The immersive power of film is what makes us come back for more. When the lights go down, the black box of a theater becomes a blank canvas for the world of the film to paint, and we find ourselves personally invested in the problems of other places, times, and lives. The world on screen may be a fantasy, but the emotions we feel are real.

But when the movie ends, what can we bring with us as a souvenir? As far as I’m concerned, the best way to dip in to a favorite film after I’ve left the theater (besides going to see it again) is through style. When I style an outfit that reminds me of a movie I like, I feel like I am bringing that movie’s world into my own, like I am empowered by it, made a little more glamorous (think 2016’s “Allied”), a little more badass (think any of the “Kill Bill” movies), or a little bit of both (think 2013’s “American Hustle).

If you read my post about how artists develop the wardrobes of their characters, you know that a character’s style tells a story. I love understanding what those stories are, and so I partnered with Fashion x Film to break down the cinematic style choices of director Sofia Coppola, whose fashionable films give me major heart eyes and whose newest film, “The Beguiled”, comes out this Friday. Here’s a sneak preview:

The films of Sofia Coppola are defined by one word: style. The daughter of the man, myth, and legend that brought us “The Godfather” films, Francis Ford Coppola, she has built a reputation for creating visuals so lush they could double as mood boards. Doting on the appearance of her films down to the smallest detail, Coppola has become the favorite of many style lovers (including Tavi Gevinson and Jeanne Damas) for her costume choices, which mix historical accuracy with a modern heart to deliver timeless wardrobe inspiration. In honor of Coppola’s newest film, “The Beguiled,” making its public debut later this month, here are some lessons from three of Coppola’s most stylish films.
“The Virgin Suicides”

Released in 1999 and based off of the novel of the same name by Jeffrey Eugenides, “The Virgin Suicides” was Sofia Coppola’s directorial debut, telling the story of the young, beautiful, and tragic Lisbon sisters. Set in the 1970s, the film’s story is told from the perspective of a group of neighborhood boys who follow the Lisbon girls in heart-eyed fascination. The style of the film captures the all too real sting of sexual awakening and first crushes: equal parts innocent, lusty, and obsessive.

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Want to read the rest? Click here to see my style breakdown of “The Virgin Suicides”, “Marie Antoinette” and “The Beguiled” and shop film wardrobes on Fashion x Film !