Vogue оценил 24 культовых трансформаций героинь в кино

The SubstancePhoto: Courtesy of Everett Collection Save this story Save this story Is there anything cheesier, sillier, more fabulous, more energizing, more life-affirming than a good old-fashioned Hollywood trope makeover montage? For as long as films have been made, comedies and rom-coms love to take a leading star (often dour or plain) and give them a splashy new look—sometimes when they desperately need it, other times when they seriously don’t. But no matter what the result serves us, you can’t deny it’s highly entertaining to watch someone go from an ugly duckling (however the movie defines that) to a beautiful swan. But not all transformations are equal! Some are well-done—others are lazy. Vogue is looking back on 24 iconic movie makeovers and rating them on a scale from 1 (bad) to 5 (good). What constitutes a good movie makeover, you ask? Well, for one—and this may seem painfully obvious—the “after” needs to give us something dramatically different. Give us some production value! Remember when they just…took Rachael Leigh Cook’s glasses off in She’s All That? Boo—that earns it a low ranking in our eyes. When Halle Berry morphed from Patience Phillips into Catwoman in the 2004 flick, however? Her all-leather outfit was a far cry from the shy wardrobe worn by timid Phillips; in other words, it was a top-tier transformation. A good movie makeover also needs to have a clear impetus. A well-done one will show a character going through a dynamic physical change, not just for aesthetic appeal but to move the plot forward. For instance, when Gracie—a tough-as-nails FBI agent— poses undercover as a beauty pageant contestant in Miss Congeniality, she’s not only getting a makeover but also going undercover to get her job done and to solve the crime at hand. The transformations do not need to be particularly ethical, either. We’re basing our decisions purely on how enjoyable it is to watch, rather than how good it ends up being for the characters. In The Devil Wears Prada, for example, Andy turns into a Chanel-clad fashionista not only to fit in with the Clackers but also to show how she loses herself and her identity in the process. But she looks fab so…. In 2023’s Priscilla, meanwhile, the jet black bouffant and heavy winged liner worn by Priscilla Presley isn’t just a visual vibe; it also represents how she was controlled by Elvis and often treated like his own personal Barbie doll. These are makeovers with purpose, people! Now that we’ve laid out the parameters, it’s time to sit back, scroll, and read on for our definitive rankings. Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection 1/24 She’s All That (1999) The premise: Rachael Leigh Cook’s character, Laney Boggs, is given a makeover after Freddie Prinze Jr.’s Zack Siler, a popular jock, accepts a bet that he can turn her into—gasp!—the school’s prom queen. The execution: The problem is that Cook is objectively beautiful to begin with. The film tries to convince us otherwise, putting her in glasses and paint-splattered overalls and deeming her quirky and bookish. Then, when she emerges in a red dress with her hair down and contacts in—voilà! A star is born, as though she were a hideous monster before. Final rating: 1 out of 5 glasses. The styling? Lazy. The innovation? Nonexistent. Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection 2/24 The House Bunny (2008) The premise: The women of Zeta Alpha Zeta—a sorority made up of socially awkward geeks—meet their new house mother, Shelley (played by the amazing Anna Faris), a former Playboy Bunny. With Shelley’s help, the girls all undergo makeovers to gain popularity and attract enough new pledges to save their sorority house. The execution: The girls’ makeovers are pretty standard when it comes to Hollywood makeovers: They’re for the male gaze. This means hair extensions, more makeup, and tighter clothes. None of the girls’ individual styles or personalities are taken into account, though they do decorate one sorority sister’s back brace with jewels. Why not! Final rating: 3 out of 5 hair extensions. Sure, it’s not the most innovative makeover, but the group does look pretty good afterward. Plus, at the end of the movie, they go through the whole realization that their looks don’t really matter. Good for them. Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection 3/24 Clueless (1995) The premise: When Tai, the new girl at school, makes friends with Cher and Dionne, she must undergo a makeover to hang with the popular crew. Bring in the blow-dryer and eye shadow! The execution: First, Cher and Dionne wash out Tai’s hot red, Kool-Aid-dyed hair. Then, they put her in cute little miniskirts and force her to work out. Sure, Cher gets tight white Calvin Klein dresses and Alaïa coats—but Tai seems to get her hand-me-downs. Final rating: 2.5 out of 5 Calvin Klein dresses. Cher and Dionne had good intentions in wanting Tai to look her best, but they didn’t have to go and make her a carbon copy of them! Plus, they totally end up creating a monster, as Tai’s newfound popularity goes right to her head. Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection 4/24 Catwoman (2004) The premise: Okay, I know what you’re thinking: You chose this Catwoman to review? But hear me out: Halle Berry’s transformation from the shy Patience Phillips to the fiery, sexy Catwoman is the only good part of the movie. So let’s give it the moment it deserves, okay? The execution: When Patience embraces her feline instincts, she emerges in a skintight leather outfit, complete with a mask, gloves, and matching whip. One of the only parts of the movie I remember is when she cuts and bleaches her hair, applies lipstick, and hops on a motorcycle ready to kick some ass. A makeover with purpose! Final rating: 4 out of 5 whips. I’m not saying the movie is 4 out of 5 stars; I’m saying the makeover is. You can’t deny that Berry’s Catwoman is fierce. Meow. Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection 5/24 Jawbreaker (1999) The premise: When Fern discovers that her popular high school classmates Courtney, Julie, and Marcie accidentally killed their friend Liz (long story—it involves a jawbreaker), she is brought into the crew and given a makeover to fit in. The execution: As part of the popular crew, Fern suddenly becomes Vylette: She’s given a new name, blonde hair, and a killer new wardrobe in various shades of purple. Overnight, the school becomes infatuated with her, even though she’s literally been in their math class this whole time. Final rating: 2.5 out of 5 jawbreakers. Vylette looks great, but this isn’t very original. Blonde equals popular is an overdone trope. But still would kill for her closet. Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection 6/24 Grease (1978) The premise: At the end of this classic movie musical, Sandy channels her inner greaser girl and shows newfound confidence in the process. Her style transformation is also largely about dressing to impress her guy, Danny, who is also a greaser. The execution: Sandy, whose style is more preppy than edgy, iconically changes into a skintight top, trousers, and leather jacket for the final number. (Her hair also gets bigger and curlier.) It’s a dramatic switch-up that makes me want to say “ooh, ooh, ooh!” Final rating: 4 out of 5 moto jackets. This is what a Hollywood makeover should be: dramatic, jaw-dropping, memorable. It also feels like she doesn’t lose herself in the look—she totally owns it. Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection 7/24 Cinderella (1997) The premise: We all know the classic Cinderella story: Her Fairy Godmother waves her magical wand and suddenly the humble Cinderella becomes a princess in a tiara and gown who’s ready to go to the ball to meet her prince. The execution: Cinderella, played by Brandy in this amazing TV movie, looks like a true princess in her blue off-the-shoulder gown, satin gloves, and sparkling tiara. (The look nods to the 1950 animated film.) It’s a stark difference from the ragged, worn clothes she wears before her transformation—and showcases her true inner and outer beauty. Final rating: 4 out of 5 tiaras. What can I say? I’m a sucker for a tiara. It's giving opulence. Drama. Regal. Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection 8/24 Freaky Friday (2003) The premise: Overworked mother Tess switches bodies with her guitar-playing daughter, Anna. When Anna wakes up in Tess’s body, she decides to give her a grungier makeover, to better match her own edgy style. The execution: After cutting her hair shorter and spikier, she slips into a groovy velvet dress with tall, heeled boots. It’s a really cool, chic look; Stevie Nicks would be proud. Final rating: 3 out of 5 Stevie Nicks shawls. It’s not that dramatic a makeover—new dress, new hair—but it’s Tess’s newfound confidence and attitude that really sells it for me. Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection 9/24 Mean Girls (2004) The premise: Cady decides to infiltrate the Plastics—Regina, Gretchen, and Karen—and become one of the popular girls as part of a scheme with her friends. She must follow all their new style rules: On Wednesdays, they wear pink. The execution: At first, Cady struggles with the idea of a makeover. She borrows her friend Damian’s pink polo shirt on Wednesdays. But as the film progresses, Cady’s skirts get shorter and pink begins to dominate her closet. She gets lost in her sick little experiment and actually becomes a cold, shiny, hard Plastic. Final rating: 3.5 out of 5 Burn Books. Her makeover made for a cute Y2K moment. In the end, though, she realizes it’s all so superficial and embraces her inner mathlete by showing up to the Spring Fling in a Mathletes jacket. Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection 10/24 Maid in Manhattan (2002) The premise: Jennifer Lopez portrays a hotel maid who falls in love with a wealthy senatorial candidate who is staying at her hotel. He mistakes her for a socialite, and she must then keep up the charade by dressing the part. The execution: Lopez serves some delicious looks, including an all-white look with a trench coat. But it’s the scene where she shows up to The Met in a strapless chiffon gown and hefty jewels that continues to take my breath away. Final rating: 4 out of 5 hotel keys. It’s definitely a stereotype to suggest that maids can’t have style, but Lopez’s transformation into a glamorous socialite—with the closet to match—is entertainment at its finest. Hang that dress in The Met! Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection 11/24 Pretty Woman (1990) The premise: Vivian, a sex worker, meets Edward, a wealthy businessman, and they fall for each other. Trying to bridge the gap between their two very different worlds, Vivian undergoes a dramatic makeover (which leads to that famous shopping trip scene: “Big mistake. Big. Huge!”). The execution: Vivian’s biggest transformation reveal is when she emerges in a red off-the-shoulder evening dress designed by costume designer Marilyn Vance. Edward then places some spellbinding jewels around her neck. It’s a far cry from the thigh-high boots and denim cutoffs we first meet Vivian in. Final rating: 4 out of 5 diamond necklaces. This is a classic makeover if I ever saw one—a true rags-to-riches story. Plus, when Vivian returns to a snooty store that once refused her service? That’s delicious revenge right there: She gets bonus points for that. Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection 12/24 Last Holiday (2006) The premise: After learning she has a terminal illness (which she eventually finds out she does not have), Georgia Byrd heads out on the trip of a lifetime. Having spent her whole life living frugally, she decides to blow all her hard-earned cash. Her spending spree includes a makeover with tons of fancy clothes, duh! The execution: Georgia heads into a snobby boutique near her hotel and says, “Make me international.” They dress her in splashy fur coats, elegant evening gowns, and Gucci-monogrammed shades. Georgia transforms from a wallflower to a red-hot siren. Final rating: 4.5 out of 5 fur coats. This movie makeover is about more than just aesthetics. It’s about Georgia finally giving herself what she deserves and owning the confidence—and style—she’d never fully embraced. I still get teary-eyed when I see her show up at the hotel restaurant in her red gown. Chic! Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection 13/24 The Stepford Wives (2004) The premise: Joanna, a New York TV executive, moves to the Connecticut suburb of Stepford, where the housewives are perfectly manicured and completely devoted to their husbands. (Spoiler: She soon finds out the wives the wives have been implanted with nanochips that program them to be submissive to their men.) At the end of the film, Joanna undergoes the classic Stepford makeover—pretty dresses, big hair, bigger heels—to trick them all. The execution: Joanna, who at first wears all black like a true New Yorker, plays the part of a Stepford wife well. We see her emerge in a grocery store with coiffed blonde hair, a strapless evening gown, and heels. I know she’s meant to look like a superficial Barbie, but we have to admit, she looks good. Final rating: 3.5 out of 5 egg cartons. Listen, I get it: Her makeover is more of a statement about how Stepford women are treated like dolls. Her new look is not true to who she is—blah, blah, blah. She simply gets bonus points for making buying milk look glamorous. Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection 14/24 Mulan (2020) The premise: It’s the classic Disney tale we all know and love: Hua Mulan steps in to take the place of her ailing father, an honored warrior, by masquerading as a man. (Spoiler: She totally kicks butt as a warrior.) Consider this one more of a make-under, in the best way possible. The execution: For her meeting with the matchmaker, she’s in elaborate, feminine attire with heavy makeup. But when she becomes a male warrior, her look is rougher and raw: She wears military armor over a red tunic, with her hair pulled into a topknot. Final rating: 4 out of 5 swords. Mulan must do what is necessary to save her family and country. Is it sad she has to pretend to be a man in order to fight and be taken seriously? Absolutely. But she does so with extreme flair, and that’s badass. Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection 15/24 My Fair Lady (1964) The premise: A phonetics professor takes on the challenge of transforming a Cockney, working-class flower seller into a fabulous high-society lady (an easy feat considering she's played by Audrey Hepburn). This comes with speaking lessons and elaborate costumes, of course. The execution: This is one of the earliest—and best—movie makeovers on this list. Hepburn trades in Eliza’s shabby clothes and battered hat for giant feathered hats and elaborate gowns. The transformation is one of the movie’s best moments: dramatic, over the top, and absurd. Final rating: 4 out of 5 feathered hats. This is a glow-up if I’ve ever seen one. Sure, her new look is totally costume-y and impractical—but it’s a makeover. You simply can’t take your eyes off the new-and-improved Eliza. Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection 16/24 Cruella (2021) The premise: Estella is determined to make it in the fashion world and starts working for the fashion legend Baroness von Hellman. Soon, though, she embraces her inner wicked side and becomes the revenge-bent Cruella, who is out for the Baroness’s crown. The execution: Cruella is a notoriously high-fashion character, and Estella’s transformation into her certainly doesn’t let you down. She wears many couture-worthy looks of her own design, including a cloak that she sets on fire to reveal a gown underneath. Final rating: 5 out of 5 matches. This is the level of drama we expect—no, demand—from a movie makeover. Each ensemble Cruella wears is more elaborate than the last, right down to the two-tone hair and bold makeup. Sorry, Dalmatians, we have to side with Cruella on her new look. Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection 17/24 Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) The premise: Divorced dad Daniel (the iconic Robin Williams) must pose as an older nanny, Mrs. Doubtfire, in order to spend more time with his kids. Creepy? Yes—but the sentiment is there. The execution: Daniel enlists his brother, a makeup artist, to transform him into Mrs. Doubtfire: The end result includes a curled gray wig, extensive facial prosthetics, a padded bodysuit, fake teeth, stockings, and more. Final rating: 5 out of 5 prosthetic noses. This is pure dedication to the end look. Unlike a She’s All That makeover, where they simply remove a pair of glasses, every inch of Daniel’s appearance has been transformed. And it’s all for a good, heartwarming cause. Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection 18/24 The Devil Wears Prada (2006) The premise: Andy, an aspiring journalist who wants to do serious work, takes a job with Miranda Priestly at the fashion magazine Runway and must play the part of a fashionista if she wants to excel at work. This means a classic movie makeover, where she slips into designer clothes, gets a blowout, and loses herself in the process. The execution: Andy emerges in the Runway office in her new look: The iconic Chanel outfit includes a blazer, tweed skirt, and leather thigh-high boots. “Are you wearing the—” asks her snobby co-assistant Emily. “The Chanel boots? Yeah, I am,” Andy quips. Final rating: 4 out of 5 Chanel boots. Andy’s makeover is not only a visual feast but also moves the plot along and showcases how she begins to lose herself and what she stands for while working at Runway. If you could own those Chanel boots, wouldn’t you risk it all, too? Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection 19/24 Miss Congeniality (2000) The premise: Gracie, a no-nonsense undercover FBI agent, must pose as a Miss United States pageant contestant when the competition faces a terrorist threat. Lacking refinement and femininity, she must learn the art of being poised, put together, and dressed up at all times. The execution: The movie features a whole montage in which Gracie is plucked, waxed, dyed, and made over by a professional glam crew—which, for some reason, is assembled in an airport hangar. She emerges wearing a skintight dress, her perfectly coiffed hair blowing in the wind in slow motion. Final rating: 4 out of 5 wind machines. Even though she trips during her epic slow-motion walk, Gracie still looks totally amazing. We all want to emerge to “Mustang Sally” like her, as a crew of people looks on in awe. Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection 20/24 The Princess Diaries (2001) The premise: Mia Thermopolis, a shy teen, learns that she is the heir to the throne of Genovia and must quickly familiarize herself with how to conduct herself like a princess. (It helps when your grandmother is the regal Julie Andrews.) The execution: Mia’s frizzy hair is blown straight, her eyebrows are plucked, and her glasses are removed (a classic movie makeover detail). She also learns how to sit properly—with one ankle tucked behind the other—and to stand up straight (walking with books on your head helps). Final rating: 3.5 out of 5 hairbrushes. This is an iconic makeover, but if you sit down to think about it, it’s a tad lazy, no? All they did was properly dry her hair and remove her glasses. Though I guess her whole attitude revamp earns her an extra point. She ends up poised and regal, as she should be! The premise: Elphaba (the future Wicked Witch of the West) and Galinda (Glinda the Good) become unlikely roommates while enrolled at Shiz University. During the musical’s famous “Popular” number, Galinda makes it her personal mission to give Elphaba a makeover. The execution: Galinda sings, “I'll show you what shoes to wear! How to fix your hair!” But her “makeover” during the number really only involves removing Elphaba's glasses, letting her hair down, and putting a pink flower behind her ear. Final rating: 2 out of 5 broomsticks. I know the heart of the story is that Elphaba doesn’t need a makeover (we should accept her for who she is!), but if Galinda really wanted to make her over, I feel like she could do more than just…remove her specs. Courtesy Everett Collection 22/24 Priscilla (2023) The premise: Sofia Coppola reimagines the relationship between Priscilla Beaulieu (Cailee Spaeny) and rock-and-roll legend Elvis Presley (Jacob Elordi), following them from meet-cute to Graceland and beyond. The execution: When they move in together at Graceland, Elvis wants to give Priscilla a new look—encouraging her to choose new mod clothes, dye her hair jet-black, and wear heavy eye makeup. (A full team of stylists and beauty assistants help her do it, naturally.) Final rating: 4 out of 5 bouffants. The makeover scene is a crucial plot point for them, showing how Elvis often treated Priscilla like his own personal doll. Plus, with that sky-high bouffant and winged liner, Cailee Spaeny is a dead ringer for Priscilla Presley. Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection 23/24 The Substance (2024) The premise: A fading 50-year-old workout guru named Elisabeth Sparkle (Demi Moore) turns to a black-market drug in order to create a younger, more perfect version of herself.. That manifests as Sue (Margaret Qualley) emerging from her back, and they must switch places every seven days. The execution: This is not your traditional movie makeover sequence: Sue emerges out of Elizabeth's back in a grotesque body-splitting sequence. But looking in the mirror, Sue is undeniably fresh-faced and flawless. She later leans into the youthful vibe by wearing skintight leotards in bright, commanding hues. Final rating: 4 out of 5 Substance vials. The whole makeover really drives the point of the film home—that women are constantly scrutinized and forced into a never-ending quest for beauty. But we won't give it 5 stars because, well, it's hard to make over a legend like Demi Moore. Photo: Courtesy of Everett Collection 24/24 Do Revenge (2022) The premise: A disgraced high school It girl, Drea (Camila Mendes), teams up with an awkward new transfer student, Eleanor (Maya Hawke), to target each other’s tormentors. The execution: Drea takes Eleanor on a big shopping spree, picking the most Barbie-worthy pieces for her so that she can fit into their high school's elite clique. She emerges in a head-to-toe lilac fit, complete with a matching…beret. Final rating: 4.5 out of 5 berets. This has all the makings of a classic Hollywood makeover scene: Shopping! Glamming! A dramatic reveal! If you're going to do a makeover, give us all the campy cheesiness—and this film nailed it. Listen to The Run-Through with Vogue, a weekly podcast featuring the most exciting stories and hot takes from the worlds of culture, politics, sports and–of course–fashion The Vogue Runway app has expanded! Update to the latest version to see all Vogue content, as well as new features like our Runway Genius quiz, Group Chats, and posts from Vogue contributors. Become a Vogue Business Member! Join today to gain access to our latest series ‘Fashion’s Real Reset Starts Now’. The ultimate resource for fashion and beauty industry professionals. Explore the Runway Image Archive where you can access over 1.2 million runway images from past and present fashion shows. Christian Allaire is the Senior Fashion and Style Writer at Vogue, where he covers celebrity style, red carpet fashion, trends, emerging designers, and more. He is particularly passionate about championing Indigenous stories and artists—a niche that reflects his own Ojibwe heritage, hailing from Nipissing First Nation in Canada. He regularly ... Read More