10 Awesome Style Trends Started By Fictional Characters

Image via Complex Original

Wall Street

Wall Street's villain Gordon Gekko popularized the whole power suit look. Nothing minimal here, showing off like you were a boss meant bright French cuffed shirts (the Gekko shirt as some called it), suspenders, and a suit with serious shoulder pads, and stripes. The look became a favorite yuppie uniform. 

Risky Business

Thank Risky Business for two things, inspiring college girls to dress in only button-up shirts during Halloween, and Wayfarer shades. Along with igniting Tom Cruise's career, his character Joel Goodson also introduced the iconic Ray Ban Wayfarer frames to a new generation fans. Anyone looking for instant street cred and turn up the style points, these were the shades to do it. Plus its trapezoidal frame was fit for any facial shapes.

Napoleon Dynamite

Brands sometimes aren’t the only ones reaping the rewards. Merchandise sale is big business so films often release movie related memorabilia to cash in and rake up 100% of the profits. Stylish or not, the most popular item from Napoleon Dynamite was the “Vote for Pedro” slogan T-shirt. Those damn ringer tees were everywhere, and the hipster/outsider aesthetic caught mainstream appeal. 

Do The Right Thing

Spike Lee’s classic influenced a lot of styles that can still be seen today. One of the more memorable characters was Radio Raheem who flashed off his four-finger ring “Love” and “Hate” pieces. Big Daddy Kane might have worn these first, but Radio Raheem made us all remember the story of right-hand/left hand. 

Mad Men

Mad Men was a rediscovery reminding everyone that back in the day people really cared about how they dressed. The show pushed crispy tailored suits and skinny ties of the '60s to the forefront—and taught a lot of unstylish dudes about the importance of a crispy pocket square. The show spawned two capsule collections with Banana Republic. It was one stop shop for men who wanted to go full on Don Draper without hopping from store to store. 

American Gigolo

Before menswear had a hashtag and a billion blogs to follow, American Gigolo was the film to watch for Italian style. Richard Gere’s character Julian Kaye was a male prostitute, but his penchant for Armani clothes pimped the Italian brand so hard it put Giorgio on the map. The film showcased tailored everything from sports jackets, suits, and tuxedos made in fabrics that ranged from linen to silk. The film literally had Gere Aramani’d out down to his boxers. 

A Different World

Whether you like them or not the flip-top sunglasses Kadeem Hardison’s character wore on A Different World are still being worn today. Dwayne Wayne is still inspiring people like Lupe Fiasco and Dwayne Wade to wear these goofy shades. Dwayne Wayne is an OG influencer. Throw that dude in a desert and the President will send Seal Team 6 to rescue him. 

Fast Times at Ridgemont High

His stoner style will forever be ingrained in people’s minds along with the liberation of Phoebe Cates’s breasts. Vans was the choice footwear for many skaters, but not until the films resident pothead, played by Sean Penn, rocked the checkerboard slip-on did the shoe cross over into mainstream pop culture. For those who wanted to buy into California cool but lived nowhere near sunny temps, these shoes were it. Even the official movie soundtrack has a picture of the shoes on the cover. How’s that for product placement? 

Top Gun

Top Gun popularized the military style and cheesy lines that often came off as pauseworthy (see Quentin Tarantino’s theory). G-1 bomber jackets and Ray-Ban aviator shades have been in service long before the movie, but Maverick made them must have fashion item sending sales at stores soaring. Tom Cruise must be getting some serious royalties from Ray-Ban for making two of their frames untouchable classics. 

Miami Vice

Crockett and Tubbs weren’t your average sloppy dressed detectives. These two looked like Pitti Uomo veterans. Italian unstructured blazers combo’d with a pastel colors, Miami Vice set the lead for the T-shirts under blazers look.  And as for wearing no socks as a style statement, Don Johnson was one of the first to pull it off. Retailers and brands even marketed their gear from the shows aesthetics to cash in on the trend. Nice weather, exotic cars, hot babes, and an awesome soundtrack also helped sell that Miami lifestyle.