Happy Friday, friends! I’ve been counting down the days to this next Fashion in Film installment, and I can’t wait to dive in with you. Today’s spotlight is on a movie that critics love to hate but that I personally can’t get enough of: the 1993 erotic thriller Body of Evidence, starring Madonna, Willem Dafoe, and Julianne Moore.
Now, before you raise an eyebrow—yes, this movie currently sits at a dismal two-star rating on IMDb and a shocking 8% on Rotten Tomatoes. But let’s be honest: sometimes that’s exactly the kind of film you want to revisit. Forget the “lukewarm acting” and the absurd courtroom drama. Put aside the tangled, overcooked plot. Instead, lean into what makes this movie such an enjoyable guilty pleasure: the unbridled sexiness, the commitment to noir tropes, and the unforgettable fashion.
So pour yourself a generous glass of wine, grab a box of Cheez-Its, and prepare for a cinematic experience that’s part noir, part fever dream, and entirely unforgettable. Because Body of Evidence may be a mess, but it’s a gorgeously dressed one.
Madonna as Femme Fatale
At the center of this story is Madonna, playing a femme fatale so literal it borders on parody. If you remember her character Breathless Mahoney in Dick Tracy, you’ll recognize the vibe—only here, it’s stripped of comic-book glamour and steeped in saxophone-heavy seduction.
Madonna’s Rebecca Carlson isn’t just a woman accused of murdering a lover through “death by pleasure” (yes, really)—she’s a walking, talking interpretation of a cinematic archetype: the dangerous woman whose beauty is both irresistible and deadly.
The fun of watching Madonna in this role isn’t whether you believe her character or not (spoiler: you probably won’t). It’s how completely she commits to the look and the aura of a noir temptress. The dark lipstick, the dramatic silhouettes, the sharp tailoring softened by silk and lace—it’s pure vamp, filtered through early ’90s minimalism.
Neo-Noir Through a 1990s Lens
One of the most fascinating things about Body of Evidence is how it treats the noir genre with reverence, even while delivering it in a glossy, over-the-top package. By the early 1990s, Hollywood was enamored with erotic thrillers—films like Basic Instinct and Fatal Attraction had paved the way, mixing crime, sex, and suspense in ways that felt edgy and dangerous.
But Body of Evidence goes a step further by pulling visual inspiration from the 1930s and ’40s, then filtering it through the lens of 1990s excess. The result is a kind of time-capsule fashion experiment: what happens when shoulder pads and minimalist slips collide with the sultry glamour of the golden age of noir?
The answer: Madonna in slinky black dresses that could double as lingerie, tailored suits that scream power, and a parade of looks that oscillate between courtroom chic and bedroom fantasy.
The Wardrobe Highlights
The fashion in this film deserves its own spotlight. Here are a few of the standout looks that make this movie worth watching—even if you mute the dialogue.
- The Black Slip Dress: Perhaps the most iconic look, Madonna wears a slinky slip that is both understated and impossibly provocative. It’s a quintessential femme fatale piece—simple, but loaded with suggestion.
- Power Suits with a Twist: In her courtroom scenes, Rebecca’s wardrobe sharpens. She wears tailored blazers and pencil skirts that wouldn’t look out of place in a high-powered law firm—except they’re cut just a little closer, styled just a little sexier. It’s professionalism reimagined through the lens of seduction.
- Julianne Moore’s Supporting Style: While Madonna takes center stage, Julianne Moore (playing Dafoe’s put-upon partner) offers a softer counterpoint. Her wardrobe is understated, almost intentionally muted, a reminder of how costuming can be used to highlight power dynamics between characters.
- The Details: Dark red lipstick, sheer stockings, sharp heels, and the occasional oversized coat—every accessory whispers noir, but with that 1990s sleekness that makes it feel both retro and modern at once.
Why “Bad” Movies Can Still Be Fabulous
Let’s face it: nobody’s putting Body of Evidence on a list of cinematic masterpieces. The dialogue is clunky, the courtroom drama veers into soap-opera territory, and the soundtrack feels like it was borrowed from a parody of the genre.
And yet—that’s exactly what makes it so fun. The movie takes itself so seriously that you can’t help but be entertained. In fact, the seriousness is what makes the fashion shine even brighter. Because the costumes aren’t ironic or half-hearted—they’re carefully crafted to sell you on Madonna as the ultimate femme fatale.
There’s a lesson here for fashion lovers: sometimes inspiration comes not from perfection but from excess. From the way genres collide, or the way an era reinterprets the past. Watching Body of Evidence is like watching the 1990s try on the clothes of the 1940s and strut around the room, daring you not to look.
The Lasting Appeal
So why revisit a film that critics trashed three decades ago? Because fashion doesn’t care about reviews. It cares about imagery, about mood, about the way a silhouette moves across a screen. And in that sense, Body of Evidence delivers.
It’s sexy, it’s over-the-top, it’s drenched in saxophone solos—and it’s absolutely brimming with fashion inspiration.
So the next time you’re in the mood for something indulgent, put on Body of Evidence. Don’t expect a flawless film. Expect instead a style mood board wrapped in an erotic thriller, one that will have you reaching for red lipstick and black silk faster than you can say “femme fatale.”
