Emma Stone appears in a scene of Cruella dressed in an edgy and flamboyant outfit. Photo: Filepic
When actress Emma Corrin stepped out for the Deadpool & Wolverine premieres, she was praised by fashion critics for having entered her “supervillain era”.
The different outfits – from Schiaparelli, Saint Laurent, Nina Ricci and more – had an alluringly wicked feel to them.
Corrin plays Cassandra Nova in the film, a Marvel villain with powers of telepathy. It is a big contrast from her past wholesome acting roles, such as Princess Diana in Netflix series The Crown.
Television and cinema have always been fascinated with the well-dressed villain trope.
In 2006’s The Devil Wears Prada, Miranda Priestly (played by Meryl Streep) commands attention for her put together looks, despite being the nightmare boss that everyone loves to hate.
Priestly, the editor of a fictional fashion magazine in the film, is indeed a memorable character. At the recent Paris Couture Week, makeup artist Alexis Stone dressed up in her likeness to attend the Balenciaga show.
For last October’s Balenciaga runway presentation, Alexis showed up as Glenn Close’s Cruella De Vil from 1996’s 101 Dalmatians.
Cruella is another villain who’s known for being a fashion icon.
The 2021 Cruella film took it further, focusing on the character’s backstory and origins as a fashion designer. Emma Stone, who took up the Cruella mantle this time around, appeared in different scenes dressed in the most flamboyant and glamorous designs.
Academy Award–winning costume designer Jenny Beavan is said to have been inspired by the likes of John Galliano, Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen when putting together the wardrobe for Cruella.
The fact that fashion “fierceness” (the word itself means menacingly wild, savage or hostile) is so celebrated, should come at no surprise.
Clothes are often described offering a sense confidence – as well as protection.
“The wider world perceives fashion as frivolity that should be done away with. The point is that fashion is the armour to survive the reality of everyday life,” the late Bill Cunningham, celebrated fashion photographer for The New York Times, was once quoted as saying.
Villains however, are just putting that power to a wrong use.
Willem Dafoe looks to be in character, while dressed a tailored suit. Photo: Prada
The fashion industry doesn’t seem to be bothered though. Brands are not worried to throw their weight behind anti-heroes.
Back in 2012, Prada rounded up Gary Oldman (Leon), Willem Dafoe (Spider-Man), Adrien Brody (The Grand Budapest Hotel) and Eli Roth (Pulp Fiction) to close their Autumn/Winter menswear show, dubbing it as “The Villains Runway”.
Walking on stage, the actors wore tailored designs in bold colours and precision cuts. Their demeanour? Serious, almost bordering on a taunting sneer – you probably can’t appear more villainous that that.
