Almost Famous: Why is the style of 2000s indie film still relevant and resonant?

Article Written by Henry Empson

“It’s all happening”

 I’ll never forget the first time I watched the film that would become my firm favourite for years to come. The enticement, excitement, and sense of envy. The world of 70s rock, debauched parties and unbeatable music radiated off the screen with inexplicable splendour, and the carefully selected outfits and nonconformist style of the characters are what made the film so appealing, and so timeless.

There have been countless articles over the years that attempt to deconstruct the ‘Almost Famous Style’, a look so distinct and distinguished yet somewhat hard to explain. It isn’t simply rock n roll attire, nor your classic 70s style, but a somewhat fusion of these and the 90s style from when the film was written and filmed. Perhaps it's the way in which this style is observed, looking equally fascinating in a cliché suburban high school party to a brash New York hotel suite. It’s also about the messiness of the characters, wearing the same clothes from a rock concert to an afterparty and back on the tour bus the following morning, all whilst looking satisfyingly chic.

Harry Styles’ latest campaign look in the Gucci S/S21 collection.

A recent article in Esquire compared Harry Styles’s look in the latest Gucci campaign to the style of the film. The fact that 21 years after the film’s release, the costumes of a film that’s not exactly widely known are still being referenced in high fashion really says something to me. Moreover, it seems that today in an era of so much restriction and political intensity, the liberating style of the film and its characters is particularly appealing. Harry Styles being referenced is the pinnacle of this, a man who has undeniably defied the norms of gender and sexuality in fashion being clearly linked to the decadence of this film. The fur-lined coat is a distinguishable reference to the most intriguing character of the film, Penny Lane.

Penny Lane in Almost Famous, played by Kate Hudson

Penny Lane was either your sexual awakening, role model, or both. A so-called ‘band-aid’ with a playfully ambiguous age and background who follows the band Stillwater on their tour and falls into an unsettling relationship with one of the band members, Penny Lane is a character with an energy so unbelievably unique. Growing old with the film, I see her in a completely different light to my younger self. With the same intensity that I used to find her the coolest and most carefree character, I now really feel sympathy for the tumultuous journey she endures and the underlying sense that she is lost. The coat fits both interpretations masterfully. In the same way the coat is a statement of confidence and independence, it doubles a sense of shelter and warmth for Penny in these turbulent times of trouble.

The genius of this style is down to the incredible and sadly underrated Betsy Heimann, the costume designer of the film who made most of these statement garments by hand. The intelligent depths of these outfits is endless. Penny Lane’s fur coat takes niche inspiration from 1920s opera coats that were longer at the back than the front and was given the radiant cream colour to concoct a continued sense that she is literally glowing. Even more impressively is the fact that Heimann made this coat out of a rug and some leftover pieces of fabric, a wildly inspiring achievement. Whilst it is debated whether Penny Lane is a firm feminist character or a tiresome misogynistic portrayal of flimsy femininity, the coat gives her an undeniable boldness and elegance that is oddly empowering. This is emphasised alone by the fact that this type of coat how now been robustly coined as a ‘Penny Lane Coat’, a term which can be found to display similar versions on a multitude of fashion sites, from Selfridges to Depop. The juxtaposition of the niche and specific coat with the simple everyday Levi 501s adds a sense of relatability to Penny Lane, making her style somewhat more achievable for watchers.

Moreover, the thrift store aesthetic of the film has further touched a trend of today’s style. As the focus on sustainability in fashion becomes increasingly precedent, especially within young people, the aesthetic portrayal of mismatched used clothing in Almost Famous is an inspiring glimpse into how we would all love to dress. Nothing about the characters is polished nor coordinated, but colour clash is just a myth - right? Band-aid Sapphire (played by Fairuza Balk) perfectly encompasses this look. Perhaps the most hedonistic character in the film, Sapphire’s zero shit-giving approach to life is reflected in her magnificently muddled wardrobe choice. The pictured look above shows her wearing wide-leg flares and a colourful feather coat with an assortment of necklaces and bracelets. The bohemian look she inhibits is wonderfully timeless and although quite distinctly 70s, it is an outfit that you will see mimicked at music festivals and gigs when they eventually reopen. But the look is also perfectly fitting with Sapphire’s character, the coat has an almost childish nature about it, reflective of the young age of these band-aids, as well as a gypsy-like quality which is pertinent for a character who is constantly moving around and with an ambiguous home life. Such free spirited outfits make the styles of this film timeless and consistently represented in popular culture and fashion, if you haven’t yet watched Almost Famous - you really must.