Last Updated on March 3, 2022
Carey Mulligan stars in Promising Young Woman, a revenge thriller that every woman can relate to. As well as the storyline stopping me in my tracks, so too did Mulligan’s character Cassie’s style.
The directorial debut of writer and director Emerald Fennell follows 30-year-old Cassie, who dropped out of medical school following the rape of her best friend Nina.
READ MORE: What is the Coquette Aesthetic Sweeping TikTok?
She spends her nights seeking revenge on the self-proclaimed ‘nice guys,’ dressing up and smudging her make-up to appear drunk before catching them about to take advantage of her.
The storyline is gripping, while it’s humorous, relatable and the ending packs a punch – but while we can’t stop thinking about the movie, Cassie’s outfits have got us excited too.
While the Academy Award-nominated film is without a doubt dark, the protagonist’s outfits are the exact opposite.
Everything she wears is sickly sweet, from her candy-coloured rainbow nail polish, to her pretty pink sweaters and the matching bows she wears in her perfectly-plaited hair.
Make no mistake, this is deliberate. Costume designer Nancy Steiner told L’Officiel, “Her whole life seems to depend on this revenge series of events, where she is going out and putting on costumes to fit into these different bars or places that she’s going.
“Even what she wears in her supposed real life is a costume in that it’s all very light and feminine and frilly and happy, yet that’s not really how she’s feeling. It’s a disguise, just like the clothes that she puts on in the evening.”
The styling of Promising Young Woman couldn’t have come at a better time to get us inspired.
Fashion is set to get a splash of colour this winter, which align perfectly with the fashion choices we see throughout the film too.
So where can you find Cassie’s outfits? We’ve done some digging and found some of her cutest pieces, while we’ve also scoped out some similar items to help you achieve her ultra-feminine looks.
READ MORE: 13 of the Best Resin Rings to Shop Now
For fashion advice and general chit-chat, join our Facebook group What To Wear Next or follow us on Instagram.
Wear Next may receive a small commission if you click a link from one of our articles onto a retail website and make a purchase.
How to copy Cassie’s style
Cassie’s rose-print tee and layered gold necklaces are easy to replicate. Her perfect plait, not so much.
Curve notch front t-shirt in white floral, now £7.20, ASOS – buy now (up to size 30)
Notch front t-shirt in white floral, now £5.40, ASOS – buy now
Layered Chain Necklace, £150, Monica Vinader – buy now
It seems like a lot of the Promising Young Woman‘s wardrobe is pink. We’ve found some similar jeans, tops and cardis for you to copy Cassie’s style.
Diamante Button Ribbed Cardigan, now £15, Warehouse – buy now
Floral Top, now £27.89, ONLY at Zalando – buy now
Pink molly mid-rise skinny jeans, £42, River Island – buy now
Straight high ankle jeans, £24.99, H&M – buy now
READ MORE: Iris Apfel x H&M is Coming Soon – Here’s What You Need to Know
Cassie’s knit was originally from Urban Outfitters, but unfortunately it’s now sold out. You can keep an eye on reselling sites such as eBay and Depop, or buy this similar knit from Amazon. Candy-coloured nails optional (but very much encouraged).
Floral Print Sweater, £17.60, Amazon – buy now
Este Longline Cotton Cardigan, now £104, Olivia Rubin at Coggles – buy now
Summer 2021 Nail Polish Set, $64, Olive & June – buy now
There are entire Reddit threads dedicated to finding this exact sweater.
Unfortunately it looks like Fennell sourced it from a vintage store for Promising Young Woman, but we’ve found a similar jumper from LoveShackFancy.
Failing that, one dedicated user suggests learning to knit and using this pattern.
Jumper with cloud pattern in pink, now £19.60, ASOS – buy now
Rita jumper, £54, Sugarhill Boutique at Wolf & Badger – buy now
Chunky knit cardigan, £45, River Island – buy now
We can’t stop thinking about Cassie’s demure blue dress. This midi from & Other Stories is almost identical.
Flowy Puff Sleeve Midi Dress, £85, & Other Stories – buy now
Fennell’s sister Coco designed this baseball top as part of a collaboration with artist Ceal Warnants.
Speaking about the hidden meaning behind it, she told Grazia, “At first glance the illustration looks like it’s from a 1950’s children’s book. Then you look closer and the child has a gun on their back and the deer is bleeding. I think it echoes Cassie’s character – sweet and harmless but when you look closer she has a darker side.”
Grab it while you still can, folks.
Baseball Shirt, £65, Coco Fennell – buy now
