Some of you reading this title will be taken aback - how could anyone believe that this incredible movie is anything but icon status? Others probably couldn't care less, some of you don’t even know who Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) is (the film is from 2001, after all). But, nonetheless, this movie has some important messages and for that reason, we will be exploring the impact that Legally Blonde has had on society and answering the question: is it truly that iconic?
To begin, something that I personally think is a huge part of this movie, that may seem trivial on the surface, is the outfits. Yes, perhaps that seems a bit obvious, what with the stark contrast between Elle’s full Barbie pink ensembles and the drab, excessively beige looks sported by the other students being an obvious way to show how much she really stands out. But there’s much more to it. As I mentioned, Elle is seen wearing lots of bright (notably pink) outfits at the beginning as she is essentially showing who she is through her fashion - a bright, bubbly fashion major. But on her first day as a Harvard Law student, Elle opts for a look she deems more practical (with a tie, cardigan, glasses) but really, the whole outfit clashes aesthetically - this switch in aesthetics therefore shows how Elle is feeling out of her depth, both in law school and putting together a more demure outfit. In the montage of her finding her feet at Harvard, her clothes represent how she begins to feel more comfortable in this new environment, as they are much more stripped back and work well aesthetically (unlike the emerald ensemble from day 1). Then, once she starts working on Callahan’s murder case, her outfits are considerably more ‘work appropriate’ and we get my personal favourite piece on her first day on the case. It is an elegant black jumper and skirt combo, but it still shows her sense of style (and personality) through the white ruffled shirt and dotted slip seen below the hem of the dress. This, like her other work attire, is considerably more mature and chic, in contrast to some of her more “girly” outfits earlier in the film. It is a sign of her growth as a character as she matures and learns in this unfamiliar environment. And finally, at the end, we see the most memorable Elle Woods piece frem the entire film. A hot pink dress, with a glittery sash and handbag to match - despite everything, Elle has remained true to herself - in turn, proving that you don’t need to change who you are in order to succeed. That’s why this outfit is the most memorable in the entire film. Overall, each of the 43 outfits in this 2001 cult classic tell a story and therefore, are important to the story, even though on the surface, they seem unimportant - perhaps reflecting one of the huge messages in the movie.
Throughout the film, Elle is repeatedly judged because, at first glance, she is nothing like the other law students - she wears bright clothes, has shiny blonde hair, always has a smile on her face and despite how horrible people are to her, she remains kind and never utters a bad word about anyone. In this way, she shows the audience that you shouldn’t look down on people simply because of what you see on the surface - particularly if someone has typically ‘girly’ hobbies. Typically, if a woman or female-presenting person is to be taken seriously, they feel like they must present themselves in a masculine/androgynous way or partake in these types of hobbies. But with media like this, the main character is still strong and empowering, even whilst embracing their femininity - showing viewers everywhere that you can be feminine and powerful simultaneously. Furthermore, Elle remains true to herself, even when everything starts to go wrong, and never changes who she is for anyone, essentially implying that the best thing you can be is yourself.
Another crucial part of this film is the way that it empowers female friendships. One example is when Elle’s whole sorority helps her study for the LSATs at the start of the movie. They all support her in her dream (despite them not understanding it) because they love her and know she would do the same for any of them. Furthermore, we see her friendship with Vivian (Selma Blair) develop throughout the movie, despite Vivian’s initial cattiness towards Elle. The turning point is when Elle refuses to tell the lawyers what Brooke Wyndam’s (Ali Larter) alibi is, because Vivian admires Elle’s integrity and therefore, starts to take her seriously. Their friendship grows and, despite a misunderstanding, they are even closer friends by the end of the film. This friendship is especially impactful as both girls are vastly different in styles and personalities, but that’s okay because they support each other nonetheless.
But to say that the rom-com had no flaws would be misleading, partly because, there isn’t a single person of colour in the main cast - a diversity issue prevalent in many rom-coms from the same era. In addition, at the beginning of the movie, Elle is initially obsessed with getting her ex-boyfriend, Warner, back - and this motivation is why she starts her journey to becoming a lawyer; as a result, the impact of feminist messages is diminished during these parts of the film.
However, Legally Blonde has still had quite an impact on society - teaching girls everywhere that they should be true to themselves and embrace their feminine sides. So, in my opinion, Legally Blonde is really that iconic - especially because of the amazing scene where Warner questions if Elle got into Harvard Law and she says, and I quote, “What, like it’s hard?”