Alfred Hitchcock: The Blondes and The Heroines

Alfred Hitchcock left an incredible, inspiring legacy. He redefined the horror genre and created an atmosphere which is to this day, hard to replicate. But Hitchcock’s legacy goes beyond cinema since he was very involved in appearance, the fashion aspect of the movies. He created heroines, ones we still admire and love. 

Alfred Hitchcock also destroyed one stereotype. His blondes were anything but ditsy, shallow, as we saw them previously. Hitchcock’s blonde is seductive, icy, mysterious and impressive. Fashion elements made Kim Novak, Grace Kelly and Tippy Hepburn the icons for generations to come. 

Despite the rumours, it’s pretty clear that the director was afraid of women. Not that he wasn’t often crossing the line with actual actresses. It’s more about what he presented on the screen, from their hairstyles to the flawlessly composed outfits. Alfred Hitchcock had a passion for fashion, and you can see his best works in North by Northwest, The Birds, Vertigo and Rear Window. He made Novak, Kelly and other Hitchcock blondes into more than just pretty faces. They became icons; the heroines’ women can always turn to when they are rethinking their wardrobe choices. 

The master director, hidden fashionista, Alfred Hitchcock, is inspiring designers even today. The crocodile-embossed shoe trend is present at current collections in Jimmy Choo, Chanel, Michael Kors, and Rupert Sanderson. His heroines are timeless muses which makes them inspiring, not just for the brands and fashion houses. But they are speaking to ordinary women; remind us not to be afraid of our femininity. 

There is one thing that connects Hitchcock and his fashion to the present. Many are trying to keep away from fast fashion, by choosing timeless, long-lasting pieces. And that’s exactly what Alfred Hitchcock made – various capsule collections, which spoke to us, just as much as the actresses. Maybe he wasn’t aware of it, but Hitchcock heroine made dressing empowering.