May December: The Significance of Gracie and Elizabeth’s Stylish Outfits
May December might have been one of Hollywood’s most highly anticipated movies, since its initial announcement way back in July 2021. But the Todd Haynes American drama, with its controversial story, characters and suggestive outfits, has just made its way to Netflix in a whirlwind of critical acclaim.
But between the moral gray areas and the movie’s questionable subject, is the May December outfits. A quiet yet important tool in the telling of Mary Kay Letourneau story. After she groomed, had children with, went to jail for and later married Vili Gualaau, her twelve year old school student.
However, with a touch of Hollywood glamor and some name changes, the loosely inspired story of a film within a film follows actress Elizabeth Berry, as she prepares to take on the controversial role of Gracie Atherton-Yoo.
~Elizabeth Berry’s May December Outfits~
Elizabeth Berry, the actress who finds pleasure in portraying the “bad” people of society in her movie roles, ruffles feathers wherever she goes. From her speech at Gracie Atherton-Yoo’s children’s school, to her slow transformation into the morally questionable mother, her May December outfits are no less dramatic.
Elizabeth Berry’s ATM Anthony Thomas Melillo Claret Slip Dress in May December
It seemed like a good idea, to all parties involved, that actress Elizabeth Berry would shadow Gracie Atherton-Yoo for her latest movie role. Ensuring that she told the controversial story “correctly.” But it wasn’t long after her arrival in Savannah, Georgia on Memorial Day in a stylish claret Anthony Thomas Melillo slip dress and designer accessories, that the family’s cracks started to show.
The Outsider: Elizabeth’s Dark and Mysterious Outfits of Black Knit Sweaters
With a suitcase full of designer May December outfits leaning towards Elizabeth’s favorite dark color palette of black, she cements her star status and makes quite the impression. The complete opposite to Gracie’s wardrobe of softer tones, Elizabeth’s love of black knitwear with her Saint Laurent Ribbed Turtleneck and Alexander Wang layered sweater, mark her as a fashionable outsider in town.
Natalie Portman’s Short Sleeve White Ribbed knit Polo Top as Elizabeth Berry
With Elizabeth’s desire to fully commit to her new role as Gracie, Natalie Portman who plays the committed actress, slowly starts to transform into the softer and gentler woman. Gone are her moody knitwear looks, and darker color palettes, replaced with lighter pinks, lilacs and whites. Just like her short sleeve ribbed polo top that calls back to her earlier looks. And wouldn’t be out of place in the big city wardrobe she arrived in, if it wasn’t for the purity of the white knit fabric.
Elizabeth’s Almost Sheer Caslon Gauze Button-Up Shirt in May December
Determined to learn all of the secrets of Gracie and Joe’s controversial romance, and complete her character transformation, Elizabeth starts to subtly force herself more and more into their lives. Using her wardrobe of Gracie like garments, which costume designer April Napier suggested Elizabeth bought while in town, to her advantage.
In the same way that Euphoria’s Cassie Howard used her clothes to try and win Nate’s affections. Elizabeth wears an almost completely sheer striped gauze button-up shirt to secretly visit Joe, delighting in the thrill of them sneaking around together.
Transforming into Gracie: Elizabeth and Gracie’s Matching May December Outfits
By the time that May December reaches its finale, at the high school graduation of the Atherton-Yoo twins, Elizabeth’s transformation into Gracie is complete. With their mirrored hairstyles falling over their shoulders, their subtle make-up looks and designer sunglasses only being a part of the change. The last puzzle piece is the perfectly styled matching ivory dresses, with Elizabeth’s soft and tailored cap sleeve shirtdress every inch the renowned stars version of the woman that has possessed her.
Shirt Dress
~Gracie Atherton-Yoo’s May December Outfits~
Gracie Atherton-Yoo might be a fictional version of Mary Kay Letourneau, but the murky and controversial story that became big tabloid news is portrayed almost true to life. From her feminine and delicate May December outfits to her self proclaimed love story, Gracie thinks that Elizabeth really wants the truth of the story. Or the truth as Gracie sees it…
Gracie Atherton-Yoo’s Cream Flutter Sleeve Blouse
Twenty-three years after Gracie and Joe started their relationship, when he was just a teenager, Gracie jumps at the chance for a well-known actress to shadow the family to learn the true story of the couple’s love. But striving for perfection, and a princess-like feel to her life, with flowing silhouettes and creamy colors, Gracies ivory flutter sleeve blouses and pastel colored pants, are merely covering the cracks in her troubled life.
Julianne Moore Wearing Hill House Lilac Smocked Midi-Dress in May December
After harshly exclaiming, in her innocent tone, that her teenage daughter Mary, was brave to consider the beautiful white prom dress that had ruffled straps instead of sleeves to cover her arms, Gracie stole the look. Wearing an almost identical ruffled smock Hill House Home midi-dress, only this time in a soft lilac shade. Playing on the idea of her continued youthfulness, no doubt a consequence of a 23 year age gap to her husband, that Gracie so intensely desires to portray.
Feminine and Delicate: Gracie’s Sleeveless Tunic Blouse May December Outfit
With a light feminine touch to the way that Gracie presents herself, she shuns the mature polished looks of mothers like Family Switch’s Jess Walker and her designer heavy wardrobe. Instead her palette of lavenders, pinks and ivory’s are used to reinforce her innocence and give her a perceived loveliness. Using her delicate Nili Lotan chiffon blouse with its restrained purple color and soft fragile fabric, in a loose silhouette to subtly reflect the frailty of Gracie as a person.
Two Peas in a Pod: Gracie and Elizabeth’s Similar Looking Dresses and Aprons
Throughout the movie Elizabeth’s changing wardrobe of May December outfits gradually transforms her into Gracie, and a version of the story that she is going to portray on screen. So when we first see her arrive for a baking lesson at the Atherton-Yoo house, it’s not a surprise to see the almost matching simple patterned dresses. And although Elizabeth goes geometric with a check, Gracie sticks to her gentler, more girlie whimsy with a ditsy floral on a modest Laura Ashely short sleeve midi-dress.
Gracie Atherton-Yoo’s Celine Designer Sunglasses
With Julianne Moore expertly playing Gracie Atherton-Yoo, it isn’t much of a stretch of the imagination when we see her put up an ever so slight fight over the story of her life. Questioning whether Elizabeth really knows her at all, and denouncing the stories the actress has heard, as they face each other in their almost identical ivory dresses and designer sunglasses. But true to form, where Elizabeths are tailored and square, Gracie opts for fluttery sleeves and large round tortoise shell Celine sunglasses.
The subject matter of Hollywood’s latest hit might have more gray areas and controversy than most directors are willing to deal with, but May December doesn’t shy away from the topics at hand. Questioning everything we are told by our fictional Gracie, while still making sure the character’s and their wardrobes are flawlessly stylish.
Yet the May December outfits are more than just the usual movie costumes we are accustomed to. Almost a performer in their own right, the story is told as much through the scripts as it is through fluttery chiffon blouses and black knit sweaters.
