Fashion In Film Volume 7: Empire Records

For today’s segment, I’d like to discuss the fashion in an old favorite of mine, Empire Records. The 1995 flick stars Liv Tyler, Renée Zellweger, Ethan Embry, Robin Tunney, Johnny Whitworth and Rory Cochrane, just to name a few. It tells the story of employees of an indie record shop who learn about each other as they try to stop the store from being absorbed by a large chain. This movie was such an influence on my upbringing! I pretty much wanted to be Liv Tyler’s character Corey and totally had a crush on the cutie with the floppy hair and baggy Kurt Cobain cardigan!

Needless to say, the fashion in this film are amazing! The characters embody the grunge’s trademark look of thrown-on outfits plucked from a pile of clothes…It was 1995 and the girls were wearing doc martins, minis and cropped jumpers. The boys had long hair, oversized cardis and sportswear. Specifically, Liv Tyler’s school girl/grunge ensemble was AMAZING…the cropped baby blue mohair sweater, the tiny plaid kilt, the docs, her long brown hair parted straight down the middle…This fashion trend is definitely re-emerging right now and I can’t get enough of it! Renée Zellweger has her moments too – her slouchy cardi and mini skirt paired with healed black clogs (which remind me of Chanel Spring 2010) are all super sexy as well. All in all, the looks of Empire Records are casual and cool…if it sends any message at all, it’s “damn the man.”

Happy Rex Manning Day.