10 iconic looks in Asian cinema, from that Bruce Lee jumpsuit to Akira’s biker in a bomber jacket to Faye Wong’s chopped hair in Chungking Express
- Clothes can make or break a character, and there have been looks worn by actors in Asian movies that have left their mark, and influenced how Hongkongers dress
- From Andy Lau’s biker jeans and trainers in A Moment of Romance to Choi Min-sik’s suit and old lady sunglasses in Oldboy, we look at some of the most striking
Clothes maketh the man, as the old saying goes, and nowhere is this more true than on the movie screen.
An eye-catching costume can prove as crucial to creating a memorable character as casting the right actor or penning a compelling script, and over the years, Asian cinema has delivered a parade of incredible outfits, from lavishly reconstructed historical robes to stylish trendsetting looks.
Here are 10 of our favourite examples of iconic costumes from the wardrobes of Asian cinema that played their part in securing their characters’ place in pop culture history.
1. Female Prisoner Scorpion series (1972-73)
Over a period of just 16 months, between August 1972 and December 1973, formidable Japanese beauty Meiko Kaji appeared in four Female Prisoner Scorpion films, as ruthless angel of vengeance Nami Matsushima, aka “Sasori” the Scorpion.
