Fashion and Fiction: Scarlett O’Hara, an Enduring Fashion Icon

Department: Fashion and Textile Studies: History, Theory, Museum Practice.
Advisors: KELLY, REBECCA. Committee members: LOURDES FONT.
Scarlett O'Hara, a fictional character created by Margaret Mitchell, made her world debut as the protagonist of Gone With the Wind, on June 30, 1936. In 1939, the novel was adapted for film and produced by David O. Selznick of Selznick International Pictures and Metro–Goldwyn– Mayer. Gone With the Wind follows Scarlett from adolescence to adulthood throughout the American Civil War and Reconstruction. Since 1936, Scarlett O'Hara has had a lasting influence on women's fashion throughout the United States. Considered the quintessential 'Southern Belle,' Scarlett became an important fashion icon in the twentieth century and has continued to influence contemporary American fashion and popular culture. In the mid-nineteenth century, the 'Southern Belle' was a fashionably dressed and well mannered, young and wealthy unmarried woman. Her wardrobe consisted of bright colors and playful patterns, nipped waists with wide skirts, and oversized accessories. This look was known as the Southern Belle style. Scarlett's character helped to resurrect the popularity of the Southern Belle style in American fashion throughout the twentieth century. However, her influence on American fashion has not been thoroughly investigated or the subject of scholarly analysis. Preliminary research indicates that Scarlett was surely a source of fashion inspiration, from at-home dress patterns to beautiful couture gowns. Research into her relevance reveals that although Scarlett O'Hara is not generally remembered as a fashion icon, her influence has withstood the test of time. This paper will demonstrate Scarlett O'Hara's influence on American fashion from 1936—1943 using both primary and secondary sources, and will prove her lasting influence as a significant fashion icon.