If you were a teen in the late ’90s, odds are you adored 10 Things I Hate About You. This modern-day adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew introduced us to popular high schooler Bianca and her older, less accepted sister Kat.
This movie taught us that there’s nothing wrong with being yourself and having some rebellion within. While costume may not seem essential to a film’s plotline, it actually says much about its characters.
1. You’re wearing the wrong color
Film wardrobe can often play an essential part in conveying characters’ personalities and depicting their transformation throughout a film. In 10 Things I Hate About You, Kat’s outfits demonstrate her transition from being an independent boyish character to a more feminine one as she falls for Heath. Over time, her clothes become increasingly feminine as her relationship develops. Eventually, they mimic those worn by Bianca; this symbolizes that Kat has been “tamed” by love and no longer retains their identity – an all too common trope in high school romance movies!
2. You’re wearing the wrong size
Back in 1999, 1999 was an eventful year – from Pokemon and Y2K to 10 Things I Hate About You. Although its release is somewhat dated now, its message still holds regarding high school life, explicitly showing that being a strong, opinionated woman is not always seen as beneficial, an issue especially evident with Kat (Juliette Lewis) as she faces constant criticism due to her views and refusal to conform.
3. You’re wearing the wrong material
Costumes may seem like minor details in movies, but costumes can have a significant effect on how audiences connect with characters. For instance, Kat wears different attire throughout the film to reflect both her personality and perception by others; her initial clothing was quite masculine, but as she becomes “tamed” by love (Heath Ledger in particular), her wardrobe becomes more feminine; this allows the movie to show how being intelligent solid women may be seen negatively by some while remaining feminine is not something worth giving up your identity for.
4. You’re wearing the wrong style
The 1990s were an extraordinary period – Pokemon was everywhere, there was a Y2K scare, and 10 Things I Hate About You made its debut. This teen classic about Bianca and Kat Stratford remains one of the greatest high school movies thanks to their appealing performances and some brilliant dialogue; what really makes this film unique, though, is how clothing tells its tale without speaking a single word about their personalities’ evolution – such as when Kat changes her outfit as her affections change for Heath Ledger; another perfect example is when her wardrobe transforms as she gets “tamed.”
5. You’re wearing the wrong accessories
Accessorizing correctly is critical to creating an updated, polished look; selecting accessories wisely can even age-proof an outfit! Keep this in mind when choosing what accessories to wear: they should match or complement what clothing you are wearing (i.e., if wearing a bright-colored necklace, it might clash with a neutral top).
Ten Things I Hate About You is an entertaining reimagining of Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew.” Julia Stiles and Larisa Oleynik star as bickering sisters Kat and Bianca Stratford, who battle against their overprotective father and Bianca’s refusal to date until Kat does. Julia Stiles wears some eye-catching wardrobe choices that allow her to communicate her character without using words alone.
6. You’re wearing the wrong shoes
Many don’t care for Kat, who’s known to be strong-willed and independent – which may not always make her famous to everyone. I think it’s great that she sticks to her own opinions and follows them, acting as an inspiring role model for girls who don’t wish to follow the crowd.
Costumes can be an effective tool to convey character traits to an audience without ever needing to speak directly about them. For instance, Kat’s wardrobe shift as she finds love shows how her personality has altered; additionally, the more feminine her style becomes with time due to taming from love, pairing clogs with mini dresses creates instant tension and makes the outfit more interesting.
8. You’re wearing the wrong hairstyle
Costume is often underestimated as an essential component of movie making, yet wardrobe can help convey a character’s personality and how others view them. In 10 Things I Hate About You, Kat is depicted as an independent, opinionated girl who does not conform to society. Her clothing choices showed this character change by gradually becoming more feminine as she became “tamed” by love (presumably Heath Ledger). Costumes helped lead this transformation within Kat.
9. You’re wearing the wrong makeup
Bianca (Larisa Oleynik), is an overprotective high school sophomore wishing for more social interactions, yet barred from dating by her overprotective father and older sister Kat (Julia Stiles). This film benefits from some engaging performances as well as hilarious dialogue – though some wardrobe choices by some characters, particularly Kat (Julia Stiles), may be questionable at best – her early wardrobe choices, including wearing boyish clothing, but as her character begins falling for Heath Ledger her style becomes more feminine over time – like Kat’s early scenes).
10. You’re wearing the wrong accessories
Wardrobe may seem like an inconsequential element of filmmaking, but it can actually be an invaluable way to convey character traits without using dialogue. For example, Kat’s clothing in 10 Things I Hate About You displays how her personality evolves throughout the movie – she wears a more boyish dress at first; then, as love softens her ways and she becomes more submissive, her attire becomes more feminine.
10 Things I Hate About You was one of the great high school comedies of the late ’90s, thanks to its charming cast and hilarious dialogue. But beyond being entertaining entertainment, 10 Things I Hate About You also sends a vital and important message about being strong, intelligent women in society.
