We’re Shaking Our Heads At The Worst-Dressed Movie Characters In Cinematic History

Kelsey Berish | December 2, 2024 6:00 pm

One of the best things about going to see a new movie is sitting and marveling at the costume designs. There's an entire Academy Award category dedicated to just that. Unfortunately, not all wardrobes are created equal, and some characters get the short end of the fashion design stick.

From the bright orange and blue tuxedos in Dumb and Dumber to pre-fab Andy in The Devil Wears Prada, here are some of the worst-dressed movie characters of all time. Trust us; these fashion choices all need to be on an episode of What Not to Wear.

Edina And Patsy In Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie

Edina And Patsy In Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation

For publicist Edina Monsoon and her best friend Patsy Stone, being Absolutely Fabulous also means being absolutely basic. These two ladies take the phrase "over the top" and literally run out the door, across the country, and to the other side of the world with it.

From their extravagantly patterned leggings to 100% metallic outfits, Edina and Patsy are definitely some of the worst dressed people in film. But, hey, at least they own their looks and don't care what other people think!

ADVERTISEMENT

Deb In Napoleon Dynamite

ADVERTISEMENT
Deb In Napoleon Dynamite
Fox Searchlight Pictures
Fox Searchlight Pictures
ADVERTISEMENT

When someone comes up to you and says, "I like your sleeves," in the back of your mind, you should probably know that your sleeves are probably a bit funky. In Deb from Napoleon Dynamite's case, they were more than a bit funky. The girl's epic side-pony and puffy sleeves were straight out of the '80s and most definitely not high fashion.

ADVERTISEMENT

None the less, she is still a perfect match for the geeky Napoleon. We mean, can we talk about that large, puffy, pastel pink dress she wears to the school dance? It suits her just fine but isn't going to help her win Homecoming Queen anytime soon.

ADVERTISEMENT

Miss Hannigan In Annie

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Miss Hannigan In Annie
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
ADVERTISEMENT

In the 1982 musical Annie, Carol Burnett's character Miss Hannigan was a bit difficult to overlook. Not because she was the head of the orphanage and was trying her hardest to exploit the children for money, but because of her gaudy attire.

ADVERTISEMENT

Seriously, if there were ever a villain who had a wardrobe that reflected their personality, it would have to be Miss Hannigan. She had everything, from feathered sweaters to her double wrapped long necklace. Everything she wore just oozed sleaze.

ADVERTISEMENT

Andy In The Devil Wears Prada

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Andy In The Devil Wears Prada
Twentieth Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox
ADVERTISEMENT

Before Andy showed her boss at Runway magazine that she knew a thing or two about fashion, she looked like she walked out of an American Girl Doll photoshoot, and not in a good way. We're talking oversized skirts that did nothing for her figure, chunky oxfords, and layered crewneck sweaters that should never have been a fashion trend (were they ever?).

ADVERTISEMENT

Either way, she thankfully got some much-needed help in the fashion department, completely transforming her look and confidence. We call it pre and post-Andy.

ADVERTISEMENT

Lloyd Christmas And Harry Dunne In Dumb & Dumber

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Lloyd Christmas And Harry Dunne In Dumb & Dumber
New Line Cinema
New Line Cinema
ADVERTISEMENT

Now, the thing with a film like Dumb & Dumber is that you have to take Lloyd and Harry for who they are -- two grown men who are just a bit slow and drive around in a van that looks like a dog. Because of this, it shouldn't really come as much as a surprise that they're on the "worst dressed" list.

ADVERTISEMENT

Seriously, they wear bright blue and orange tuxedos to a black-tie event, complete with top hats, ruffled blouses, and walking canes! Ironically, they thought they looked quite dashing in their get-up. To each their own, we suppose.

ADVERTISEMENT

Shelley Darlingson In The House Bunny

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
the-house-bunny movie
Sony Pictures
Sony Pictures
ADVERTISEMENT

After her 27th birthday, Shelley Darlingson gets kicked out of the Playboy mansion. The thing is, when a person is kicked out from being a Playboy bunny, one would think that person's wardrobe would change. Nope! When Shelley became the mother of a college sorority, her wardrobe stayed pretty much the same.

ADVERTISEMENT

We're talking mico-mini skirts, tops that are most suited to be a swimsuit, and stiletto heels that add about a foot to actress Anna Faris' tiny frame. All in all, her wardrobe needs a little bit of an update and maybe a bit more material.

