Decoding the Fashion of 6 Epic Post-Apocalyptic Movies: From Mad Max to The Hunger Games Inline
Photo: Courtesy of Kennedy Miller Productions1/6Mad Max: Fury Road
The Apocalypse: A series of catastrophes, likely nuclear
The Look: Desert grungeSet in the Wasteland, a militaristic desert kingdom, Fury Road comes washed in sand and dirt. Things are still punk—e.g., an electric guitar that spouts flames—but more literally, grunge. See the Five Wives (models Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Zoë Kravitz, Abbey Lee, Riley Keough, and Courtney Eaton), whose virginal white garments come caked with dust and range from a shredded strapless mini to a pair of bandage-like bandeaux. **Charlize Theron’**s peerless Imperator Furiosa keeps it combat-ready with army pants and boots, stacks of belts and holsters, a protective pauldron, and a bionic arm to smash people’s heads with—Mad Max who?
Photo: Courtesy of AMC2/6The Walking Dead
The Apocalypse: Zombies
The Look: Southern survivalistAMC’s horror show brings zombies to Atlanta in an unknown time period that reads like ours—walkers in red flannel shirts and vintage band tees, etc. The big takeaway for when the undead rise? Invest in a good pair of sturdy boots, like Carol. For example, Dr. Martens are excellent protection against zombie bites, or grasping zombie hands (who knew?). And there is never any excuse—not flesh eaters, not militants—to sacrifice your look. Take Sasha: Whether sniping the undead in an oversize army jacket with patches, or topping her breastplate with a colorful striped scarf, Sasha knows that alive doesn’t have to mean boring.
Photo: Courtesy of Lionsgate3/6The Hunger Games
The Apocalypse: Mysterious calamity leads to the rise of dystopia
The Look: OTT coutureFashion in the Districts is the standard survivalist fare, but in the privileged Capitol, Panem’s elite revel in excess—candy-colored powder wigs, heaps of tulle. **Jennifer Lawrence’**s Katniss Everdeen learns to straddle both worlds, shifting from a tobacco leather hunting jacket to a laser-cut leather gown with ease (during the actual Games, of course, it’s all sporty windbreakers and high-tech bodysuits). Then there’s Effie Trinket, who comes clad in actual Alexander McQueen—the feather butterfly dress from spring 2011—but exchanges it, come Mockingjay, for a simple gray shirtdress (though the enamel costume bangles on her arm say she’s still got style).
Photo: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox4/6The Last Man on Earth
The Apocalypse: Deadly virus
The Look: Anything goesThis Will Forte comedy puts a refreshing spin on the doom-and-gloom genre. Forte’s Phil Miller lives all alone (apocalypse, etc.) in Tucson, Arizona, raiding empty grocery stores in his long striped underwear and a yellow exercise sweatband. After cycling through his roster of American Apparel hoodies and growing a gnarly beard, he discovers that he’s not the last man on earth after all, when the eccentric Carol arrives, a woman who dares to wear cropped overalls and a pale yellow polo, or a bedazzled macramé floral poncho-shirt—as one does. The odd couple makes a compelling case for anything-goes dressing, to best enjoy the end days.
Photo: Courtesy of Moho Film5/6Snowpiercer
The Apocalypse: Ice age
The Look: Layers on layersLife in the rear section of a perpetual-motion train is cold, dirty, and grim—even **Chris Evans **s grizzled good looks suffer. Naturally, Snowpiercer’s tail passengers must layer heaps of utilitarian knits, hoodies, beanies, and overalls, in dingy patch-worked fabrics, to keep warm. In the front cabins, a mid-century glitz prevails, as always, with chartreuse brocade coats and silk medallion-print pajamas on rotation. In the ultimate symbol of ice-age classism, **Tilda Swinton’**s Mason tops off her late-sixties, Margaret Thatcher–inspired wool skirt suit and Iris Apfel–style frames with a luxe Giuliana Teso fur coat, draped casually over her shoulders.
