Oozing self-assurance, Elleâs wardrobe is central to the movieâs message of female empowerment and its rebuttal of the âdumb blondeâ trope. With every skirt, fur coat and halter top, she proves that looks donât define us, and that a woman can be many seemingly contradictory things at once. It is society, not Elleâs love for pretty things, that sees her pigeonholed by the âMalibu Barbieâ cliche.
This clever use of clothing to upend traditional narratives helped âLegally Blondeâ achieve cult status, according to Stitch Fix stylist Ashley Sanchez.
âElleâs uncanny ability to embrace individuality and feel empowered by her sense of style is what resonates with audiences everywhere,â she said over email. In addition to Elleâs optimism, kindness and compassion, itâs her closet that âmakes her an icon,â Sanchez added.