Making a film is a vast, multidimensional process, and costuming is only a small part of that. Still, that aspect requires a lot of effort from a variety of people and agencies. First, costumers must investigate the time period of the film and determine what is historically accurate. They design a costume, and the director can approve or disapprove it, as well as add whatever subtlety they choose. The performers must next dress appropriately, and the hair and cosmetics staff must style the actors correctly. Then there’s a crew that has to make sure the performers look the same in every frame, and editors who have to spot anything that the post-production team missed. Overall, there are numerous ways for movie costume blunders to occur, and they occur more frequently than you might expect!
40+ Movie Costume Mistakes That Look Horribly Out Of Place
‘Raiders Of The Lost Ark’: A Cairo Local Is Wearing Jeans
Except for one blunder, Steven Spielberg’s debut movie in the Indiana Jones franchise is a masterpiece. A man in jeans and a T-shirt goes by while Indy is nursing a drink after thinking he’s just lost the love of his life. Locals in Cairo, Egypt did not dress in this manner in the 1930s. Fortunately, the scenario is so compelling that most viewers will overlook this egregious costume error.
Raiders Of The Lost Ark A Cairo Local Is Wearing Jeans
‘Glory’: A Civil War Soldier Sports A Watch
Glory is possibly the most powerful Civil War film ever created. There were no digital wristwatches in 1863. Wristwatches, in fact, would not be worn for another 53 years. This could have been an extra who neglected to commit to his character, but it’s shocking that it ended up in the finished result.
‘Glory’ A Civil War Soldier Sports A Watch
‘Braveheart’: Kilts Were Not Yet Invented
Mel Gibson’s Scottish military epic has become as iconic as the Scottish kilt, which did not become popular until the 16th century. Braveheart takes place in the 13th century. Although the Scottish face paint is historically correct, it would not have been worn at the same time as the famed kilts.
‘Braveheart’ Kilts Were Not Yet Invented
‘Dirty Dancing’: Short Shorts Were Not Yet Popular
Nobody puts Baby in a corner… or, evidently, in historically accurate attire. Jennifer Grey, who plays Baby in Dirty Dancing, is pictured above in jean shorts. While some youngsters experimented with short, cutoff jean shorts, they didn’t become widely fashionable until the 1970s, due to rock icons like Patti Smith and Debbie Harry.
‘Dirty Dancing’ Short Shorts Were Not Yet Popular
‘The Last Samurai’: Tom Cruise’s Armor Was Antiquated
In The Last Samurai, Tom Cruise plays a retired US officer who confronts Japanese samurai warriors in 1870. The costume crew apparently didn’t believe the armor of 19th century samurai was stylish enough, so they dressed Cruise and his buddies in armor from two centuries earlier.
‘The Last Samurai’ Tom Cruise’s Armor Was Antiquated
‘The Other Boleyn Girl’: Portman’s Hair Should Have Been Worn Back
They only got half of it right. Natalie Portman is dressed appropriately for a woman in 16th century France, however the French hood usually had a veil attached, and her hair should be pushed back beneath it. Allowing a woman of rank’s hair to be shown in public was scandalous.
‘The Other Boleyn Girl’ Portman’s Hair Should Have Been Worn Back
‘Schindler’s List’: Women In Concentration Camps Did Not Shave
The women in Schindler’s List all had smooth legs and armpits, yet the women in concentration camps would never have had access to razors of any kind. It’s an easy error to make.
‘Schindler’s List’ Women In Concentration Camps Did Not Shave
‘Back To The Future’: This Guitar Was Not Yet Invented
Marty McFly (played by the legendary Michael J. Fox) performed “Johnny B. Goode” with an ES-345 model Gibson guitar in one of the most famous scenes from one of the best movies of all time. It’s a very amazing guitar, although it was manufactured in 1958. The film is set in 1955, as they repeatedly emphasize.
‘Back To The Future’ This Guitar Was Not Yet Invented
‘Pirates Of The Caribbean’: The British Navy Was Not Scarlet
The redcoats are on their way… and a couple of decades early! Although the first Pirates of the Caribbean film is set in the 1720s, the renowned red coats were not issued to the British troops until 1747. Men still wore red, but it was a darker, less expensive shade called madder red prior to that date. Scarlet coats were only worn by officers and sergeants.
