From “WAP” To Bridgerton: 2020 Was Full Of Stylish On-Screen Moments

Despite many film, TV, and music video sets being shut down this year due to the pandemic, there has been no shortage of content to watch, stream, and analyze in 2020. But this year’s productions didn’t just entertain us with dance-ready melodies, tear-jerking scripts, and stunning sets. They also featured fashion at its finest. 

In the last two months alone, we were graced with Shonda Rhimes’ sizzling period drama Bridgerton, which features lavish empire dresses and corsets courtesy of Kim Kardashian’s go-to corset designer; Harry Styles’ music video for “Golden,” which was full of bucket hats, billowy shirts, and pearl necklaces; and (stylish) performances by Emma Corrin in The Crown and Taylour Paige in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. 

Prior to that, the year held just as many greats. We love-hated Lily Collins’ style in Emily in Paris, were charmed by the wardrobe of Emma, and awed by the fashion in Black Is King, a visual film by Beyoncé. And let’s not forget about Tiger King, the Netflix series that launched a thousand Carole Baskin Halloween costumes. (That said, I think we can all agree that her looks should only be copied on October 31.) And those are only the highlights. 

Ahead, discover all of fashion’s best TV, film, and music video moments of the year, from Normal People to Sylvie’s Love. 

Emily In Paris

Fashion is the highlight of Emily In Paris, even if it’s ringarde at times. Between Emily’s (Lily Collins) Dior newsboy cap, her Kermit green Chanel jacket, and one exquisite Christian Siriano LBD, the show is basically Sex & The City, but with French men and croissants. Though, with a costume designer in Patricia Field (of The Devil Wears Prada and SATC) and a creator in Darren Star (of SATC and Younger), there’s really no other way, is there?

According to fashion search engine Lyst, following Season 1, there was a 342% increase in pageviews for Kangol bucket, as well as a 41% increase in search for berets (Emily’s signature headgear). Photo: Courtesy of Netflix.

Normal People

Marianne Sheridan (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Connell Waldron (Paul Mescal) may not have dressed in designer labels like Emily In Paris’ protagonist, but that doesn’t mean the fashion in Hulu’s TV adaptation of Sally Rooney’s sophomore novel Normal People was any less influential.

Interestingly enough, it was Connell’s thirst trap of a chain necklace that made the show a sartorial hit. The simple, silver necklace — which, soon after the show premiered, gained its own Instagram account titled @connellschain — led to a 43% increase in searches for men’s chain necklaces year-over-year according to Lyst. Photo: Courtesy of Hulu.

Bridgerton

Bridgerton is more than just a TV show — it’s a visual experience. Produced by Shonda Rhimes and based on Julia Quinn’s romance novels of the same name, the series takes place in 1813 London and includes beaded dresses, lavish headdresses, and exquisite jewels, all of which combine to create a sartorial escape from the dreary world that is 2020. Photo: Courtesy of Netflix.

I May Destroy You

Patterned cardigans and baby pink hair collide on I May Destroy You’s Michaela Coel, who plays Arabella on the hit drama series that she created. According to Lyst, during the show’s airtime between June and September, Arabella’s ‘90s-inspired cardigans caused a 43% spike in search for the knitwear staple. Her feathered outerwear and Champion sweatsuits are worth pointing out as well, as is her memorable dark angel costume from the Halloween episode, which included Maleficent-inspired horns and a mini dress from ASOS.Photo: Courtesy of HBO.

The Crown

Netflix’s hit royal drama The Crown has always been a mecca for fashion. But, with the addition of Princess Diana (played by Emma Corrin) in the show’s recently released fourth season, things were taken up a notch in the costume department. Between the late princess’ sapphire engagement ring, her puff-sleeve wedding gown, and her many ‘80s-era outfits, the latest addition to The Crown saga was perhaps its best — at least in terms of the fashion. Photo: Des Willie/Netflix.

High Fidelity

The fact that Hulu’s TV adaptation of Nick Hornby’s 1995 novel High Fidelity, starring Zoë Kravitz, didn’t get picked up for a second season was a shocking disappointment, not only because it was impeccable, but also because we’re in need of more vintage fashion inspiration from star Robyn “Rob” Brooks (Kravitz). If you ask us, her leather trench coat alone deserves a series of its own. Hell, throw in her pleated mini skirts and vintage 501s, and Hulu could make an entire fashion film.Photo: Phillip Caruso/Hulu.

Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens

It’s hard to out-style Awkwafina, an actress who’s starred in some of this decade’s most fashionable films, from Oceans 8 to Crazy Rich Asians. Even so, in the Comedy Central series Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens, it’s the lead’s grandma, played by Lori Tan Chinn, who stole the show fashion-wise. With leopard print, fruit jewelry charms, patterned cardigans, baseball caps, and more, Chinn is a 2020 style icon. Photo: Courtesy of Comedy Central.

Sylvie's Love

Amazon Prime’s Sylvie’s Love — starring Tessa Thompson — opens with a look worthy of an Oscar: Sylvie (Thompson) wearing a turquoise, short-sleeved Chanel gown with a matching shawl and white, elbow-length gloves in the lobby of Manhattan’s Town Hall theater. And that’s just the beginning. Throughout the film, Sylvie’s style, much of which also comes courtesy of the French luxury brand, only gets more glamorous, from her off-the-shoulder gowns to her blue, polka dot maillot. Let’s just say, you’ll be heading straight to your local vintage boutique as soon as the credits roll to recreate her looks from head to toe. 

