Television and film have played a significant role in setting fashion trends. Programmes like Doctor Who, Sex and the City, the X-Files and Miami Vice have embraced celebrity fashions. The characters in Sex and the City are often wearing sexy lingerie in scenes.

In the case of Star Trek, a sub cultural look was incorporated into mainstream fashion. Films that have had a major impact on fashion are ‘Gone with The Wind’ (1939) ‘Rebel without A Cause’ (1955) ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ (1961) and ‘Pulp Fiction’ (1994). Breakfast in Tiffany’s (1961) is an adequate illustration of the bohemian look of the late 1950’s being fully absorbed. The women wear men’s shirts over tight trousers or pedal-pushers in this film.

Musical styles also influence fashion, for instance, Rock ‘n Roll enticed teenage girls to wear full, knee length skirts on dance floors, boldly printed with polka dots or large checks. Cats, leopards and poodles were poplar motifs to decorate the swirly skirts along with braiding in readable mottos. By the Sixties, flared skirts were still the rage but worn with tight-fitting knitwear. Another style, totally unsuitable for the dance floor, was the tight fitting sheath dress. This short body-hugging dress was often adorned with a flying panel in the same or contrasting material. At this time shorter length cocktail dresses were first seen.