Parker Posey really is the “Queen of the Indies.” After launching her acting career with small roles in Dazed and Confused and Coneheads, Parker became a bona fide indie darling by starring in 32 of the 90s’ culty-est independent films including Noah Baumbach’s Kicking and Screaming, Gregg Araki’s The Doom Generation, Greg Mottola’s The Daytrippers, and . In addition to being indie cinema’s certified Party Girl, Parker is also its de facto funny girl. (There’s a reason she’s been a Christopher Guest regular for over two decades!) Across three decades, she’s forged a style of comedic acting that’s all her own, ranging from quippy to aloof, unhinged to just plain silly — it’s not surprising, then, she’s been cast in The White Lotus season three!
Off camera, Parker’s personal style is just as quirky as her performances and as eclectic as her filmography, running the gamut from club kid maximalism to 60s-inspired twee. She’s as partial to a mesh top as she is to a flapper dress or a vintage fur coat. She’s a proponent of red carpet gloves (of the wool variety). And, it seems, she’s never met an accessory she couldn’t pull off. Whether she’s wearing a Carrie Bradshaw flower brooch or sequin scarf, Parker’s always got ‘it’. Here, we’re looking back at some of the actress and it girl’s most iconic outfits of all time.
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In Party Girl, 1995
Parker’s given a staggering number of memorable performances throughout her career, but none are as iconic as her turn in Party Girl. The role of Mary — a snarky club kid turned librarian — made Parker into not just an indie darling, but a fashion darling, too. “One of the things about costuming Parker was that she was game for anything,” costume designer Michael Clancy told Vogue of the film’s iconic wardrobe. “We just threw things together that seemed to work. We’d come up with our own versions of those high fashion looks we couldn’t afford and combine them with vintage clothes, or something we’d bought from Century 21. That’s how the film was costumed.” Inspired by the real-life club kids of New York, Mary’s aspirational wardrobe takes in Vivienne Westwood corsets, Todd Oldham disco pants, vintage leopard coats, and even a borrowed Chanel jacket. Here, Parker’s Mary dresses to impress her falafel vendor crush in some of the film’s most unforgettable looks.
At a Diesel store opening, 1996
Parker Posey or Party Girl? Here, at a Diesel store opening (where else?), Parker channels the film’s club-hopping heroine in a mesh top, leather pants, and vintage fur coat.
At a play opening, 2000
When it comes to Parker’s style, this is about as minimalist as it gets. Here, the actress wears a streamlined gown printed with a fun snakeskin pattern. It’s Calvin Klein meets Party Girl.
At Cannes Film Festival, 2002
Parker went full twee at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival. The 60s-inspired dress is sweet, but it’s the details that really pull the look together: Gucci loafers, blue eyeshadow, and a half-smoked cigarette, just as a finishing touch.
At the Drama Desk Awards, 2005
Parker’s a proponent of pile-it-on maximalism. And nowhere is that fact evidenced more than in this 2005 Drama Desk Awards look. The outfit’s got it all: a vintage fur coat, a bejeweled flapper dress, a lucite-handled handbag, layers upon layers of necklaces and, the cherry on top, a little floral brooch. Chic!
At Toronto International Film Festival, 2006
Parker loves an accessory (or five!) And she knows how to wear ‘em. Here, the actress sits pretty at the 2006 TIFF wearing a thin sequin scarf and the era’s ubiquitous lace tights.
At Cannes Film Festival, 2015
When in Cannes! In 2015, Parker returned to the French film festival in full Riviera glam. The look — a sequin gown paired with massive shades and a matching headscarf — paid homage to the fashions of Cannes’ mid-century heyday, all with a Parker twist, of course!
This article was originally published on 1 September 2023 and has since been updated.