‘Pirates Of The Caribbean’ The British Navy Was Not Scarlet
‘Pirates Of The Caribbean’: Pirates Don’t Wear Cowboy Hats
This extra either arrived on the wrong set or forgot to put on his costume! In the same Pirates film, he may be seen in the background wearing a cowboy hat and a white T-shirt. My man, you’re at the wrong place: The ocean has no cows! (Unless he’s dealing with sea cows.)
‘Pirates Of The Caribbean’ Pirates Don’t Wear Cowboy Hats
‘The Empire Strikes Back’: Han Solo Is Unshackled And Then Shackled, And Wears A Jacket
This classic romance scene from the second Star Wars film contains various errors. First and foremost, in alternate shots, Han Solo is seen shackled, then unshackled, and then shackled again (and, in the transition to the scene when he’s frozen, he’s unshackled again). Then, in one of the final cutaways, he’s wearing his jacket while he wasn’t previously. Who is continuity?
‘The Empire Strikes Back’ Han Solo Is Unshackled And Then Shackled, And Wears A Jacket
‘The Wizard of Oz’: Dorothy’s Hair Is Long, Then Short
There are numerous errors in The Wizard of Oz, but one of the most vexing is Dorothy’s hair, which continually changing lengths! It progresses from medium to exceedingly long in alternating scenes and, on occasion, alternating shots. This is because movies are almost never shot in order, and reshoots are frequently required, but today the actress would be compelled to retain her hair the same length throughout the whole shooting process.
‘The Wizard Of Oz’ Dorothy’s Hair Is Long, Then Short
‘Django Unchained’: Sunglasses Were Not Yet Invented
The main character in Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained is shown wearing a highly styled pair of circular sunglasses. Such a thing did not exist in 1858 America, when the picture was set. Many people believe this was an error, however it was done on purpose for style. Tarantino is recognized for taking such artistic risks.
‘Django Unchained’ Sunglasses Were Not Yet Invented
‘Pompeii’: Too Many Purple Robes
Many of the more affluent characters in the film Pompeii are shown wearing purple robes. At the time, this would have been a daring and reckless deed. Purple was a hue reserved for nobles due to the high cost of producing the dye. Nero, the emperor at the time, prohibited their usage by anybody other than himself. Anyone who violates the law would face the death penalty.
‘Pompeii’ Too Many Purple Robes
‘Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets’: One Of These Doesn’t Belong
In the second Harry Potter film’s duel sequence, someone who is clearly not a child stands among Harry’s classmates. It’s a member of the crew! The editor darkened the background so much that he is scarcely visible. They reasoned that by doing so, they wouldn’t have to reshoot the sequence, but he is still visible if you know where to look!
‘Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets’ One Of These Doesn’t Belong
‘Jurassic Park’: Grant’s Hair Is Combed
Jurassic Park is a beautifully photographed film. It still meets special effects standards today, more than 30 years later. This is due in part to the meticulous attention to detail that went into the fabrication of their massive, animatronic T-Rex. Is there something I overlooked? One of the lead actors’ hair was fine in one scene but unkempt the next. Even if that is their greatest mistake, the editing department deserves a gold star all around.
‘Jurassic Park’ Grant’s Hair Is Combed
‘The Untouchables’: Kevin Costner’s Lapels Are Wrong
Although The Untouchables is set in the 1930s, Kevin Costner’s costume, as shown above, is from the 1980s. Though suits had lapels back then, they were much wider and more obvious than the ones seen now. The pointed lapels of the Depression era often covered half of the chest. Coats were also typically double-breasted.
‘The Untouchables’ Kevin Costner’s Lapels Are Wrong
‘The Mummy’: Transportation
While not a wardrobe error, this amusing error in The Mummy was not discovered by the director before it was released. Our heroes are besieged by mummies rising from the sand during the climax. They start shooting and murdering them, but viewers watch Jonathan and Ardeth switch sides around Rick in one fast take. Later, the filmmaker admitted the error, noting that during the original filming, a few shots were removed that would have revealed them moving around. However, editing the scenes made it appear as if the teleportation was from one side to the other.
