8 Rom-Com Movie Heroines Who Have Inspired Our 2024 Wardrobes

Like everyone else on the planet, I spent much of the countdown to Christmas watching rom-coms. It doesn't matter if they're funny, if I've seen them before or if they're even any good; there's just something about the feel-good factor of a nostalgic romantic comedy when there's nothing else on TV. However, it struck me when watching The Holiday for about the sixth time that instead of concentrating on the plot, I was sidetracked by Cameron Diaz's wardrobe.

Amanda Woods' arrival at the cottage makes almost no sense—why a stiletto heel for a long-haul flight, let alone the English countryside? Why so much impractical cream? But after watching her slowly but surely fall in love with Jude Law's character and Aran knits, I realised that what a character is wearing is almost as important as the dialogue itself. Amanda Woods follows in the footsteps of some incredibly influential movie heroines. Think about it, would Pretty Woman have been as iconic without the thigh-high boots? Can we imagine a Miss Congeniality without that bodycon-mini-dress reveal? And really, there is no Coyote Ugly without the spray-on leather trousers and cropped tank tops.

After bringing up the topic of the best rom-com movies to my Who What Wear UK colleagues, not only do I now have a list of films I'd forgotten (sorry, You've Got Mail), but also some very good outfit inspiration, revealing in the process that pretty much everything we've worn over the past 12 months can actually be traced back to one iconic movie heroine.

Don't believe me? Keep scrolling to see the characters (and their wardrobes) whom we fell for so deeply that we inadvertently started dressing like them too. They had us at hello. 

1. COTTAGECORE: AMANDA WOODS, THE HOLIDAY

Style Notes: Yes, before "cottagecore" even had a name, Cameron Diaz's Amanda Woods was eating a cheeseboard in bed in a cable-knit jumper, and if that isn't peak winter inspo, I don't know what is. Yes, by the end of the film she's back in a pencil skirt, but let's not overlook all of the shearling and neutral knits that happen in between. Kick off your heels and layer up, because this is an aesthetic designed with comfort in mind.

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2. QUIET LUXURY: MARISA VENTURA, MAID IN MANHATTAN 

Style Notes: Upon rewatching, there are certainly some problematic issues with Maid in Manhattan (the main one being that we do not need to pretend to be anyone else to win someone over) but, if it was seeing J.Lo in that all-white ensemble that truly won over Ralph Fiennes' character, that is totally understandable. Everything about this outfit says "I'm rich" without a single logo in sight—enter the quiet-luxury phenomenon that we've been loyally committed to over the past two years. Cream is an obviously luxurious choice, but I think the key here lies in the head-to-toe-tonal styling decision. After all, just imagine how good this would also look in camel, chocolate brown, black or slate grey…

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3. '90S MINIMALISM: ANNA SCOTT, NOTTING HILL

Style Notes: No, this is not a screenshot from an Urban Outfitters campaign. Of course, it's Julia Roberts' unforgettable turn as Anna Scott, a Hollywood A-lister incognito. From the oval sunnies to the leather blazer, everything about this look feels so current it's spooky (even down to the pristine pair of black Vans out of shot). The jeans are straight-legged, the T-shirt is white and the accessories are stripped back—'90s minimalism at its finest. And if you want another really good outfit moment from the movie, it's her wearing a full suit and tie to do press junkets. I have no notes. 

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4. BARBIECORE: ELLE WOODS, LEGALLY BLONDE

Style Notes: If you still need convincing that Elle Woods walked so that Margot Robbie's Barbie could run, it's high time you rewatched Legally Blonde. Everything about Elle Woods' technicolour wardrobe is so utterly charming that we can't help but root for her. It's camp, it's brash and it's unapologetically her, and the fun we had watching this film prepared us to embrace Barbiecore with open arms. If we learnt anything from this exceptional character, it's how to find joy in dressing. Oh, and the bend and snap. 

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5. SLEEK EVENINGWEAR: ANDIE ANDERSON, HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN 10 DAYS

Style Notes: Okay, we've all had the same panic at one stage in our lives. We're invited to an evening event—whether that be a dinner, a birthday, a wedding, or anything that requires formal dress, and our first thought is "What am I going to wear?" Thanks to How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, I'm convinced that my answer is now always the same: a silky slip dress. There's no occasion that this won't work for. If the dress code is black-tie, dress it up with some sparkly accessories, and if you want to keep it casual, add a blazer and flats. Simple. There's a reason that Andie Anderson's no-fuss eveningwear stands out in the film, and in the words of our commerce writer Florrie Alexander, "I think about the yellow dress in that film at least once a week."

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6. FRAZZLED ENGLISHWOMAN: BRIDGET JONES, BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY

Style Notes: It was Bridget Jones who TikTok had in mind when it coined the "Frazzled British woman" aesthetic. And whilst the mildly offensive phrase does imply that single British women above a certain age possess a chaotic energy that most actually don't, it does conjure up an image of the exact trope we can find in any Richard Curtis rom-com. She's practical, dresses in a hurry and doesn't bother with superfluous styling, but you can imagine that she carries a massive handbag and is more likely to sport a block heel than a stiletto, but isn't that why we love her? And despite the big coats and cardigans, there's still a playful mini or two in the mix. No, skirt is not off sick. 

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7. COQUETTE: JOSIE GELLER, NEVER BEEN KISSED

Style Notes: There are a lot of truly bonkers outfits in Never Been Kissed, but most of these happen when lead character Josie Geller is first attempting to masquerade as a 17-year-old. As soon as she becomes confident in her own skin and stops trying so hard (cue the character development moment), her wardrobe shifts from Y2K excess to a romantic, floral dream. All of the coquette signposts are there: bows, pastels, cardigans and chiffon; and this palette cleanser is a welcome relief after all those white feathers and pedal pushers. All this girl needs is a Lana Del Ray soundtrack and she could have stepped straight out of a TikTok tutorial. 

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8. PREPPY ACADEMIA: CHER, TAI AND DIONNE, CLUELESS

Style Notes: And finally to the poster girls for movie-outfit inspo, the cast of 1995's Clueless. Their look has indeed been copied and pasted relentlessly since the film's release, but thanks to a new generation discovering it for the very first time, a revived love for preppy chic has been trending on socials. Add a Gossip Girl reboot, Miu Miu runway references and a dash of the Hadid sisters, and you've brought the look bang up to date. And before you think "Ugh, as if!" at the thought of a wardrobe influenced by American schoolgirls, if you own a pair of Prada loafers, a Ganni tank top or a waistcoat from The Frankie Shop, you may have already been convinced. 

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Next Up: I'm Looking for a Coat That's Classy, Cosy and Will Make Me Look Rich—This Is It