This fierce foursome of ladies may be battling evil space aliens, shady drug dealers, mysterious cults, and robots from the future, but they’re not too busy to look amazing doing so. I love their badass outfits as much as I envy their butt-kicking moves—these chicas are some of the most viciously stylish movie heroines of all time. Follow their leads to give your own wardrobe some action!
Pam Grier plays the title character in Foxy Brown (1974), a ’70s cult classic about a woman posing as a prostitute to seek revenge for the murder of her boyfriend. Foxy, a gun-toting, ass-whooping lady of vengeance, was so perfectly imagined and acted that she’s become a totally iconic action hero.
As for style, Foxy’s clothes seriously make my jaw drop! I’m obsessed with her gorgeous tie-waist blouses, leather jackets, and, of course, her signature gold hoop earrings. Hunt for a similar top on Etsy using the search terms “long sleeve cropped vintage top.” Then wear it with a pair of bell-bottoms, and just like Foxy Brown, you’ll be the meanest chick in town!
In The Terminator (1984) and many of its sequels, Sarah Connor, played by Linda Hamilton, is being targeted by a buff robot assassin sent from the future (aka the Terminator, played by Ah-nold Schwarzenegger). He’s trying to murk her because otherwise her unborn son will head a revolution against the Term’s fellow totalitarian cyborg overlords in 2029.
In the first movie, Sarah is an an innocent civilian with big feathered hair and a cute purple jacket. In the second, she’s dressed to destroy some robot ass in cargo pants and a simple tank. Why not combine elements of her before and after in one outfit, like a cute pastel Members Only jacket and some sunglasses with circle lenses? Of course, you’ll want your hair as big as Sarah’s, so don’t forget the Aqua Net!
Based on the Tomb Raider video game franchise, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) is about a thrill-seeking archaeologist (played by Angelina Jolie) who collects ancient artifacts from all over the world. During a rare planetary alignment, Lara discovers that a sinister secret society is trying to access a relic that will allow them to control time, but only if they make it happen before the final phase of the celestial event. NOT ON HER WATCH!
Even while riding motorcycles and doing aerial stunts, Lara always looks chic. She sports tall riding boots, tank tops, furry hooded coats, and an omnipresent utility belt. If I had one of those, I’d use it to carry the necessities: nail polish, my iPhone, an emergency pair of tights, and a piece of pizza, of course.
In Alien (1979), Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) is an officer on a spacecraft that is returning to Earth. The ship detects an unknown transmission, and when the crew sets out to investigate, they are confronted by a killer alien life form!
Ellen is an astronaut battling murderous extraterrestrials, so you won’t find her in a fancy dress and heels (although that would probably make for an amazing fashion editorial). Wear a puffy jacket or vest, tight pleather pants, and metallic nail polish (or foil) as an homage to her out-of-this-world style! ♦