By Tyler Martin
Margot Robbie for Barbie, Zendaya for Dune, Cynthia Erivo for Wicked–at this point, we’re all a little tired of method dressing. It was a refreshing concept at first, but now in 2025, it feels overdone.
In case you’re unfamiliar, method dressing is a term coined by André-Naquian Wheeler of Vogue, who defined it as “a chance to extend a project’s cinematic universe onto the red carpet before the movie even premieres.” Essentially, celebrities dress like the characters they play while promoting their movies on red carpets and press tours.
Now, a new term has emerged: cosplay dressing–not to be confused with actual cosplay, which involves dressing as a fictional character. According to Premsinee Maneesathein of Koktail Magazine, cosplay dressing is “about embodying the essence of someone else, through detailed styling that closely resembles or pays homage to the original source… In relation to films, celebrities pay tribute to other celebrities even when unrelated to the movie being promoted.”
At this point, you’re probably thinking: Thanks for the definition, but how does this apply to my life?
Let’s break it down.
With method dressing, we are dressing for a role we’ve already been cast in. Just as Margot Robbie dressed like Barbie throughout her press tour, we subconsciously dress as college students every day when we attend class at SMU. That might mean athleisure, your go-to jeans and t-shirt combo, or a matching sweat set. We dress for the character we believe we’re expected to play.
But what if, in 2025, we challenged ourselves to embrace cosplay dressing–not just dressing for who we are today, but for the person we aspire to become?
Take Ariana Grande, for example. Her recent red carpet looks, especially at the latest Golden Globes, have channeled Audrey Hepburn. This has led some to speculate that she’s trying to signal to casting directors that she’d be the perfect choice to play the Funny Face star in an upcoming biopic. As Vogue’s Hayley Maitland wrote, “And yet this is as much manifest dressing from Grande as it is cosplay dressing; Luca Guadagnino’s Hepburn biopic, which would have seen Rooney Mara playing Audrey, is no longer happening, with rumors swirling that Grande is keen to step into her ballet flats instead.”
So how does this translate to our everyday style?
Let’s say one of your goals this year is to wear your dressier pieces more often, beyond just going out to eat in Dallas. Try styling them with everyday staples, like jeans and a t-shirt, to create looks that feel intentional, fun, and uniquely you. We don’t always have to look to people within our immediate social circles for style inspiration. Instead of copying what your friends wear, explore new sources. Go on vogue.com to check out the latest runway collections or follow an influencer in Europe whose eclectic style speaks to you. So if you aspire to be a trendy, French influencer, dress like a trendy, French influencer. If you want to be a business mogul, dress like a business mogul. You get the gist.
Just because we’re college students at SMU doesn’t mean our location should limit how we dress. Fashion isn’t just about how others perceive us– it’s a tool of self-expression. It’s a way to showcase the version of ourselves we’re most proud of. And in some cases, when we embrace this concept of cosplay dressing, it helps us step into the person we aspire to become. As the famous quote reads: “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.”
So, how will you challenge yourself to unlock a new version of your style this year?
Cover Artwork by Staff Member Athena Mamatas
