From Scarface to Cruel intentions, we look back at some of the most iconic underwear moments in film.
In some of the most erotic films, the lingerie can be as memorable as the dialogue—and the sex. Lingerie is a fun investment, and although it’s been associated with male gazey politics, not all of us are only into men. And besides, it’s like what Betsey Johnson once said: “Girls do not dress for boys. They dress for themselves and, of course, each other. If girls dressed for boys they’d just walk around naked at all times.”
Here, we look back at what some of our favorite femme fatales and Women Who Show Men How to Make Love wore to get down.
1. Sarah Michelle Gellar in Cruel Intentions
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Sarah Michelle Gellar’s performance as Kathryn Merteuil in Cruel Intentions is pure evil (and semi-incestuous) in her lace-push up bras, and her bustiers that are reminiscent of the infamous Madonna bullet bra. She looks like she has a sex dungeon and an array of paddles and leather crops ready to flog the next willing candidate. Since S&M is very in right now, it’s not a bad idea to take advantage of the fetish aesthetic, and go for a darker boudoir look. Who knows—the bustier will bring out your sadistic side.
2. Michelle Pfeiffer in Scarface
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Michelle Pfeiffer, smoking and looking moody in her satin slip in Scarface, is definitely an iconic underwear moment. If you have smaller tits, meaning that you don’t need to utlize an orthapedic level underwire to hold your boobs up, then you should definitely be wearing a slinky slip that hangs loosly off your chest and swishes when you walk—it’s just the best. It’s also nice to have a slip that doubles as a dress, like a floor length nightgown, that you can wear with heels.
3. Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge
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Not really a surprise that sex workers have the best taste in lingerie—both IRL and on screen. Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge embodies the vintage boudoir look. For this look, stockings are a must. To get that curvy silhouette, try a bodysuit with boning.
4. Katherine Deneuve in Belle De Jour
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No sex worker ever looked as classy or as chic as Katherine Deneuve in Belle de Jour, in her wardrobe designed by YSL. For a good portion of the film, you can watch her being really dramatic in a full set of white lingerie. I actually recently got a set of white lingerie, and it’s fun because you feel sort of angelic while you’re being bad. Also, just to note an important piece of underwear information that I learned recently: when you’re wearing a garter belt, put the undies on over top of the garter, so that you can pull of underwear but fuck with the garter still on, ya know what I mean?
4. Natalie Portman in Closer
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Can I look like this every day? Natalie Portman, who plays a stripper in Closer, reminds us that not all lingerie needs to either be about looking like you just crawled out of a dungen, or about playing the “innocent angel.” Some nights it’s valid to just look like an alien at a rave with a sparkling vagina. Also, if you’re going to go for it with lingerie, sometimes it’s fun to just take it close to the level of parody. Remember, you’re dressing up.
By Karley and Kristen
This post was brought to you in collaboration with Orchard Mile