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The Most Iconic Suits Throughout the History of Film

Suits and Most Iconic Movie Dresses say a lot about the person wearing them, revealing their inner beliefs and how they view themselves. Here are the most iconic suits throughout the history of film and why we still remember them today. 

Iconic Suits Throughout the History of Film

The Great Gatsby
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan (Actors)

Leonardo DiCaprio in The Great Gatsby

The character of Jay Gatsby is an exorbitantly wealthy young man who loves opulence and parties. These character traits come to life in DiCaprio’s performance and in his suit.

The off-pink suit he wears in this role is nontraditional, but it is still stylized with all the traditional accouterment one is meant to wear, signaling respect for fashion and a desire to transform it.

Dr. No HD
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Sean Connery, Ursula Andress, Bernard Lee (Actors)

Sean Connery in Dr. No

No iconic suit list can go without mentioning one or two James Bond films, and Sean Connery’s suit from Dr. No seems to be the clear winner. It epitomizes high fashion but is still functional and stylish throughout all of Bond’s escapades in the film.

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The Maltese Falcon (1941)
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Gladys George (Actors)

Humphrey Bogart in The Maltese Falcon

Film noir is a style of filmmaking centering around stark lighting and even starker characters, and The Maltese Falcon is one of the most well-known examples. Drama is center stage in this film, and the custom pinstripe suit that Bogart wears does not fail to add intrigue and depth to his character and the overall story.

Chinatown
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Jack Nicholson, John Huston, Darrell Zwerling (Actors)

Jack Nicholson in Chinatown

Many films feature characters wearing iconic suits, but those suits are often exchanged for other costumes during the course of the movie. The same cannot be said for Chinatown, in which Nicholson wears dapper suits accompanied by signature striped shirts, pocket squares, and patterned ties throughout the entire film.

The suits are untraditional, but by no means are they forgettable.

Crazy, Stupid, Love
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore (Actors)

Ryan Gosling in Crazy, Stupid, Love

Ryan Gosling is fashionable and iconic in every movie he’s a part of, but he excels in Crazy, Stupid, Love. His character is practically a playboy, and his suits throughout the film make this persona feel even more accurate. All he needs is a two-piece maroon suit to knock everyone, including the audience, off their feet.

American Gigolo
  • Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
  • Richard Gere, Lauren Hutton, Hector Elizondo (Actors)

Richard Gere in American Gigolo

Though the film is not as popular as others on this list, Gere’s suits are undeniably alluring. He plays a fashionable character and reveals suits as more than just something is worn for business—they should also be worn for pleasure.

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These are some of the most iconic suits throughout the history of film. Though other suits may become more popular here and there, there is no denying that these costumes are iconic pieces of film history. The actors who wore them and the suits themselves are both stylish and timeless.

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