NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 26: Julia Roberts arrives at the opening night screening of “After The Hunt” during New York Film Festival on September 26, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Adrian Edwards/GC Images)
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Every year, New York Film Festival picks the most powerful films from the year and brings them to Manhattan. This year features the 63rd annual festival, which closed today, featuring already iconic films like Bradley Cooper’s midlife crisis comedy Is This Thing On, the closing night film, Jim Jarmusch’s film Father Mother Sister Brother, and the Centerpiece film, Luca Gudangnino’s After the Hunt, as well as many more films that are garnering buzz. This year, fashion is a key character in many of the films, stepping far beyond just costume design. Here are some NYFF films with notable costume design.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 26: (L-R) Luca Guadagnino, Julia Roberts and Andrew Garfield speak onstage at the “After The Hunt” Press Conference during the 63rd New York Film Festival at The Film Society of Lincoln Center, Walter Reade Theatre on September 26, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for FLC)
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After The Hunt
Luca Guadagnino loves to merge costume design with storytelling. He works with his longtime costume designer Giulia Piersanti to present each film character differently. In the show’s notes, Piersanti said: “I chose classic wardrobe pieces across the various characters yet played with style and proportions to show social background, intentions, and individual character.” Julia Roberts’ character, Alma, echoed the looks of film stars like Diane Keaton and Gena Rowlands, but with an academic twist.
Speaking about the power of attire in this film, Guadagnino said at the film’s press conference at NYFF that there were two elements setting the tone. “One was to make sure that when you see them, you understand the way they behave in the context of where they live,” he said. “And particularly for Alma, she kind of wants to make sure that the message is delivered, who is in power. And the silhouette is the most important thing. I like the idea that we have played with a sort of repetition because all the women in the movie have some kind of like incarnation of the same idea of self.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 30: (L-R) John Sloss, Guillaume Marbeck, Richard Linklater, Zoey Deutch, Aubry Dullin and Michèle Pétin attend the “Nouvelle Vague” Red Carpet during the 63rd New York Film Festival at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center on September 30, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for FLC)
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Nouvelle Vague
Richard Linklater brings the Parisian chic to his latest black and white film, Nouvelle Vague (New Wave) which traces the making of the film “Breathless” by Godard. Recreating the simple, Parisian chic of Jean Seberg with the traditional Ray Ban sunglasses of Jean-Luc Godard bring us back in time to the 1960s Paris. The costume designer Pascaline Chavanne brought back the authentic French look that inspired a generation. Nouvelle Vague was more than just a film movement, of course, it represents French glamor, androgynous style, striped t shirts, short haircuts and blazers.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 09: Milagros Mumenthaler attends the “The Currents” intro during the 63rd New York Film Festival at The Film Society of Lincoln Center, Walter Reade Theatre on October 09, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Dominik Bindl/Getty Images for FLC)
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The Currents
The film, The Currents, is directed by Argentinean filmmaker Milagros Mumenthaler. This film uses the setting of fashion to bring mystery and drama to the screen. It follows a fashion designer (Isabel Aimé González Sola) who experiences a trauma and is unable to return to her everyday life. The inner transformation we see onscreen, played by Gonzalez Sola, is reflected in the stunning costume design, by Simona Martinez.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 28: (L-R) Daniel Day-Lewis and Sean Bean attend the “Anemone” Intro/Q&A during the 63rd New York Film Festival at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center on September 28, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for FLC)
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Anemone
This film is a trip. Daniel Day-Lewis crawled out of his acting retirement for his son, no less, Ronan Day-Lewis, who is a painter and now filmmaker. Ronan is the son of Day Lewis and Rebecca Miller who is the daughter of Arthur Miller, the playwright who wrote Death of a Salesman and The Crucible. If that wasn’t enough culture credibility for you, the film is produced by Focus features and Plan B, Brad Pitt’s production company. The film is wistful and somewhat painterly, when you think about it. Like as if Ronan was a disciple of Julian Schnabel, in a way. The film is arty, slow and has pensive dreamlike moments incorporate the film’s costume design in unpretentious and subtle ways, by veteran costume designer, Jane Petrie.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 03: (L-R) Adam Driver, Indya Moore, Luka Sabbat, Jim Jarmusch, Vicky Krieps and Tom Waits attend the “Father Mother Sister Brother” Backstage during the 63rd New York Film Festival at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center on October 03, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for FLC)
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Father Mother Sister Brother
Any film starring Cate Blanchett, in my mind, will always be stylish. She recently signed on with Uniqlo as a global brand ambassador, and here, we see her star in a vintage-inspired film directed by Jim Jarmusch. The film, which won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, stars Blanchett alongside Charlotte Rampling, Vicky Krieps, Adam Driver, Tom Waits, Indya Moore, and Luka Sabbat. With the work of costume designer Catherine George, it features boxy blazers, dapper style, faux fur coats and crisp collared shirts. This film has a decidedly fashion edge. It is presented by Saint Laurent Productions by Anthony Vaccarello (yes, associated with the Yves Saint Laurent fashion house). It marks the first fashion house to ever create their own film production company.
