Marlene Dietrich's Cinematic Style: 6 Iconic Film Looks

An article on Artribune explores the fashion legacy of Marlene Dietrich through six of her most famous films. The German-born Hollywood icon, discovered by director Josef von Sternberg, was known for her androgynous style, often wearing tailored suits in the 1930s when queer identity was still criminalized in the US. The films analyzed include 'The Blue Angel' (1930), where she played cabaret singer Lola Lola; 'Morocco' (1930), featuring a same-sex kiss and masculine attire; 'Shanghai Express' (1932), with lavish feathered costumes amid the Great Depression; 'Blonde Venus' (1932), where she returns to nightclub singing; 'A Foreign Affair' (1948) by Billy Wilder, set in occupied Berlin; and 'Witness for the Prosecution' (1957), also by Wilder, based on an Agatha Christie story. The article highlights how Dietrich's on-screen wardrobe—feathers, veils, Chinese silk, and tailored suits—defined her femme fatale persona and challenged gender norms. The piece is part of a series on art and culture, with thanks to the Cineteca di Bologna.