Horror Fashion Review

You’re Lime Green Jello

The leaves are falling, the smell of artificial pumpkin flavoring hovers in the air, and the best time for all things horror is upon us. This season we all collectively wore our tight zip-up hoodies, sipped on chai tea’s, and celebrated the 12th anniversary of Jennifer’s Body. We also listened to Hole, lots and lots of Hole. Or was that just me? Whatever, that Live Through This album still hits. It wouldn’t be autumn in my world without movies that bite. Trust me, I know I’m not the first to take a chunk out of this one, but I’m gonna do it anyway, and I’m gonna enjoy it. It wouldn’t be the halloween season at Horror Fashion Review without high school drama, an eaten-alive jock, and a demon who’s also a super babe.

A few years back this film reemerged as a cult classic with the younger demo. I’m thankful it finally got the cred from the masses it always deserved. 

I’ve got the keys to the Chrysler Sebring, so get in, we’re going to 2009. Back to a time when fashion wasn’t on our side and very few horror films made an impression enough to last.

It’s all about Needy and Jennifer Check. Sandbox lovers and BFFs turned frenemies/arch rivals full of repressed sexual energy. Needy, played by Amanda Seyfried and Jennifer Check played by Megan Fox. Both gorgeous, both extremely talented, both complete babes by all definition of babe.

The staples of Needy’s outfits are chunky sweaters, cami tees, and tons of layering. Her hair is usually pulled back, half up, or hiding messily under a beanie. These attributes are set from the beginning. We get it. Needy is supposed to be understated, unassuming, nerdy, and not hot. 

The chunky sweaters and layers hide Needy’s curves and body creating a subliminal idea that she is at a disadvantage. The typical girl-next-door walking the halls of high school doing everything she can to go unnoticed. She’s written as the underdog. The one not to upstage anyone else. This styling is on purpose. It works.

It’s like Needy’s chunky sweater is Checkhov’s Gun. A character so clearly chosen to be styled in this way is a wonderful set-up. The clothing and costuming can then, and should, change throughout their arc bringing the storyline along with it. At least, that’s what we hope.

Needy’s sweaters are often buttoned or fastened at the top with the rest unbuttoned and open. Fatal and perfect effect here, this allows her to look at least 2x bigger than she actually is. Bonus, because she has a very nice rack this makes the clothing jet out over her stomach to help add to this illusion. 

Let me be clear about the era of the hit-you-at-the-hip-bone low-rise jeans. Especially to everyone who’s young that thinks that shit is cool again. This style looks good on no one. I know I talk some shit but at the end of the day I’m all about having the freedom to wear whatever the fuck you want and whatever makes you happy. That doesn’t mean everything’s gonna look good on you. 

It wouldn’t be the early aughts without a lace cami, unfortunately it isn’s enough pull our eyes away from the lower round gut exposure the low-rise jeans are highlighting. Sure, her character wouldn’t care about this so it works. She’s supposed to be the nerd trying to look hot. 

She desperately wants to be a bad girl like her bestie. The darker colors she wears for the show mirrors this want. Needy wants to be more like Jennifer rather than be her opposite. You could go as far as saying she want’s to be Jennifer instead of herself.

Everything the two of them wear during this bar scene is an early 2000s capsule. At the show, Jen wears white, she’s classier, elevated, and yet again set apart from Needy. It’s interesting how their dynamic is playing out early on in their outfit choices, a foreshadowing in fashion before the story unfolds.

Needy’s layering has become an ode to the past, especially revisiting it 12 years later. The American Apparel-era style lingered and the zip-up under the dark jean, dare I say, Mossimo-esque jacket with way too many buttons are a scream to the fashions of the time. Layering the lace cami over the graphic tee is an iconic old school move, older than the early aughts, but it pairs well with the cross body bag. Everything cycles around again and gains a new modern twist.

It’s cool to speculate on how Needy’s outfits could have very well been chosen after Jennifer was in hers. Thinking about Needy as a character, we don’t really know what she wants. We only find out what she wants when Jennifer goes demon and she has to solve the problem. What was Needy’s goal before that? Do we know? Did she even have one?

If I believe that fashion can tell a character’s story, then this fashion is telling a story of follow the leader and not much else. Needy is dressed only in opposition to Jennifer. Or maybe the question is, who is Needy without Jennifer? Maybe that’s just it, Needy can’t truly exist as herself in a world where Jennifer also exists. Hence the storyline.

