the fusion of fashion and costume

For Vogue’s August issue, Daisy Edgar-Jones takes centre stage in an editorial inspired by her upcoming role in Sense and Sensibility, blurring the line between costume and contemporary luxury fashion. Photographed by Szilveszter Makó and styled by Tabitha Simmons, the editorial pairs runway pieces and costume elements to make a cohesive visual narrative. Edgar-Jones is seen in a pleated dress from Louis Vuitton and a lace bolero from Angels Costumes, alongside a chemisette and sash taken directly from the film itself. The result is more than a celebrity cover shoot; it's a celebration of costume as high fashion, demonstrating how garments created for the screen can sit effortlessly alongside the latest designer collections. As cinema continues to shape the way we dress, Vogue's latest editorial is a reminder that some of fashion's most compelling inspiration comes not from the runway, but from the costume department.

Daisy Edgar-Jone for British Vogue. Photographed by Szilveszter Makó, Styled by Tabitha Simmons

the relationship between costume and fashion

Costume and fashion have always shared a close relationship, with each constantly influencing the other. While designers frequently look to film and television for inspiration, costume designers are equally informed by the fashion landscape of the period in which a production is created. Rather than simply recreating a historical period, many costumes are subtly shaped by contemporary trends, ensuring they resonate with modern audiences while still serving the story. This relationship has become increasingly apparent in recent years, as runway collections and cinematic wardrobes begin to mirror one another.

The Gothic Revival that emerged through Autumn/Winter 2024–25 is a perfect example. As anticipation grew for Robert Eggers' Nosferatu, fashion embraced dark romanticism through sombre colour palettes, dramatic tailoring and Victorian-inspired silhouettes. Designers including Rick Owens and Dilara Findikoglu presented collections filled with corsetry, high necklines, lace and exaggerated proportions that echoed the haunting aesthetic associated with gothic cinema.

At the same time, films themselves have become powerful catalysts for consumer trends, translating elaborate costume design into wearable fashion. Few examples demonstrate this better than the Wicked phenomenon, where the film's visual identity extended far beyond the cinema through collaborations with high street brands including H&M, Gap and Crocs. By transforming on-screen costumes into accessible collections, these partnerships allowed audiences to engage directly with the film's aesthetic, proving that costume is no longer confined to the screen but has become an increasingly influential force within everyday fashion.

Lily Rose Depp in Robert Eggers' Nosferatu

intertwining costume and fashion

Perhaps this overlap exists because fashion has always been rooted in performance. Long before a garment reaches the shop floor, it is presented as part of a carefully constructed narrative, with designers using clothing to create characters, evoke emotions and tell stories in much the same way as costume designers do on screen. This is especially evident on the runway, where shows have evolved into immersive productions complete with dramatic lighting, cinematic soundtracks, elaborate set design and choreographed movement that mirror the atmosphere of the theatre. Models don’t simply walk a catwalk but inhabit a role, embodying the identity and mood envisioned by the designer. In many ways, they become performers, with each look acting as a costume that contributes to a wider narrative. As designers continue to embrace theatrical elements, the relationship between fashion and performance grows increasingly intertwined, making the boundary between a runway look and a costume unclear.

Ultimately, the relationship between fashion and costume has never been stronger. Once viewed as two separate creative disciplines, they now exist in constant conversation, with designers borrowing from cinema and costume designers embracing the influence of contemporary fashion. Whether it's Vogue styling authentic film costumes alongside luxury runway pieces, gothic cinema shaping seasonal collections, or blockbuster films inspiring high street collaborations, the line between dressing for the screen and dressing for everyday life continues to blur. At their core, both costume and fashion serve the same purpose: to communicate identity, create emotion and tell stories through the power of clothing.