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Starring Viola Davis, as well as the late Chadwick Boseman and up-and-comer Taylour Paige, Netflix’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom features can't miss fashion, like fur collars, fringe and velvet dresses, and signature gold coin necklace that will blow fashion lovers away. (You can thank costume designer Ann Roth for that.) 

Emma

If you’re one of the millions of people who have watched or are in the midst of watching Bridgerton right now, you’ve likely also indulged in Emma, the aesthetically pleasing retelling of Jane Austen’s novel that hit VOD shortly after movie theatres closed, as a cure for lockdown-induced boredom. And a cure it was, to both our boredom and our sartorial funk. With ruffled collars, empire dresses, and extravagant hats, Emma quickly got us excited to get dressed in something other than sweatpants.

I'm Your Woman

Set in the ‘70s and starring The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel's Rachel Brosnahan, Amazon Prime’s I’m Your Woman isn’t your average fashion movie. Rather, it’s a gritty crime drama about a suburban housewife whose husband, a gangster, drops a baby in her lap and then runs off, leaving her to clean up the mess he left behind. Though the story alone is captivating, for us, it was the clothes — think: oversized Gucci sunglasses, cropped fur coats, and mid-century two-pieces in mustard and fuschia — that made the film a standout. 

Harley Quinn: Birds Of Prey

Though this was a DC superhero flick, thanks to costume designer Erin Benach — who crafted the costumes for Drive and A Star Is Born — the film featured plenty of fashion moments. Benach incorporated bright colors, loud patterns, and DIY-esque details, as well as incredible jewelry pieces, to create the wardrobe of Margot Robbie, who plays a newly single-from-the-Joker Harley Quinn.

Rebecca

The costumes in Netflix’s Rebecca, starring Lily James and Armie Hammer (swoon), are both retro — the film takes place around 1938 — and modern, with costume designer Julian Day telling Fashionista that he wanted viewers to feel transported to another time, while still being able to go out and purchase one of James’ looks. And though we’re admittedly still on the fence about the movie itself, our minds are more than made up about Day’s costumes: perfection. 

"WAP" by Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion

Not only did Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s music video for “WAP” have the biggest streaming debut week of 2020, but it also featured a handful of fashion-worthy ensembles, most of which included cutouts and animal prints. According to Lyst, during the week that followed the music video’s release, demand for animal print pieces doubled. In specific, searches for “leopard,” “tiger,” and “snake” collectively surged 201% week-over-week. 

"Watermelon Sugar" by Harry Styles

What kind of fashion list would this be if it didn’t include “Watermelon Sugar,” the summer-loving music video from Harry Styles. In the video, Styles prances around the beach, eating watermelon and wearing a slew of crochet vests and Gucci crop tops. Within 24 hours of its release, Lyst saw an increase of 11% in search for the term “watermelon,” 31% for Bode shirts — a New York-based brand that Styles frequently sports — and 16% for Hawaiian-themed pieces. Essentially search for everything Styles wore during the video was at an all-time (“Watermelon Sugar”) high. (The aforementioned "Golden" was likewise full of applause-worthy fashion.)

"Already" by Beyoncé, Shatta Wale, and Major Lazer

For Black Is King, the 85-minute visual film based on tracks from The Lion King: The Gift’s soundtrack, Beyoncé, in partnership with her stylist Zerina Akers, created looks highlighting Black designers, as well as some of today’s most prominent brands like Area and Valentino.

One of the highlights? The Marine Serre bodysuits worn by Beyoncé and her dancers in the music video for the song “Already.” In the video, the Grammy winner can also be seen wearing a cow-print corset look by Burberry; a teal, corseted jumpsuit that was hand-beaded on Nigerian lace by designer Jerome LaMaar; and a black-and-white structured blazer by Loza Maléombho.

"Hoy Cobré" by Bad Bunny feat. Snoop Dogg

Bad Bunny’s music video for the track “Hoy Cobré” sees Snoop Dogg wearing an all-black suit, with “Dogg” embroidered on the jacket pocket in crystals, and dark sunglasses. Bad Bunny’s looks are equally on-point, our favorite being a cream-colored ribbed turtleneck, a pearl necklace, and an oversized wool coat. 

"Cardigan" by Taylor Swift

To accompany her first album release of 2020 — her second, evermore, came out in December — Taylor Swift dropped a cottagecore-inspired music video for the Folklore track “Cardigan.” In it, Swift climbs through a piano, swims (sort of) in thrashing water, and strolls through a moss-covered forest — all in a Nap dress-esque nightgown and, later, a cream-colored cardigan. Following its release, Lyst reported a 10% surge in search for cardigans. 

"Forgive Me" by Chloe x Halle

With the help of Akers, Chloe x Halle created one of the chicest music videos of the year. “Forgive Me,” which was released in June, opens with the sister duo wearing leather harnesses — a huge trend in 2020 — by  Zana Bayne and voluminous, black skirts by Delia Alleyne. Also included in the three-minute visual experience are mesh tops, leather bralettes, and patent leather pants. 

"Dynamite" by BTS

Within 24 hours of its release, BTS’ “Dynamite” music video garnered a whopping 101.1 million views, according to YouTube. The video, which features trends like Canadian tuxedos, bucket hats, and head-to-toe pastel ensembles, was equally as successful in the fashion department. In fact, according to Lyst, the video caused a 128% spike in searches for Kangol hats from the ‘90s. 

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

2020's Top Trends Were Also Its Weirdest

This Is The Winter TV Preview You Need

16 Movies For History Buffs On Netflix