9 Subtle Wardrobe Mishaps in Movies That Sneaked Past Everyone

Movies have a magical way of transporting us to different worlds, captivating our imaginations, and immersing us in stories that feel larger than life. Yet, even the most meticulous directors and costume designers can overlook the tiniest details. Wardrobe malfunctions, whether subtle or striking, can slip into a movie’s final cut without anyone on set noticing.

Bridgerton — corsets against their skin.

Take Bridgerton, a recent and very popular historical romance series. It’s filled with exquisite period-inspired costumes, which are also partly inaccurate. The leading ladies, for instance, wear corsets directly against their skin, whereas historically, women would have worn shirts underneath to protect both their skin and the garment. This layer would have extended the life of the corset and prevented discomfort.

Troy — characters use umbrellas from the future.

The fall of Troy is believed to have taken place in the thirteenth or twelfth century BCE. The movie showcased several scenes with characters taking shelter under sun umbrellas. However, archeological evidence shows that collapsible umbrellas with a sliding mechanism, similar to those demonstrated in Troy, were invented centuries later.

Pearl Harbor — the ladies don’t wear stockings.

The events of Pearl Harbor took place in the year 1941. At that time, women were expected to adhere to a particular dress code, which included wearing stockings. However, the ladies demonstrated their bare legs during certain scenes. The fashionable women of that era would have made every effort to wear nylon stockings or, at the very least, painted-on stockings with a seam down the back, as nylon was scarce during those years.

Pride & Prejudice — Elizabeth prefers rubber boots that haven’t yet been invented.

The renowned 2005 film, Pride & Prejudice, was adapted from Jane Austen’s novel, written in 1813. The movie was nominated for numerous accolades, including 4 categories at the Academy Awards. Nonetheless, not all aspects of the film were successful, particularly the characters’ rubber boots. The iconic Wellington boots that gained international recognition were invented decades after the original novel was published.

La La Land — Sebastian’s shirt repeatedly changes colors.

A continuity error crept into the La La Land plot. Sebastian, the character played by Ryan Gosling, is driving a car while wearing a brown shirt. In a subsequent scene, he goes to his apartment to meet his sister. Here, he appears to be wearing a blue shirt, even though he didn’t have the chance or time to change. Then Sebastian sits at the piano, and he’s back in the brown shirt.

Gladiator — Maximus opts for a comfy sports garment.

The costume designers of the Oscar-winning Gladiator decided to play it safe and keep Russell Crowe comfortable. When the brave Maximus falls during one of the battles in the arena, he can be seen wearing black bike shorts under his armor.

Elizabeth I — the queen wears her neck ruff improperly.

In Elizabeth I, the 2005 miniseries, Helen Mirren showcased all the facets of her talent playing the queen, yet the character suffered from a wardrobe blunder. Throughout the series, Elizabeth I is observed sporting a neck ruff, a popular accessory in Tudor England. However, the ruff was designed to be worn with a shirt covering the neck, which the character seemed to overlook in favor of a spectacular look.

Braveheart — Mel Gibson’s character didn’t want to wait for centuries to wear a kilt.

While kilts are quite popular in present-day Scotland, they were not used as an element of men’s fashion during the 13th-century setting of the movie. Kilts did not become a common garment in Scotland until several centuries after the events depicted in the film.

Head in the Clouds — Penélope Cruz’ brows.

The film takes place in the ’30s, but the character played by Penélope Cruz shows the audience her natural eyebrows, despite the fashion trend of those years. Charlize Theron was luckier in this sense — obviously, the makeup artists did their best to make her brows correspond to the standards of that epoch.

Take a look at what other mistakes are made in movies.