The Rise of Bella Baxter in Fashion

Big sleeves and big dreams, the Frankenstein-esque 2023 film, Poor Things, takes place within the whimsical world and self-discovery of Bella Baxter, played by Emma Stone.

Born at the hands of men, and specifically the scientist ‘God’, Bella Baxter was not a product of female biology. This theme of men trying to control and mould her to their image is a reoccurring theme throughout the film. 

Essentially, Poor Things asks its viewers: what would a woman be if she was not bound by societal constraint. We follow Bella through the infancy of her existence, although she possesses the body of a young woman. 

But through her sheltered development in the Baxter house and away from overarching societal controls, Bella is allowed to flourish in the way she deems fit. And when she does venture from her haven of the weird and wonderful, society bends to her will. This is particularly evident in the character of Duncan Wedderburn, played by Mark Ruffalo.

Wedderburn is what can only be described as a sexpot who indulges in his every whim – and this includes the strange Bella. What begins as a refined rake and man who represents upper class society, is left a fumbling child in the wake of Bella. 

Bella, on the other hand, undergoes a transition in the opposite direction – she grows as a person who aims to define her own fate. And perhaps, we might argue that this personality trait is communicated through her fashion choices. Specifically, her oversized sleeves.

Bella Baxter’s sleeves and their buoyancy are what define her fashion sense. While the rest of her clothing confines to so societal expectations of women in decent society, her sleeves are representative of her challenging norms and journey of self-discovery. 

Looking at the influence of Bella Baxter on the runway, Rodarte’s Fall/Winter collection of 2024 pays a subtle homage to film. Big sleeves and the Victorian-esque refined elegance are attributes we can assign to both Bella and the Rodarte collection. 

With the nod to Poor Things and its message of introspective soul-searching, Rodarte achieves a level of growth for the brand’s image and how it wishes to portray itself to society. Are we seeing art imitate life? Or art imitating art?