On Thursday August 14, 2025, members of the FF2 team (and some additional friends) had a ball at Manhattan’s Morgan Library and Museum, where there was a screening of Clueless plus a Q&A with its costume designer Mona May. Women of all ages decked out in bright colors and plaids flooded in for the sold-out event, chatting amongst themselves and bonding over their love of Clueless, and especially of its iconic fashion. (Some ladies waiting in front of The Morgan even asked our Editor-in-Chief — Jan Lisa Huttner — to pose for photos of her hot pink suit!)
The Morgan’s gorgeous auditorium buzzed with a cheery and bubbly energy, an attitude just like that of heroine Cher Horowitz (played by the luminous Alicia Silverstone). There was a ebullient sense of adoration and appreciation for Amy Heckerling’s film in every nook and cranny. As an audience, we erupted with laughter throughout, and we even emphatically cheered when, in debate class, Cher wrapped up her “pro” case for immigration with this incredibly timely summation: “It does not say RSVP on the Statue of Liberty!”
After Clueless ended, we welcomed Mona May onstage with enthusiastic applause. She sat down with one of The Morgan’s curators to discuss her inspiration and the process behind her costume choices. Mona recounted the moment Alicia Silverstone put on the iconic yellow plaid suit, describing it as magical. She proudly noted that there are very few costume pieces that have stood out permanently in viewers’ memories, and that the plaid suit is one of them. I could not agree more.
Very few costume pieces that have stood out permanently in viewers’ memories, and that the plaid suit is one of them.
This is precisely what is so impressive about Mona May’s costume design for Clueless: it has had a profound cultural impact in itself, outside of the influence of the rest of the film. During the Q&A, Mona explained that, though the film was set in the nineties, she refused to adopt the “grunge” aesthetic of the time. Instead she opted for a more high-fashion concept featuring perfect tailoring, statement accessories (especially hats), and pops of bright colors and patterns (especially plaid). And unlike the grunge aesthetic of the nineties, Mona’s outfits continue to withstand the test of time. As Mona correctly pointed out in the Q&A, not a single outfit appears dated.
Poignantly, Mona recounted that studio after studio passed on Clueless; they didn’t think people would want to watch a film about girls. Regardless of that pressure, Mona said she insisted on creating outfits that were unapologetically feminine. This attitude is undoubtedly one big reason why Clueless is still so popular. Amy Heckerling, with Mona at her side, insisted on making a film that she loved. They both knew women everywhere would enjoy an update of Jane Austen’s adored novel Emma, and they did!
Regardless of the pressure, Mona insisted on creating outfits that were unapologetically feminine.
Interestingly, Sense and Sensibility, adapted by Emma Thompson, came out the very same year. One could say it’s a coincidence, but more likely, this reflects a cultural shift that both of these films contributed to: around that time, women creators began to insist on putting out stories about women. When these films did come out, they were met with nothing but adoration and gratitude from women in their worldwide audiences.
Thinking back on her contribution to Clueless, Mona said: “Jane Austen was underappreciated in her time… and you could say I was underappreciated in my time. After all, I didn’t get an Oscar nomination…” As she reflected — with the audience cheering her on — Mona followed up with “I should have won an Oscar!”
Pandemonium! The crowd roared with approval!!
“Mona should have won an Oscar!!!!”
Mona noted that costume design Oscars frequently go to period films. But rather than recreate moments of the past, Mona’s pieces always say something new, making an impact on how people dressed and thought at the time films were released, and yet, still resonating to this day.
Mona is about to release a book about her costume design — The Fashion of Clueless — which will undoubtedly contain so much more wisdom and so many more fun facts than we were able to get in a brief Q&A. Me? I for one can’t wait to read it.
And to those who said that no one would care about Clueless, and that no one would want to watch a film that centers around women wearing unapologetically feminine costuming, I say: “As if!”
© Julia Lasker (8/26/25) — Special for FF2 Media®
LEARN MORE/DO MORE
Watch Clueless here.
Learn more about Mona May on Wikipedia.
Pre-order Mona May’s new book The Fashion of Clueless here.
Read Reese Alexander’s exclusive interview with Mona May for FF2.
CREDITS & PERMISSIONS
Featured Photo: Courtesy of Mona May. With gratitude to Nathalie Retana (founder of Backlight Public Relations) for facilitating!
Middle Photo: Julia Lasker (left) and Jan Lisa Huttner (right) with Mona May at the Morgan Library and Museum on 8/14/25. Photo credit to an accommodating audience member in the crowd.
Bottom Photo: Mona May doing her Q&A following the screening of Clueless at the Morgan Library and Museum on 8/14/25. Photo credit to Jan Lisa Huttner from her high perch in the audience.
