5 stylish on-screen Asian couples whose style statements are as evergreen as their romance

From ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ to ‘Slumdog Millionaire’, these movies are etched in our minds as much for their couples as for their storylines

Love is in the air this month, but it’s almost always on the silver screen. And the magnetic pull these love stories have on us is largely due the chemistry of their lead couples, who not only woo each other on-screen but also woos the viewers, with their performance, charisma, and of course, effortless style.

When thinking about stylish Asian couples on-screen, perhaps Wong Kar-wai’s In the Mood for Love, starring legends Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung, is the first that pops into your head. As iconic as this film is, it is far from being the only film with a couple that stands out for their style as much as for their love. Here are five films starring Asian leads whose fashion statements have stayed with us just as much as their stories.

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1. Fleur and Chan in ‘Rouge’ (1987)

Anita Mui and Leslie Cheung play doomed lovers Fleur and Chan in Stanley Kwan’s ghostly romance, Rouge. The split narrative juxtaposes 1930s and 1980s Hong Kong, and its period-specific costumes helped the film bag Best Costume Design Award at Taiwan’s Golden Horse Film Festival in 1987. Mui’s traditional cheongsams and Cheung’s Tang suits not only speak to the era they are from, but the vastly different designs also represent the disconnect between the two. Mui’s outfits also reflect her character’s journey as it moves between vibrant florals when she is sought after and more subdued colours when she faces rejection.

2. Shigeru and Tatako in ‘A Scene at the Sea’ (1991)

Japanese director Takeshi Kitano’s film is set in the 1990s and feels chilled and casual with its colourful surf-chic looks. Claude Maki as Shigeru and Hiroko Oshima as Tatako play a hearing-impaired couple keen to learn surfing, and their outfits epitomise the era’s quintessential teenage aesthetics. Both wear baggy, washed-out denim, white plimsolls, loose long-sleeved shirts and chunky cardigans, mimicking the relaxed vibe of the Japanese surf town they’re trying to find space for themselves in.

3. Mu Bai and Shu Lien in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ (2000)

Director Ang Lee’s masterpiece might be best remembered for its iconic fight sequences, but its costumes are just as worthy of iconic status, too. Set in 19th-century China, the outfits won Best Costume Design at the 2001 BAFTAs. Standout design moments include costumes for Chow Yun-fat as Li Mu Bai and Michelle Yeoh as Yu Shu Lien, whose Qing dynasty-style robes—cream for Chow and mauve and teal with embroidery for Yeoh—were simultaneously beautiful and ornate, and practical for their wuxia martial artist characters.

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4. Jamal and Latika in ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ (2007)

The Hollywood blockbuster was inadvertently glamourising poverty, but there’s no denying that its costume design is superb. The design team put in tremendous effort to create a distressed and worn-out look for lead characters Jamal (Dev Patel) and Latika (Freida Pinto), taking time to stretch the outfits, as well as shredding and washing them several times to age them appropriately for the film. The costumes authentically spoke to the social status of Patel and Pinto’s characters, a powerful way to instantly place the viewers in their world and to invite them to care about their love story.

The story follows Jamal’s quest to find Latika, a girl from his childhood who he believes he had lost to trafficking, and Latika’s yellow salwar kameez (Indian attire with a long top and pants) is a visual representation of how she is a bright spot in Jamal’s memory that carries him through his struggles throughout the movie.

5. Sook-Hee and Lady Hideko in ‘The Handmaiden’ (2016)

Set in 1930s Korea under Japanese occupation, this psychological thriller explores the tangled relationships between Lady Hideko, Sook-Hee, Count Fujiwara and Uncle Kouzuki. The film’s gothic appeal is emphasised by its costumes that range from jewel-toned gowns to tailcoat tuxedos. At the centre of the plot are Lady Hideko (Kim Min-Hee) and her handmaiden Sook-Hee (Kim Tae-Ri), whose costumes reflect their starkly different social classes. Lady Hideko moves seamlessly between Japanese kimonos and Edwardian-inspired lace dresses as per her wealthy status, while Sook-Hee is seen in simple work hanboks. While these women wear so much clothing due to societal standards, they see through each other’s facades to find the seeds of love that grow as the film progresses.

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Topics

Anita Mui Leslie Cheung Michelle Yeoh Chow Yun-fat Film Fashion