designer clothes. According to Sophie Kinsella, author of Confessions of a Shopaholic book series, Rebecca’s wardrobe is massive, full of racks of clothes and accessories. Her insatiable appetite for fashion, to a point that it has already crippled her finances, is something many women can empathize with.

The author also described her character as someone who likes the harajuku style. In the film adaptation, Rebecca evidently is a sucker for high-priced designer accessories, especially colorful tweed coats, bright handbags and her signature flowy green scarf. She likes clothes that are bright, energetic, and fun.

Dorian Gray, The Picture of Dorian Gray

A man can definitely look sharp and distinct in a crisp, flat, and smooth tailored suit, as described in Oscar Wilde’s only published novel,The Picture of Dorian Gray. In the novel Dorian is an exquisitely dressed man who has a dark secret. Wilde writes of the passionate, lost gentleman, “Wearing a large button-hole of parma violets, Dorian was ushered in Lady Narborough’s drawing room by bowing servants.”

In the film adaptation, Dorian Gray, played by Ben Barnes, is sporting suits made of fine fabric in rich hues such as purple and burgundy. His crisp white shirts with matching bows and ties were also eye-catching.  During the film’s release, D&G featured a fine collection of suits inspired by the Dorian Gray film.

Hatsumomo, Memoirs of a Geisha

In Arthur Golden’s Memoirs of a Geisha, the kimonos of Hatsumomo reflected her fiery disposition. They were resplendent in vibrant reds, striking blues, and dazzling greens done in rich, elegant silk. Like royalty, the living artisans wear kimonos that have long, flowing sleeves with rich velvet lining. Her fans and umbrella always matches with her kimono. Moreso, Hatsumomo is described by Golden as a beauty junkie who ritually puts night cream with dove’s excrement to keep her skin supple.

Miranda Priestly, The Devil Wears Prada

Moviegoers may hate this character, played by Meryl Streep in the film adaptation, but there’s no question about her love for fashion.  Miranda, known for being an egomaniac with a faultless aesthetic, has a brilliant wardrobe full of fur coats and a polished hairstyle that made white hair trendy. Unlike Cruela de Ville, Miranda shows audiences that it is possible to be the villainess without having to look like one.

Anna Karenina, Anna Karenina

Anna is the unforgettable heroine in Tolstoy’s epic novel. During her arrival in the ball, men such as Vronsky gave considerable attention to the character’s stately beauty and rich clothes. The character has been described as someone with a sense of feminine style and a fondness for luxe accessories which she wears during her many trips to the opera in St. Petersburg.  The novel has gone through many film adaptations, and Hollywood’s most beautiful actresses such as Greta Garbo and Vivien Leigh have played this character.

Orlando, Orlando

Virginia Wolf’s novel centers on Orlando, who has decided not to grow old. Like most fashionable women (and men), the adventure-hungry Orlando has been described as someone who can’t settle on one look. She can change her dress four times, from spring cotton, to grey taffeta, to peach bloom and then finally wine-colored brocade just to match it with her pearls. Moreover, the character has a taste for androgynous fashion. Wolf wrote, “Orlando had now washed, and dressed herself in those Turkish coats and trousers which can be worn indifferently by either sex.”

Screencaps from:

wikipedia.com

Yahoo movies

allmoviephoto.com

starpulse.com