Copyright Us Weekly
As if we could ever forget the plaid skirts, knee-high socks and perfectly coordinated looks that made Clueless a fashion masterpiece. The genius behind those iconic outfits — costume designer Mona May — gave Us Weekly exclusive details on her upcoming coffee table book, The Fashion of Clueless. The book is a dreamy deep dive into the unforgettable ensembles that made the 1995 movie a pop culture staple and a style bible to this day. “I design for women and I really think of their bodies,” May told Us, revealing that she puts careful consideration into every outfit. “I think of what really works for us, you know, we are complicated beings.” She said that “having the classics, like the A-line skirts, the cap sleeves, the twin sets, the peacoats, the berets, the over-the-knee and the black dress” are all essentials. When asked what makes the film’s fashion so timeless, May explained that when she brainstormed the looks she wanted to incorporate on the stars, including Alicia Silverstone (Cher Horowitz), Stacey Dash (Dionne Davenport) and the late Brittany Murphy (Tai Frasier), it was ultimately “feminine” and chic outfits that made the cut. The book includes never-before-seen images from the making of the film, behind-the-scenes stories and candid conversations with the cast and crew about how Cher, Dionne and Tai’s wardrobes came to life and ultimately defined an era. May also did her research when she agreed to be a costume designer for the flick, telling Us that she got inspiration from the runways in Milan and Paris before translating those styles to fit into the world of Beverly Hills high schoolers. The fashionista notes that characters she designs for often go through a “transformation” and are figuring out how to express themselves authentically — and she wanted to represent that evolution through their wardrobe. (Cher and Dionne famously help new girl Tai by giving her a full-on makeover in Clueless, taking her from sartorial rookie to a bonafide fashionista, although she ultimately finds her own sense of style and confidence.) May said the most iconic outfit in the film — Cher’s yellow plaid look — came after a fitting during which Silverstone tried on a beautiful blue ensemble but that one just didn’t give the same wow factor. “When she put the yellow one on, it really was, like, breathtaking, you know, it was perfect for the queen of the school, this ray of sunshine,” May told Us. “I work with color a lot, too, movies, you know, I think color has so much energy … The energy was just perfect.” She reasoned that Cher and Dionne likely would call each other in the morning and ask what the other was wearing. “You can’t even think of anything else when you think of Clueless,” she added, noting her book cover is yellow plaid. “It’s synonymous almost.” In the film, she said Cher had 63 outfit changes, Dionne had about 45 and Tai had around 30 to 35. Fans can look forward to seeing the new images within the pages, plus May told Us that the “coolest thing in the book is that we found the costume continuity Polaroids,” noting it was “before computers” and “before cell phones.” “Even Brittany Murphy, we found tons of her Polaroids,” she added, noting that readers can enjoy reliving the style moments involving their favorite characters. “I think they are just so beloved.” May also teased about the last chapter in the book, which discusses what the characters would be doing now. In terms of style, “I think that Cher would still be very classic, and, I mean, she’s always kind of preppy,” May told Us, speculating that she would be into sustainable and feminine pieces that are tailored to fit for comfort and style. “I think that’s like my motto in all my movies, you know, really, to show that, that you can feel confident, and that those little, small adjustments can be everything, and it doesn’t have to be expensive,” she continued. May discusses her craft in more detail within the book and said Clueless fans will enjoy flipping through the pages. “I think it’s something that people can have forever and share with friends,” May dished about her upcoming release. “It’s fun, it’s creative, it’s inspiring and so cute.” The Fashion of Clueless comes out on Tuesday, October 28.
