Fashion in films: US(2019)

Kiera Mitchell-Camps

The movie us is a horror film that is known for its examination of issues such as privilege, socioeconomic class, and identity. With a spooky and surreal atmosphere, the movie combines elements of dark humour, psychological horror, and thriller. Viewers are left with a disturbing twist at the end, prompting them to consider the nature of duality and human existence.

Trailer of the film is:

Kym Barrett designed the costumes for the film Us. Australian designer Barrett is well-known for her contributions to The Matrix. Barrett collaborated with Jordan Peele, the film’s director, to design the costumes. In order to tell the film’s story, including the Tethered rebellion, the clothes were carefully created. The red jumpsuits that the “Tethered” or doppelgängers, wear are the most notable fashion feature in Us. These jumpsuits have symbolic and aesthetic significance.

Red Jumpsuits aka the Tethered’s costumes are simple and consistent, which reflects their status as rejected people who live in the background of their upper-world counterparts. Blood, violence, and rebellion are all brought up by the dramatic red colour. Additionally, it’s a shade that contrasts strongly with the main characters more relaxed, middle-class clothing signifying the uprising and threat they stand for. As well as the Tethered’s golden scissors serve as a weapon as well as a fashion piece. They mirror the idea of cutting ties between the Tethered and those living on the surface world, but as a fashion element, it provides the otherwise straightforward jumpsuits a threatening look. The Tethered’s only brown leather glove is frequently interpreted as a tribute to Michael Jackson’s recognisable fashion sense. Jackson is a broad cultural icon who represents the dual nature of great success and controversy, which reflects the themes of the movie. The Tethered wear the gloves while performing their attacks, which further triggers feeling of clinical, cold violence. Overall the fashion is used as a narrative tool in Us, showing the obvious distinctions between the Tethered humans and the surface-world characters.