“‘Cool’ was our mantra on this film, and it became very empowering,” said Atomic Blonde’s costume designer Cindy Evans about the movie’s wardrobe theme. What came about were killer looks that include red patent Dior pumps, Burberry trench coats, pieces from Max Mara and Massimo Dutti, along with John Galliano’s designs for Margiela.
The movie follows Charlize Theron as she plays Lorraine Broughton, an agent on the hunt for who killed a fellow spy. Set in 1989 Germany, it seems to appeal to that image of sexy agents weaving in and out the streets that set today’s standards of runway glam and streetwear credibility. With this, the stylized ’80s aesthetic also takes centerstage as Charlize kicks butt. In an interview with Fashionista, Cindy talks about how they made the fabric work. For a fight scene that finds Charlize in thigh-high boots and skirt plus coat combo, Cindy said, “Everything had some stretch to it. The coat was very light and had a nice ’80s drop shoulder, so she wasn’t constricted. Charlize came up with the idea of attaching the skirt to the sweater, which helped enormously.”
Cindy also pays homage to great fashion photographers Helmut Newton and Ellen Von Unwerth in the film with ensembles that play well with the set design. She also kept in mind how the film gives so many visual references to the audience. “I think what makes Atomic so fun to watch is her unapologetic reverence for style set against the savage brutality of her missions in Berlin.”
It’s nothing new that movies inspire timeless looks or vice-versa. But Atomic Blonde looks like the visual treat feminists would enjoy: getting the job done in a man’s world while being unapologetic for our choice in shoes.
Photo courtesy of Fashionista
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