Copyright theage
“I would say I’m, like, the first influencer in the world. And without Instagram,” she says. To commemorate the film’s anniversary May has penned a book, The Fashion of Clueless, which features behind-the-scenes anecdotes, juicy details for fashion lovers, and interviews with cast members including Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash and Paul Rudd. ‘I would say I’m, like, the first influencer in the world. And without Instagram.’Mona May While Clueless may be May’s most-talked-about work, the costume designer is the brains behind many other well-known films from the late ’90s and 2000s, including The Wedding Singer, Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion, Never Been Kissed, The House Bunny, Ella Enchanted and Stuart Little 2. “When you see movies that I design, there’s a signature, there’s a colour, there’s a humour,” she says. But costume design, she says, is about more than just visuals. For most actors involved, Clueless was their first major role. Many were – excuse the pun – rather clueless about fashion, and it was May’s job to counsel them in the confidence and comportment needed to wear the clothes believably. “Alicia [Silverstone] at the time was very young [18] and she was running around with clogs and sweatpants. She wasn’t used to these kinds of clothes. So in the fittings she learned how to wear them,” says May. Barely older than most of the actors themselves, May says the set’s spirit was one of experimentation and excitement. “Amy [Heckerling] was always there as our big old mother hen … we were like kids in the playground, we were having so much fun.” Silverstone still texts May for fashion advice, while Drew Barrymore, with whom May has worked on several projects, remains a close friend. “We all are quite insecure as humans and I think that’s when you have the relationship for a very long time [referring to Silverstone and Barrymore], they rely on you. You have a shortcut of understanding and trust.” The Fashion of Clueless is out now via Simon & Schuster.