‘The Mummy’ Transportation
‘Gladiator’: Yet Another Man In Jeans
These extras must pull themselves together! At least jeans existed during the time period depicted in Indiana Jones, but in ancient Rome, the material denim had not yet been dreamed of, let alone manufactured into pants. They weren’t even wearing pants!
‘Gladiator’ Yet Another Man In Jeans
‘Gladiator’: Sport Shorts
The jeans-wearing extra in Gladiator wasn’t the only error that observant fans saw in the Oscar-winning film. Maximus loses his balance and falls in the dirt during the colosseum combat with the retiring champion. As he rolls over, actor Russell Crowe can be seen wearing modern-day black sports shorts underneath his blue slave attire.
‘Gladiator’ Sport Shorts
Fast & Furious 7: Fight Scene In A Dress
Michelle Rodriguez is a Hollywood actress who is poised and ready for nonstop action. So when she finally shot a fight sequence in a dress alongside Ronda Rousey for Furious 7, the dress came apart as rapidly as the action.
Fast & Furious 7 Fight Scene In A Dress
‘The Wedding Singer’: Drew Barrymore’s Haircut Is Way Too 90s
The Wedding Singer is set in the 1980s, when the hair philosophy was “the bigger, the better.” The picture, however, was shot in the 1990s, and nothing emphasized that more than Drew Barrymore’s short, flipped bob. That haircut would have been the polar opposite of fashionable at the time the film was set.
‘The Wedding Singer’ Drew Barrymore’s Haircut Is Way Too 90s
‘Troy’: Orlando Adjusts His Tunic
We notice you, Orlando. Your long, curly hair is lovely, however it can’t cover the fact that you adjusted your slipping shoulder strap between takes here. One second: abundant shoulder. Next up: shoulder protection. Perhaps you thought no one would notice if you showed a little less skin? Oh, no. Consider again.
‘Troy’ Orlando Adjusts His Tunic
‘Troy’: Umbrellas
Despite a massive box office attraction, the 2004 epic Troy received mixed critical reviews. Perhaps if the writers had done a little more study, the criticism might not have been so harsh. In another blunder, we find Paris and Helen biking through the streets while shaded by an umbrella. The problem is that the Greeks didn’t design this sort of umbrella until the 5th century BCE, about 800 years after Troy was conquered.
‘Troy’ Umbrellas
‘Jonah Hex’: Promiscuous Clothing
The 2010 DC Comics adaptation Jonah Hex was a box office disaster, but we can’t put everything on the costume department. Nonetheless, Megan Fox’s prostitute character Lilah Black was dressed in a way that we might expect a prostitute to dress, but her revealing corset was nowhere like how women of the historical period dressed, especially in that line of work.
‘Jonah Hex’ Promiscuous Clothing
‘Almost Famous’: Futuristic Shirt
It’s difficult to find anything wrong with Cameron Crowe’s critically praised and beloved film Almost Famous, which tells the story of a young writer touring with a fake band in the 1970s, yet some details do fall through the cracks. A Black Sabbath t-shirt can be seen in one backstage shot. Given the circumstances, this is not surprising. However, this tee was not produced until 1997, barely three years before the film was released.
‘Almost Famous’ Futuristic Shirt
‘Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade’: War Medals
There’s a lot of disagreement about whether Raiders of the Lost Ark is better than The Last Crusade. If you’re a Raiders fan, you might want to nitpick about this one flaw in Last Crusaders. The German officers are seen wearing numerous medals on their uniforms throughout the film. What is the issue? The picture is set in 1938, before the war begins, although the medals on the uniforms were historically awarded throughout the fight. As a result, the officers should not have received these medals at this point.
‘Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade’ War Medals
‘Pearl Harbor’: No Stockings
The Michael Bay-directed Pearl Harbor is short on historical accuracy in favor of, as critic Roger Ebert famously put it, a love triangle of “stunning banality.” This may assist to explain the costume blunder. The women in the film are frequently seen without stockings and baring their legs. This was a major social faux pas back then. Some fans say that this is more historically accurate because nylon was scarce during the war, but we’re not prepared to give Bay that much credit.
