How 'Clueless' Used Costumes to Create its Characters

The 1995 comedy's fashion choices defined its wealthy Beverly Hills teen characters.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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The 1995 comedy film "Clueless" has endured as a beloved classic, in part due to its memorable costume design by Mona May. The film's director, Amy Heckerling, worked closely with May to create a vibrant, California-inspired color palette and stylish but age-appropriate outfits that visually defined the wealthy teenage characters and their journeys. May had to be inventive with a limited budget, drawing from thrift shops and mall stores to craft over 60 looks for lead actress Alicia Silverstone. The costumes not only reflected the characters' personalities but also evolved alongside them, serving as visual metaphors for their growth.

Why it matters

"Clueless" was a rare Hollywood hit centered on young women, and its costume design played a crucial role in establishing the film's identity and appeal. The costumes helped make the characters relatable to young viewers, even those not in the same income bracket, by reflecting their struggles with identity and finding their place in the world. The film's influence can be seen in later fashion-forward movies, and its costume design is still widely praised decades later.

The details

Costume designer Mona May worked closely with director Amy Heckerling to create a vibrant, California-inspired color palette and stylish but age-appropriate outfits for the wealthy teenage characters in "Clueless." May had to be inventive with a limited budget, drawing from thrift shops and mall stores to craft over 60 looks for lead actress Alicia Silverstone's character, Cher. The costumes not only reflected the characters' personalities but also evolved alongside them, serving as visual metaphors for their growth and journeys.

  • "Clueless" was released in 1995.
  • The film is now 30 years old.

The players

Amy Heckerling

The director of "Clueless" who previously directed the teen comedy "Fast Times at Ridgemont High." She worked closely with costume designer Mona May to create the film's distinctive visual style.

Mona May

The costume designer for "Clueless" who was tasked with creating stylish but age-appropriate outfits for the wealthy teenage characters on a limited budget. She collaborated extensively with director Amy Heckerling and is the author of the book "The Fashion of Clueless."

Alicia Silverstone

The lead actress in "Clueless" who played the character of Cher, whose 63 costume changes were designed by Mona May.

Brittany Murphy

The actress who played the character of Tai in "Clueless" and worked closely with costume designer Mona May to establish her character's evolving look.

Kelsey Moore

A doctoral candidate in film and media studies at UC Santa Barbara who will speak with costume designer Mona May about the role of costumes in "Clueless" after a screening of the film.

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What they’re saying

“Each character's journey, and how they view the world, is reflected in the outfits Mona puts them in.”

— Kelsey Moore, Doctoral candidate in film and media studies at UC Santa Barbara (edhat.com)

“'Clueless' was an incredible opportunity for a young designer. I met Amy Heckerling on another project, a television pilot we did together about two young girls in New York City. We really connected creatively. We found we had the same sensibility.”

— Mona May, Costume designer for "Clueless" (edhat.com)

“The late Brittany Murphy (who played the role) was 17 at the time, but she was a very old soul. I remember her telling me 'Mona, I don't want to look good when I first arrive at the school.'”

— Mona May, Costume designer for "Clueless" (edhat.com)

What’s next

Kelsey Moore will speak with costume designer Mona May after a free screening of "Clueless" on January 31 in the Pollock Theater on the UC Santa Barbara campus.

The takeaway

"Clueless" remains a beloved classic in part due to its innovative costume design, which not only reflected the wealthy teenage characters' personalities but also visually charted their journeys and growth. The film's fashion influence can still be seen in later movies, proving the power of using costumes to create memorable characters.