ADVERTISEMENT

Bonnie Parker In Bonnie & Clyde

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Bonnie Parker In Bonnie & Clyde
Warner Bros
Warner Bros
ADVERTISEMENT

Although Bonnie Parker doesn't look horribly dressed to go on a spree of crime with her lover Clyde Barrow, the women of the time absolutely loathed her attire. When Bonnie & Clyde was released in 1967, women's fashion trends were changing. The midi skirt and long-sleeved shirts Bonnie wears in the film was no longer "en vogue."

ADVERTISEMENT

Instead, the mini skirt was coming in to play. So, for ladies watching the film, Bonnie's outfit looked like nothing more than something an old lady would wear. And that's not a good thing considering Bonnie Parker is supposed to be this femme fatal.

ADVERTISEMENT

Andie Walsh In Pretty In Pink

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Andie Walsh In Pretty In Pink
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
ADVERTISEMENT

Before Selena Gomez made "granny chic" cool, there was Andie Walsh in the rom-com Pretty in Pink. This high school outcast might have been creative with her wardrobe choices, but that doesn't mean she doesn't have more chunky sweaters than absolutely necessary.

ADVERTISEMENT

And if you tack on the fact that she paired big round glasses, buttoned-to-the-neck patterned blouses, with boxy skirts and clunky oxfords, and you have one character who you're not surprised is considered an outcast by her peers. Even so, Andie owns the look.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Flawless Four In Jawbreaker

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The Flawless Four In Jawbreaker
TriStar Pictures
TriStar Pictures
ADVERTISEMENT

The thing about "The Flawless Four" in Jawbreaker is that they really weren't all that flawless. The ladies making up the high school clique were a little too into themselves, and their outfits were nothing to write home about. Instead of looking like teenagers, these gals were more into the secretary look.

ADVERTISEMENT

Pleather heavy, pencil skirts and tiny sweaters over even tinier under shirts completed their bright and gaudy looks. Whatever happened to the typical high school dress code of jeans and a sweatshirt?

ADVERTISEMENT

Jamie Sullivan In A Walk To Remember

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
A Walk To Remember
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
ADVERTISEMENT

When you're known as the girl who always wears a pastel-colored sweater, sorry, but you're going to be placed on "the worst dressed" list. In this particular instance, the character is the one and only good religious girl from A Walk to Remember, Jamie Sullivan.

ADVERTISEMENT

The thing is, we can't even fault her for wearing oversized, floor-length dresses with her light pink sweater because it goes perfectly with her character's personality -- sweet. But that doesn't mean we have to like it. She's still pretty poorly dressed!

ADVERTISEMENT

Dawn Wiener In Welcome To The Dollhouse

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Dawn Wiener In Welcome To The Dollhouse
Sony Pictures Classics
Sony Pictures Classics
ADVERTISEMENT

Middle school is an awkward time for the majority of people. So, it kind of makes sense that the character of Dawn Wiener in Welcome to the Dollhouse is all over the place when it comes to fashion. From high-waisted track pants with a tucked-in graphic t-shirt to "my grandma definitely knitted this for me" sweater, Dawn is most definitely one of the worst-dressed characters to come off the silver screen.

ADVERTISEMENT

The thing is, Dawn's just so cute and quirky that she kind of makes the electric color palette and plastic accessories work!

ADVERTISEMENT

Priscilla In Not Another Teen Movie

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Priscilla In Not Another Teen Movie
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures
ADVERTISEMENT

While Not Another Teen Movie is technically spoofing all of the teen movie stereotypes, including wardrobe, it doesn't mean Jaime Pressly's character Priscilla is getting off the hook. This character literally plays into all of the popular girl patterns, including the absolute cheese that is her costume.

ADVERTISEMENT

We're talking low-rise jeans with a patchwork pattern, pin-straight blonde hair, a spaghetti strap tank top (pink, of course), which is complete with a lovely feathered accent. Needless to say, it's not a good look.

ADVERTISEMENT

Enid And Rebecca In Ghost World

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Enid And Rebecca In Ghost World
United Artists
United Artists
ADVERTISEMENT

Enid and Rebecca in the comedy-drama Ghost World is a perfect example of teenage angst translating over to clothing. These two characters go all out, wearing quirky mini skirts, graphic tees, chunky boots, and a whole lot of plaid. Honestly, we didn't even know someone could have so much plaid in their wardrobe.

ADVERTISEMENT

And while Enid and Rebecca's style can be categorized as hipster, it still places them on the list of some of the worst-dressed characters in film. Then again, they do get some props for being hipster before hipster was a thing.

