White Christmas (1954)

Although White Christmas is set in the postwar 1950s, its fashion is heavily influenced by 1940s trends. The film’s wardrobe reflects the elegance and practicality of the late ‘40s while also showcasing the glamour associated with Hollywood musicals.

White Christmas’s unique and iconic fashion is thanks to world-renowned costume designer Edith Head. She is considered the most decorated female costume designer in the history of film, winning eight Academy Awards for Best Costume Design between the years 1949 and 1973. During the Golden Age of Hollywood, it was common for designers to create pieces based on their own style and taste. Head strayed from this tradition in White Christmas, believing that costumes should reflect the film’s character, not the designer’s.

Besides its star-studded cast—Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen—the musical is best known for its vibrant and lavish costumes. Head skillfully used materials and textures to elevate the many dance scenes throughout the film. Vera-Ellen’s dancing dresses feature layers of tulle and chiffon, adding movement and fluidity popular in Hollywood dance costumes of the era.

Many of the outfits in White Christmas retain the structured, feminine silhouettes that defined 1940s fashion. The fitted bodices and A-line skirts worn by Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen reflect the lingering influence of wartime styles when people relied heavily on utilitarian cuts. However, in postwar times, skirts became fuller, and fabrics like velvet and satin reemerged, as seen in the lavish evening gowns and performance costumes.

White Christmas is an important film in cinematic and fashion history. It masterfully blends whimsical scenes, elegant fashion, and vital commentary on the political climate of the time.

By Abby Fulmar, who wrote this article as a study abroad student on the BA Magazine Journalism & Publishing course at London College of Communication