The fashion in this stylish horror is the zeitgeist of 1960s London

If you’re looking for a Halloween flick to watch in theaters, you’re going to want to put Last Night In Soho on your must-watch list.

More of a suspense thriller than horror, this film has a little bit of everything to excite your moviegoing senses, from gratuitous gore and plot twists to fabulous retro fashion.

The acting in this film is solid—actresses Thomasin McKenzie and Anya Taylor-Joy brought their characters to life. McKenzie effortlessly comes across as an ingénue with dreams of becoming a fashion designer. Taylor-Joy does a brilliant job of portraying a woman who is bent on achieving success by any means necessary. When their worlds collide (NO SPOILERS happening here) they both have  come to terms with the decisions they have made.

On the fashion front, the style in the film is reminiscent of the The Swinging Sixties known for a cultural revolution when art, fashion and music flourished. If you are familiar with London fashion in the 60s, names such as Mary Quant and Jean Shrimpton undoubtedly come to mind. In the movie homage is paid to the people and places that were the zeitgeist of 1960’s London such as Cilla Black and Twiggy who cover an album and magazine, respectively.

Standout fashion looks in the film are a blush pink chiffon sleeveless trapeze dress and a white patent leather trench coat. But, The fashion in this film serves more as symbolism. The looks worn by McKenzie’s character gradually evolve as her character becomes more immersed in her surroundings. She goes from being a ‘plain Jane’ wearing homemade duds that aren’t very fashion-forward, to garments that are edgy and dark.

The way fashion was used not only brought the characters to life, but helped tell their story and tie the surroundings to the narrative. Costume designer Odile Dicks-Mireaux did a fabulous job of curating looks that aligned with the storyline and the lives of its characters.

Images courtesy of Focus Features