Parker Posey’s Most Fashionable On-Screen Moments Inline
Photo: Everett Collection1/7Mary, Party Girl
As a crash course in ’90s fashion, you can’t do better than Party Girl. Mary’s club-ready wardrobe is filled with nearly every hit that has since cycled back into relevance. The leopard-print furs, colorful tights, and chunky heels that serve to contrast her from the typical librarian wouldn’t look out of place on any Generation X Tumblr post. As she matures into a more responsible employee, she trades her sparkly hot pants for pussy-bow blouses—but doesn’t ditch the leopard.
Photo: Alamy2/7Jackie-O Pascal, The House of Yes
A character obsessed with Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis required pearls, little black dresses, and a perfectly coiffed bob. The further Jacqueline descends into madness, the eerier the wardrobe becomes, with costume designer Edi Giguere creating a replica of the famous pink Chanel suit and pillbox hat for her final breakdown.
Photo: Alamy3/7Darla, Dazed and Confused
As Darla—head cheerleader and hazing enthusiast—Posey provided Richard Linklater’s tribute to the late ’70s with some of its most quotable moments. Her era-appropriate short shorts and bright red earrings are an inspiration to mean girls everywhere.
Photo: Courtesy of Jason Rail / @nosajliar4/7Brandi, The Doom Generation
As one of the ultimate style-over-substance cinema experiences, The Doom Generation is heavy on sex, violence, and kitsch. As Brandi, Posey takes on one of her weirdest guises, complete with a lopsided blonde wig, heart-shaped sunglasses, and a samurai sword. The film has gone on to be referenced in music videos, fashion editorials, and more.
Photo: Everett Collection5/7Meg Swan, Best in Show
As a parody of yuppie-dom, Meg (the Weimaraner owner played by Posey) is perfect. Her Starbucks addiction, devotion to both L.L.Bean and J.Crew catalogs, and adult braces make her familiar yet slightly off-kilter. The blandness of her wardrobe—tonal beige, office-appropriate gray blazers—is used to highlight a variety of her neuroses, all of which rise to the surface during a climactic scene when she loses her pet’s favorite toy.
Photo: Alamy6/7Mary Boone, Basquiat
As gallerist Mary Boone, Posey took on a character with her own storied fashion history. Carrying off Boone’s 1980s power suits and her commanding persona, Posey embodied the art world icon’s signature look.
Photo: Getty Images7/7Rad Taylor, Café Society
As modeling agency owner Rad Taylor, Posey is among the figures at the center of Woody Allen’s 1930s-set drama, providing an eclectic take on glamour that differs from Kristen Stewart’s innocent secretary and Blake Lively’s siren socialite. With her platinum curls, layers of beads, and festive hats, it’s hard to take your eyes off Rad—even in a film filled to the brim with 1940s fashions courtesy of costume designer Suzy Benzinger.