ADVERTISEMENT

Toula Portokalos In My Big Fat Greek Wedding

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
IFC Films
IFC Films
ADVERTISEMENT

Before she decided to turn her life around and give herself a much-needed makeover, Toula Portokalos was pretty much lost in the wardrobe department. No one should subject themselves to an all-brown outfit, especially if that outfit happens to be a shirt and sweater with matching pants and hospital-grade rubber shoes.

ADVERTISEMENT

Thankfully, she eventually ditched the bulky attire, turtlenecks, and brown-rimmed glasses for something a bit more flattering, eye-catching, and, hey, she even learned how to put in contacts.

ADVERTISEMENT

Laney Boggs In She's All That

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Laney Boggs In She's All That
Miramax Films
Miramax Films
ADVERTISEMENT

If you need help figuring out who the outcast high school student is in the film She's All That, look no further than the character wearing a printed button-up shirt over baggy jean overalls and thick-rimmed glasses, aka the artsy girl named Laney Boggs.

ADVERTISEMENT

The '90s film definitely played off the high school stereotype. But Laney made the look work! Unfortunately, her loner status also made her the perfect target for the "I can make her prom queen" bet.

ADVERTISEMENT

Josie Geller In Never Been Kissed

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Josie Geller In Never Been Kissed
20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
ADVERTISEMENT

Not to say Josie Geller doesn't have a stellar personality, but the fact that she wore some of the most garish outfits known to humankind probably didn't help her whole Never Been Kissed situation. And while we can sit here and dissect all of her wardrobe choices, we're going to stick to one: her prom dress.

ADVERTISEMENT

Now, this is no normal prom dress. Josie was able to find one that looked as though it'd been designed from tinfoil satin. Add in the princess waistline, sleeves as puffy as her head is big, and you have a dress that is anything but subtle, even for the '80s!

ADVERTISEMENT

Allison Reynolds In The Breakfast Club

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Allison Reynolds In The Breakfast Club
Universal Studios
Universal Studios
ADVERTISEMENT

Allison Reynolds is the loner in the misfit group making up the Breakfast Club. And, as such, she is apparently destined to be dressed in such a non-subtle way that the costume department might as well have had a neon sign flashing above her head saying, "outcast."

ADVERTISEMENT

Honestly, the all-black clothing wouldn't be horrible, but the fact that nothing fits her properly and there's a heavy parka-type jacket concealing her body makes it pretty awful. Even so, the horrible dress doesn't sway the fact that Allison is a pretty cool character that finds her confidence after a much-needed makeover.

ADVERTISEMENT

Janis Ian In Mean Girls

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Janis Ian In Mean Girls
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
ADVERTISEMENT

If The Breakfast Club were made in the 2000s, then the character of Allison Reynolds would most definitely be the cool and edgy Janis Ian from Mean Girls. The thing is, Janis can have an "I really don't care about anything" attitude all she wants, but it doesn't change the fact that she is one of the worst-dressed characters in film.

ADVERTISEMENT

Layered t-shirts over long-sleeved shirts, skirts over pants, and let's not forget the purple suit she wears to prom, Janis did the impossible -- she made the gothic style gaudy.

ADVERTISEMENT

Bridget Jones In Bridget Jones's Diary

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Bridget Jones In Bridget Jones's Diary
Miramax Films
Miramax Films
ADVERTISEMENT

The thing about Bridget Jones in Bridget Jones's Diary is that the character is supposed to be a bit on the frumpier and the "I don't care if this fits, I'm going to wear it" side of fashion. Not being the best dresser, Jones goes on both sides of the spectrum.

ADVERTISEMENT

Either she wears something that is way too tiny, or she goes and grabs one of her many oversized cardigans and pairs it with a horrid-looking undershirt and sweatpants. Sorry, Bridget, you might be a great character, but you need some help in the fashion department.

ADVERTISEMENT

Juno MacGuff In Juno

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Juno MacGuff In Juno
Fox Searchlight Pictures
Fox Searchlight Pictures
ADVERTISEMENT

Most teenagers go through experimental phases with their clothing. And no other character captures that weird time as perfectly as Juno MacGuff in Juno. She goes all in, wearing pleated mini skirts over baggy jeans paired with zip-up hoodies and thin fashion scarves that do pretty much everything but keep you warm.

ADVERTISEMENT

While Juno is quite the character with her dry humor and quirky comebacks, it's not enough to save her from joining other movie characters on the worst-dressed list.