‘Pearl Harbor’ No Stockings
‘Captain America: The First Avenger’: Hair Down
Everyone has a favorite Marvel flick or hero. Many argue that the Captain America films are the best in the MCU, but that doesn’t keep them from making this list of wardrobe gaffes. Some are blaming The First Avenger’s Peggy Carter (played by Hayley Atwell) in this situation. when it was completely permissible for women to have their hair down, women in the armed forces were obliged to wear their hair up at all times when in uniform.
‘Captain America The First Avenger’ Hair Down
‘Pride And Prejudice’: Rubber Boots
The critically praised 2005 adaptation of Jane Austen’s famous novel, Pride and Prejudice, was another adaptation of the classic Jane Austen novel, but with an A-list cast and riveting performances – particularly from Kiera Knightley in an Oscar-nominated role – this version is a must-see. However, not everything worked, particularly the rubber boots worn by the characters. The world-famous Wellington boots were invented 40 years after the film’s setting.
‘Pride And Prejudice’ Rubber Boots
‘Saving Private Ryan’: Black Boots
Another film, another problem with the boots. In the beloved Saving Private Ryan, we’re back in World War II. Some characters wear light brown boots while others wear black jump boots throughout the film. According to sources, the black boots were not produced until the 1950s, at least five years after the war ended.
‘Saving Private Ryan’ Black Boots
‘The King’s Speech’: A Kilt Catastrophe
Colin Firth starred as King George VI, the WWII-era English king who had to overcome a speech impairment to make his first wartime radio broadcast. The film, however, contains a big wardrobe malfunction. At one point, the monarch is portrayed wearing a kilt with a plainly Irish design, despite the fact that a royal of his status should be wearing a Scottish Balmoral style.
‘The King’s Speech’ A Kilt Catastrophe
‘Captain America: The First Avenger’: Headset
The original Captain America film is back on our list, thanks to a headset worn by Kenneth Choi’s character Jim Morita. During a military attack, Morita, one of Captain America’s Howling Commandos comrades, is shown sporting a headset that is far too modern for the 1940s, even the sci-fi-influenced 1940s of the MCU.
‘Captain America The First Avenger’ Headset
‘Gone With The Wind’: Electricity
Throughout the epic Gone With the Wind, it is evident that the lamps use electric bulbs, and several pictures even show cords from those lamps plugged into the wall. What is the problem? Gone With the Wind is set during the American Civil War, decades before the invention of controlled electricity.
‘Gone With The Wind’ Electricity
‘Julius Cesar’: Bullet Bra
The 1953 film Julius Caesar contains multiple examples of female cast members wearing “bullet bras.” These pointed underwear were popular in the early 1950s, which explains why they were on the set of the film. The only problem? The film takes place centuries before their inception.
‘Julius Cesar’ Bullet Bra
‘Catch Me If You Can’: Braces
Amy Adams, a future Oscar winner, gives a noteworthy performance in 2002’s Catch Me If You Can. Her persona, however, has a major costuming flaw: she wears wired-metal braces. While braces were available in the 1960s, when the film was set, the wired-metal version depicted in the film did not become popular until the 1970s.
‘Catch Me If You Can’ Braces
‘American Hustle’: Rolex
American Hustle was largely praised for its portrayal of the 1970s, which makes the film’s glaring wardrobe error all the more bizarre. Specifically, Louis C.K.’s character Stoddard Thorsen is seen wearing a massive Rolex, which fits the character’s attitude… except that the model of Rolex was created in 2010, approximately 40 years too late for the time period of the film.
‘American Hustle’ Rolex
‘Amadeus’: Zipper
Amadeus, released in 1984, is widely regarded as one of the finest films of all time, both for its storyline and its reproduction of 18th-century Vienna. However, there is one major flaw in this replica. Several of the film’s high-profile outfits included visible zippers, which were not invented until 1913, about 60 years after the film’s setting.