If Needy unknowingly desires to take her place as queen of the high school over Jennifer but is also simultaneously in love with her – then you could make the argument that it’s all very masterbatory. Whatever, I could go on all day about this incredible and tragic dynamic. Chunky sweaters aside, the story is truly all about Needy and who she could become when she takes the sweaters off. 

That leads me to my breaking point. Let’s talk about the fucking dress Needy wears to the dance. It’s at this moment in the narrative that we are instantly thrust into a world that has absolutely nothing to do with what we were given so far. If we are to believe that styling can tell a story, then I have no idea what story we’re seeing unfold. Here’s why…

• If they were trying to make a funny throwback to old 80s dance scenes and odes to the times of slashers, they would have had to be pretty fucking clear about sprinkling that stuff in throughout the film before bringing it into frame past the half-way mark. Just because the film falls into the teen dream horror category doesn’t mean that we are constantly thinking about how it measures up to an 80s slasher – There’s nothing else inherently 1980s in this entire film visually, technically, or aesthetically until this moment – and no, the Evil Dead baseball tee that Jennifer wears that was made in early 2000s doesn’t count.
• The title of the film is based on the title of a song from Hole’s iconic Live Through This album, which was from the 90s. The dress isn’t from that time either. If they were going prom connection to the album that doesn’t add up either because the woman on that cover is from the 70s
• The material of the dress itself was made popular in the 70s and really died out by the 1980s, pop-corning itself here and there since. Then the only thing we have left to really gain from this choice is the poofy sleeves reminding us of a time when dresses were made to look this vile.

So, that brings me to my final nail in the coffin about this choice. For me, the ultimate number one reason why the joke doesn’t land and the dress doesn’t fit is because no matter how much Needy has changed up to this point, she would have never, ever worn that dress. Not even for Jennifer would she wear something so outlandish and go full-on with the hair too.

You know in life when there is a gut-wrenchingly sad situation that is happening to someone very close to you but there is nothing you can do to fix it? This horrid dress reminds me of that feeling.

Needys attempts at de-throning Jennifer had been done with wits and courage instead of show. Sure, let’s all assume that by this point in the film she’s ready to play rough – fire with fire. With this dress? Naw. 

Needy’s fascination with Jennifer falters by this point. Needy knows that she’s the only one who can stop her and it’s baffling that this is the dress she’s pulling out of the closet to get the job done. Needy should have worn a fucking mega-babe-bombshell dress. Like the kind of dress that says “I’ll destroy my bff/lover/girlfriend in a hot-girl throw down”. Anything to bring us along with her in her grand attempt at fully coming into her womanhood, her bisexuality, her fucking nerdy hotness. Then we’d all watch with our jaws dropped at the climax in the swamp pool. 

This is what I like to call an “abandonment of character” moment in styling. How awesome would it have been if Needy and Jennifer were both dressed like ultimate babes in the final battle scene while still maintaining their own personal styles? Like, isn’t that what the film was setting us up for? Point is, Needy deserved to have a hot look. She deserved to have her babe moment and to dress the part. To feel good in the dress she chose giving us insight into who she’d become through all the shit thus far. Obviously I’m still torn up about this completely missed opportunity. I’ll never get over it. Moving on…

Jennifer Check ~ babe of all babes, cheerleader goddess, otherworldly beauty, best friend to Needy which no one even in their world understands. The set-up for Jennifer is specific from the beginning with her cheerleader outfit introduction.

Cheerleader babe that stands out from all the other cheer-girls. This color combination could not look any better on Jennifer. It is a perfect royal color for her with that mustard gold trim. I’m 100% here for it and can’t look away. No one in a cheerleader uniform has ever looked quite this good. 

Can we talk about the white cowboy boots with pink fringe and yellow tassels along with the white tights?! It’s never been done before. Of all the cheerleader/dance sub-genre of horror, it hasn’t been done quite like this. 

In correct opposition to Needy, Jen is all skin. Obviously, this film is all about Jennifer Check’s body. Still, these low rise jeans are haunting me. They don’t even look good on Jennifer here. Her 90 pound frame even then manages to spill out of the sides of these jeans. They were meant for no-one.

I love how baby-doll Jennifer is portrayed in the beginning. Pinks, purples, whites and lighter wash jeans. Nothing about her in the beginning is dark or fierce. That was a good choice. Also that baby pink super crop cardigan is so cute and I’m not ashamed to say that I had one just like it back then.

