When Emma Stone stepped out in Midtown Manhattan for a Late Show with Stephen Colbert taping, fashion fans immediately felt a déjà-vu — one dipped in deep, cinematic green.
Her choice for the night was not just another elegant press-tour outfit. It was a precise, archival Donna Karan Spring 1996 silk ensemble, the same look Gwyneth Paltrow wore as Estella in the 1998 film Great Expectations. The two-piece — an ultra-minimalist leaf-green blouse and bias-cut skirt — became one of the most recognizable costumes of late-’90s cinema, remembered for its seductive restraint and its all-green visual world.
In one appearance, Stone pulled that memory forward, reminding us that the film’s style has never really loosened its grip on fashion.
The Callback That Hit a Cultural Nerve
In Great Expectations, Paltrow’s Estella — icy, alluring, untouchable — was dressed almost exclusively in Donna Karan pieces. Paltrow has recalled that “everything in the movie was green,” and that the wardrobe’s tonal world was deliberate, symbolic and deeply stylish. The film became a quiet cult favorite among fashion people, long before “archival” was Instagram vocabulary.
So when Stone arrived wearing *that* exact Spring/Summer 1996 look, complete with sleek black Manolo Blahnik mules, it wasn’t just homage. It was revival. It was proof that film costuming can live a second — and sometimes more powerful — life off-screen.
The Costume-to-Carpet Era is Here
Celebrity style has entered a new phase. Instead of referencing runway trends or chasing viral micro-aesthetics, stars are increasingly returning to fashion’s cinematic touchstones — actual looks, not interpretations. This moment signals something larger: nostalgia with intention.
Unlike seasonal runway cycles, archival film wardrobes come with built-in narrative — memory, emotion, character, and story. When an actor wears one, it adds dimension and sparks conversation. For an Oscar-winning performer like Stone, who is often loyal to Louis Vuitton on the red carpet, choosing a one-night archival detour reads as both personal and expressive.
In 2025, authenticity is influence. And archival is authenticity’s most luxurious form.
Why This Look Still Feels Modern
The Donna Karan silhouette — fluid, slinky, and spare — could walk down a runway today unchanged. While many ‘90s revivals lean into grunge or streetwear nostalgia, this moment celebrates something different: grown-up minimalism. It’s sensual without shouting, feminine without frill, elegant without effort.
Modern designers like The Row, Khaite, Michael Kors Collection, and even Ferragamo continue to echo these lines: bias cuts, lean cardigans, rich monochrome, and movement as the main accessory. And of all the ‘90s aesthetics to return in full force, this might be the one that ages best — because it never really left.
Shop the Modern “Estella Green” Look
To channel the vibe (not the costume), think: satin, movement, monochrome, and a clean silhouette.
- Satin or silk bias skirt in emerald or moss
- Deep-V cardigan or blouse with a single fastening or tie
- Black mule or slingback heel (kitten height feels closest to the aesthetic)
- Fine gold earrings or studs to keep the look whisper-soft, not statement-heavy
This is one of those rare nostalgia looks that translates effortlessly to real life — no costume energy, just polish.
A Legacy Reawakened
With one archival pull, Emma Stone reopened a fashion time capsule and proved how potent a single costume can be in the cultural imagination. Great Expectations may be a 1998 film, but its wardrobe remains evergreen — literally and stylistically.
In an era obsessed with what’s “new,” Stone made her biggest fashion statement by wearing something with history, memory, and meaning.
And that’s the real headline: trends fade, but references endure. Especially the ones drenched in Estella green.
