This month saw the release of Christopher Nolan’s new film adaptation of The Odyssey. The film follows Homer’s ancient Greek poem of the same name, which tells the tale of King Odysseus’ journey home to Ithaca after the fall of Troy. It is one of the biggest film releases this year, but it’s not just film buffs that this movie has in a chokehold, but the fashion world too.
It’s no secret that movies have influenced fashion trends since the dawn of film. Just in the past few years alone, we have seen an influx of pink thanks to Barbie, a resurgence of 1960s retro fashion traced back to the release of Priscilla, and, let’s not forget, 2024’s Challengers, which reignited the world’s love of tenniscore. So, is this a sign that The Odyssey is bringing ancient Greek fashion back?
The truth is fashion has been reimagining and taking inspiration from Grecian silhouettes for centuries. Sculpted bodices, layers, draping, and intricate pleating can all be traced back to ancient Greek styles.
It was in the early 20th-Century that Paul Poiret helped spearhead the movement away from women only wearing corsets, taking inspiration from Greek chitons to create loosely draped garments. While designer Mariano Fortuny created the Delphos gown in 1909, named after the ancient bronze statue The Charioteer of Delphi. The gown is made of delicately pleated silk and is considered a landmark in the history of fashion.
More recently, Grecian dress has inspired runway collections of some of the biggest designers of the last few decades. Lee McQueen’s couture debut for Givenchy Spring 1997 was titled the “Search for the Golden Fleece” and inspired by Greek mythology. The colour palette consisted of white and gold, with draping fit for a Greek Goddess. Draping has also appeared heavily in the collections of Loewe by Jonathan Anderson, Pieter Mulier’s Alaïa and Daniel Roseberry at Schiaparelli. Maria Grazia Chiuri’s first couture collection for Fendi was influenced by Greek silhouettes, while Di Petsa’s Spring 2024 show told the story of Aphrodite.
Givenchy Couture Spring 1997, Di Petsa Spring 2024
Then we have the 2026 Met Gala, which was themed around the relationship between clothes and the human body. We saw armour-like sculptural bodices on looks worn by Hailey Bieber, Yseult, and Kendall and Kylie Jenner.
Of course, it is likely that the hype surrounding The Odyssey will naturally have us dusting off a pair of gladiator sandals circa 2010. One look at Zendaya’s press tour looks has already confirmed that. Zendaya, who plays Athena in The Odyssey and who is frankly the G.O.A.T when it comes to method dressing, has worn several looks referencing the Grecian aesthetic.
Images Courtesy of Zak Hussein/Variety via Getty Images and Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
From her beaded Schiaparelli gown to a white mini dress by Alberta Ferretti and the stunning Matières Fécales feathered dress complete with fantastical wings. If these looks don’t immediately make you want to channel your inner Greek goddess, I don’t know what will.
Featured Image: Provided by Universal courtesy of Mike Coppola, Dimitrios Kambouris, Tim P. Whitby, Christopher Polk / Getty Images and Mike Marsland/ Wire Image