The BFF necklace in full effect, a dark grey/purple leopard print top and the white poofy 2009 coat with the fur hood trim. Everyone had one of these jackets back then, a very slight crop and extremely form fitted. It’s funny, I had a gold version of this in 2006 with leopard print lining inside. While wearing it one night at a party I also went home with a boy that didn’t turn out to be so nice. I blame the jackets. Maybe they cursed us pretty girls. This style didn’t go away for awhile. I’m 100% convinced this is Jennifer’s vibe. The color is good. White is innocence. White is pure. White is virgin. We know the drill. 

This outfit is very consistent with the times. The frayed jean skirt with the studded “LOVE” belt is fucking spot-on high school popular girl. The red fishnets with the boots are taking me away. Like, don’t get me wrong it’s definitely a statement, especially with the blood all over them, but would Jennifer have chosen this combination? Jennifer is absolutely the American Eagle shopper, the fishnets are too edgy, even for her. The thing I dislike the most about this outfit is the boots. OG high-top converse would have sealed this look perfectly. 

The high school jock being eaten alive is a wonderful scene. I am removed from it completely by Jennifer’s outfit. The stripped yellow and white hooded terrycloth tee with rope-like ties, a skinny white belt on a short jean skirt with white butterflies on the back pockets. It doesn’t work for me. This outfit is “Limited Too” summer. I look at it and think I’m supposed to be sailing the ocean. 

Everyone knows that she’s not innocent. Even without being a demon she’s unattainable, undatable, unreachable, and certainly not an innocent character. It looks too young even for a high school princess. This would have been the moment for the post-transformation tights or fishnets. Isn’t it supposed to be autumn? Just saying.

Here we are, back on track. The pinks are back, the jeans are back – only in a darker wash. The red hearts on the pink is fantastic. Great pattern for a cheerleader babe who eats boys. The wedged heels with the straps, another time capsule I hate but appreciate. Jennifer would be a wedges girl.

Purples. We know the meaning behind purples. She’s royal, she’s supreme, she’s above everyone. Even looking demon-sick she’s sticking with her color pallet. This quick purple long sleeve moment hits the mark.

We love the light color pallet for Jennifer, it’s so opposite to what we might’ve expected and it works so well. The styling is working better here when she eats writer goth-boy than it did with the jock boy.

The Juicy Couture / Victoria’s Secret Pink line emphasis in these fucking sweatpants and top are too good. It’s a pill I’ve already swallowed. We also know the 22” length BFF necklace was not an accident. We are thankful for it.

The only somewhat 80s moment we get before Needy’s disgusting dress choice is the Evil Dead baseball tee with the tube socks that Jennifer wears in the bedroom scene. Incredible choice here for Jennifer to spill the beans on what the fuck went down with the gross band boys.

We love the differences and similarities we can see between Needy and Jennifer in this bedroom scene, it’s a lot of body from Jennifer and yet it’s more skin than we’ve ever seen from Needy. Needy in longer pants, Jennifer has no pants. Needy in a spaghetti strap cami showing all of her arms and neck while Jennifer’s more covered up. 

You can tell in this moment that Needy is removing the layers of herself so-to-speak and getting closer to the level of her best friend. When they makeout it’s as if they are finally are on the same exact level. They are truly each other’s archenemy before they even realize it. The outfits help us see it. It’s fucking dope.

We all know by now the significance behind light and dark colors and how black and white play off of each other so well in terms of character. Good vs. Evil.

Jennifer Check didn’t want this to happen to her. A demon dressed in white. We’ve always been able to understand the trajectory of Jennifer’s character even before she turned. We could understand what she wanted. To move out of the small town and go to the city where she would have become anyone she wanted. We know this early on, in outfit choices and in character development. It allows us to feel sorry for her later on when she’s essentially trapped in this new body.

Jennifer is constantly at odds with her own self after becoming a demon. Stuck in the middle of the bubbly perfect life she knew and the dark lonely life she has to sustain in order to survive. The black and white dress for the dance is the absolute perfect choice for this.

When I’m awaiting my fight to the death, please remind me to wear leg warmers. Also, I still need a Devil’s Kettle shirt in the design of early 2000s Hollister just like this one for when I die. 

I love this movie, regardless of its flaws. It’s still a complete win. It’s also one of the very few great horror films to come out of the early 2000s so I’m thankful to Diablo Cody for making this one happen. Most of all, hats off to Katia Stano the costume and wardrobe designer for the film. 

Happy Halloween,

Grace Lovera