‘Amadeus’ Zipper
‘My Girl’: Mood Ring
There is no more heartbreaking film for people of a certain age than 1991’s My Girl. Those who can get past their emotions over Macaulay Culkin’s character’s death will detect a clear historical error in the picture. Vada (Anna Chlumsky), for example, has a mood ring that functions as a plot point. Mood rings, on the other hand, were not introduced until 1975, two years after the film’s 1973 setting.
‘My Girl’ Mood Ring
‘Gangs Of New York’: Firefighters
Because Martin Scorsese’s 2002 epic Gangs of New York is set in 1800s New York, it’s odd why firefighters in the film are depicted (relatively) wearing modern firefighting gear and uniforms at one point. We can only assume it was for concerns of safety.
‘Gangs Of New York’ Firefighters
‘Singin’ In The Rain’: Pink Dress
Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds) wears a pink dress with a tulle skirt in one of the most iconic scenes from 1952’s Singin’ in the Rain. The appearance was very 1950s, but would have looked completely out of place in the 1920s, when the picture was set.
‘Singin’ In The Rain’ Pink Dress
‘The Color Purple’: Clip-On Tie
The Color Purple is the third film on our list, and it features yet another chronological anomaly. The film, released in 1983, was set in 1916. What is the problem? Throughout the film, Danny Glover’s character Albert wears a clip-on tie. It wasn’t until 1928 that the clip-on tie was introduced.
‘The Color Purple’ Clip On Tie
‘Pretty Woman’: Edward’s Tie
During one of the most pivotal scenes in Pretty Woman, Julia Roberts’ character Vivian undoes Edward’s (Richard Gere’s) tie. The only problem is that his tie is tied again in the next frame… and then undone again. It was not a good day for the set’s continuity manager.
‘Pretty Woman’ Edward’s Tie
‘Legends Of The Fall’: Brad’s Hair
Brad Pitt is in full 1990s heartthrob mode in the epic 1994 film Legends of the Fall, sporting 1960s style long hair and stubble on his face, as well as a five o’clock shadow. The only problem? A respectable man in 1910 would not dress in any of those styles. Definitely a case of the sensitivities of the moment taking precedence above historical accuracy.
‘Legends Of The Fall’ Brad’s Hair
‘Seabiscuit’: Strapped Helmet
Tobey Maguire portrays John “Red” Pollard, the jockey who rode the famous horse to victory during the Great Depression, in the period drama Seabiscuit. Needless to say, there are numerous horse racing scenes in each. What is the problem? Riders, including Maguire, are wearing helmets with chin straps in these scenes. These straps were not developed until the mid-1950s, more than two decades after the film’s setting.
‘Seabiscuit’ Strapped Helmet
‘John Carter Of Mars’: Not Skimpy Enough
In the opposite direction of some of our earlier entries, several of the outfits in John Carter are too revealing. Lynn Collins’ costume as Martian warrior Princess Dejah Thoris is clearly not prudish, but it is fairly tame in comparison to the clothes portrayed in the source literature on which the film was based.
‘John Carter Of Mars’ Not Skimpy Enough
‘The Tudors’: Neck Ruffs
The Tudors, a historical drama set in the 15th century, contains an obvious costume inaccuracy. Many women are seen wearing neck ruffs throughout the film. However, for Western European women of their height at the time, this would have been deemed impolite.
‘The Tudors’ Neck Ruffs
‘Good Night And Good Luck’: Name Tags
The narrative of the feud between radio and television journalist Edward R. Murrow and U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin in the early 1950s is told in George Clooney’s 2005 masterpiece Good Night and Good Luck. The picture was a great hit, but it had a major costume malfunction. Members of the Air Force are depicted wearing name tags, which did not become standard issue until 1967.
‘Good Night And Good Luck’ Name Tags
‘Sense And Sensibility’: Diaper
The 1995 film Sense and Sensibility is a Victorian period drama based on a Jane Austen novel, and the clothing and props are mostly genuine. However, there is a scene in which a baby is dressed in a modern diaper, which would not have been accessible in the 1800s.
‘Sense And Sensibility’ Diaper