Pretty in Pink is one of my favorite movies (aside from the Grease films, Hook, & other various Brat Pack flicks). Now, I’d be lying if I said that Duckie’s dance scene to Otis Redding’s “Try a Little Tenderness” didn’t spark an obsession with this film, as he is my soulmate even if he is fiction, but the styles in this movie seal the deal. Oh, be still my heart! I wish John Hughes were still alive today just so that he could write the script for my life, complete with cheesy 80s soundtrack and Molly Ringwald-esque bitchface.
Whenever I’m in a style rut, I’ll watch this movie and cry silently to myself about how perfect Andie’s outfits are–serious wardrobe envy. If you think about it, the most interesting characters–Duckie, Iona, Jenna–have such a striking (albeit outlandish) aesthetic; I’m sure the director had that in mind as a way of segmenting those with and without money in the film.
While on this point, I can really relate to Molly Ringwald’s character’s style choices in this movie. Although it doesn’t reflect as much in my personal style as it used to (can you say mismatched everything?), I really love the mid-80s because of the blatant style risks involved in the decade. Andie specifically resonates with me because her character does a lot of DIY fashion, which wasn’t nearly as popular in the 80s as it is today–people really didn’t make their own clothes as it wasn’t on trend (unless you were a little kid like me and your mother made you every garment of clothing you owned before the age of 10, but more on that subject another day).
Andie predominately shops secondhand and makes wardrobe necessities a reality using a dull, shotty sketch pencil, a piece of paper, and a sewing machine; I’d say that’s pretty admirable. Living through a similar financial situation, I’ve realized how much imagination it takes to harness personal style wants on a budget. DIY is definitely one of my favorite methods of achieving style success; I frequently look for vintage patterns at flea markets and scour thrift shops for goodies to tailor to my heart’s content.
Lesson learned: Don’t be afraid of using your creative mind to get the look you really want from an outfit.
Above, I’ve put together a spring-themed modern interpretation of Andie’s style. I’ve included a lot of quirky accessories (notice the solitary earring of look three?) and vintage pieces, as she’s a thrifty kind of gal. This bowler hat by Topshop is a perfect lightweight headpiece staple for the spring/summer season. I was also fawning about how much the pink dress from H&M resembles the one from the film; too bad it’s sold out 🙁
