Written by Zoё Frantz
Edited by Leah Champagne
Le Fabuleux Destin D’Amélie Poulain has always been one of my favourite films. Not only do I think the acting and storyline are brilliant, but I really admire the attention to detail paid by production design and the costume designers. Truly, a big part of what makes this movie so magical is the commitment to aesthetics, both set-wise and clothing-wise. These elements contribute to creating an air of playfulness, joy, and romance. That being said, in this article, I will break down the fashions of Amélie, everyone’s favourite French girl.
Colour Palette
To start, let’s discuss the colour palette of Amélie’s style – tying into the bright reds and greens of the set design, Amélie often wears vibrant reds and greens, creamy whites and beiges, or dark browns and earthy tones. This not only compliments the pastoral vignettes of Paris in which Amélie exists and those of her house, but also sheds light on Amélie herself. In particular, Amélie is eccentric, creative, and kind, and the bright tones of her clothing seem to underscore these traits. The bright colours show her youthful mischief, but also her sweet disposition. Meanwhile, the darker tones seen in her jackets and shoes create a contrast that pops very well, especially against her pale skin.
Patterns
In addition, one pillar of Amélie’s outfits is the use of different patterns. First, she wears a lot of polka dots – there is her red polka dot umbrella from when she visited Lucien’s shop in the rain and the salmon polka dot peplum blouse she wore to meet Nino, her love interest, at Les Deux Molins where she is a waitress. Additionally, one of her more ‘famous’ looks is a little floral nightdress complete with red bows on the straps. She wears this while looking through a photo album that Nino dropped, causing her to decide to make others’ lives better (through orchestrated plans). Finally, she wears a red striped t-shirt during a shift at the café, when she hears her coworker Georgette fooling around with her crush, one of their regular customers.
Composition
Another aspect I find interesting about Amélie’s wardrobe is what I will call a lack of “unnecessary accessorization.” That is, she doesn’t seem to wear much jewelry or carry any handbag, let alone a wallet. Instead, the accessories she does use are for a practical purpose, such as her umbrella on that rainy day outside of Lucien’s shop. Or, they are something of a prop, like when she wears the headscarf and sunglasses to be ‘incognito’ when executing a mischievous scheme to meet Nico. To me, this simplicity emphasizes the clothes themselves and Amélie’s scattered nature. In terms of silhouettes, Amélie often wears long, flowy skirts or dresses, and modest tops. These characteristically feminine pieces are juxtaposed by more masculine leather or suit jackets, which gives Amélie a dainty yet boyish style overall.
Hair and Makeup
Finally, I would like to draw attention to Amélie’s hair and makeup. Firstly, her hair is extremely distinct — it is a classic French a-line bob, complete with choppy babydoll bangs. Additionally, the stark contrast between Amélie’s pale white skin and her jet black hair makes her extremely striking. She wears her hair up on occasion, although this is less common. Meanwhile, she wears very little makeup; seemingly, she only wears a muted dusty red lip, a bit of blush and maybe some mascara. This all creates for a very natural look, drawing less attention to Amélie’s appearance and more to her character.
To put it plainly, Le Fabuleux Destin D’Amélie Poulain is not only a wonderfully charming movie with a great message, but it is also meticulously styled. It will always be one of my favourite films, and I know many people, myself included, who take cues from Amélie in their personal style everyday. I highly recommend watching it!
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