Style at its most considered is more than fabric and cut. What we call cultivated style is a way of dressing that communicates education, cultural awareness, upbringing, and presence. It is about harmony between clothing, posture, and context.
Cultivated style builds on what fashion has to offer and creates a lasting impression because it feels natural to the individual and appropriate to the world they inhabit.
Cinema has long been one of the richest places to see this principle at work. Costumes tells us about a character, how they fit into their surroundings, and what they value. A well-chosen suit or a gown can influence our understanding of a role as strongly as the script itself.
The following five characters show how film can crystallize elegance into something unforgettable:
Countess Ellen Olenska - The Age of Innocence (1993)
Michelle Pfeiffer’s Countess Olenska arrives in New York society clothed in velvet gowns, lace, and richly dyed silks. Gabriella Pescucci’s Oscar-winning designs frame her as cosmopolitan, a woman formed by Europe yet navigating America’s rigid social codes.
Ellen's cultivated style lies in her ability to convey difference as she moves within high society while hinting at a broader cultural horizon, one that makes her both captivating and unsettling to those around her.
Marcello Rubini - La Dolce Vita (1960)
Marcello Rubini, Marcello Mastroianni’s character in La Dolce Vita (1960), became the face of mid-century Italian elegance. The black suits, slim ties, and unhurried gestures were less costume than attitude, an effortless blend of journalist and boulevardier. From Roman boulevards to late-night parties, his style felt as integral to the city as the scenes Fellini captured.
Rather than projecting power, Rubini possessed the ability to move through worlds with ease, leaving behind an image of refinement that remains tied to the very idea of Italian cinema.
Jay Gatsby – The Great Gatsby (1974)
Robert Redford’s Jay Gatsby stands as one of cinema’s most memorable studies in cultivated appearance. Costume designer Theoni V. Aldredge dressed him in cream linen suits, pastel shirts, silk ties, and even a striking pink three-piece ensemble—clothing that captured both the optimism and fragility of the Jazz Age.
Every element of Gatsby’s wardrobe was chosen to convey sophistication and control, from the line of his lapels to the polish of his shoes. His elegance mirrors Gatsby’s desire to be accepted into a world bound by older social codes. His cultivated style occupies this dual space: a sincere embrace of 1920s refinement and a carefully curated image of belonging.
Alma Reins – Phantom Thread (2017)
Though Reynolds Woodcock designs the gowns, it is Alma (played by Vicky Krieps) who gives them meaning. She wears couture with a presence that makes each garment feel alive. The way she moves, sits, or holds a room turns fabric into character.
Alma shows that cultivated style depends on more than design; it requires the ability to embody clothing so it becomes an extension of self. Through her, Phantom Thread demonstrates that elegance is realized only when garments and personality are inseparable.
Miranda Priestly – The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
Miranda Priestly, portrayed by Meryl Streep, embodies authority through deliberate style. Costume designer Patricia Field dressed her in couture—Valentino coats, Chanel suits, Hermès scarves—anchored by a palette of black, grey, and ivory.
Each look signals discernment rather than passing fashion, projecting permanence and control. Priestly’s character is amplified by her wardrobe, a raised eyebrow, a measured pause, and clothing that leaves nothing accidental. In cinema, she remains a definitive vision of power dressing.
