Will “Elle” Prime Video Show Rescue All-Pink Looks?
Elle Woods: Iconic, Empowering, and Always in Pink.
One can’t talk about iconic female characters without mentioning Elle Woods. From attending a courtroom in a pink outfit – and winning the trial – to wearing a beaded bikini with pants and a hot pink fur coat while relaxing on campus, the protagonist of Legally Blonde — played by actress Reese Witherspoon — has had a definitive impact on pop culture.
For those unfamiliar with the film, Robert Luketic's cinematic production focuses on Elle Woods, a glamorous sorority queen who, after getting rejected by her boyfriend for being "too blonde," follows him to Harvard Law School. Once there, she realizes that there is more to her than just her looks, and embarks on a special self-discovery journey.
Aside from its inspiring storyline, Luketic's movie achieved cult status for its inimitable – and predominantly pink – wardrobe. The acclaim is extended to Sophie de Rakoff, the film's costume designer, who, after visiting sorority houses in Los Angeles, figured out the trick. "Obviously, it has to be pink," she told Vogue in 2021 when speaking about the protagonist's signature color. As for what shade? "A strong California pink that can survive in California light," Rakoff elaborated. By smartly using fashion to subvert conventional codes, the film became not only a classic but also a fashion phenomenon.
“You’ll see a blonde in pink with a dog and you’ll be like, it’s Elle Woods, just as a general thing in the universe,”
Sophie de Rakoff.
Now, twenty and seventeen years after the release of Legally Blonde 1 and 2, something new has come out. On May 14, Prime Video announced a prequel series named “Elle,” following Elle Woods during high school.
“Before she became the most famous Gemini vegetarian to graduate from Harvard Law, she was just a regular '90s high school girl. And all of you are going to get to know her, next year on @primevideo,” stated Reese Witherspoon via her Instagram.
Witherspoon will executive produce alongside Lauren Neustadter, Lauren Kisilevsky, Marc Platt and creator Laura Kittrell. While the announcement has been met with mixed reviews, as some feel it follows the character before her personal growth, others are eager to see Woods back on their screens. Especially fashionistas, who know her school looks will be as stylish as her college ones.
And when it comes to Elle Woods' wardrobe, something that can't be left out is the color pink. “You can’t talk about pink without talking about ‘Legally Blonde’ at this point,” said Rakoff to Vogue.
Wearing pink to trials while her colleagues wore ultra-formal court outfits, or appearing in all-pink looks, Woods' has taught a thing or two about how to incorporate the color, considered by many to be flashy, into everyday life. And not just in the day-to-day, but mainly in the professional world. As a result, it is reasonable to assume that if she wore pink while on duty, her teenage years’ looks would be very pink too. However, the idea of pink can intimidate some individuals.
It was in the 2023 summer season that Greta Gerwig’s Barbie film starring Margot Robbie placed the color in the spotlight of designers' palettes. These included Valentino Fall 2022 ready-to-wear, Christopher John Rogers Resort 2023, Ermanno Scervino Spring 2024 ready-to-wear, Blumarine Resort 2024, and Celia Kritharioti Spring 2024 couture.
Gerwig's production has already caused a considerable stir since its announcement in 2022, increasing the color's popularity, whether in trends such as Ballerina Core or Barbie Core. From Margot Robbie's press appearances in all-pink Barbie looks to the general public donning pink at the movie's theaters, the color was everywhere.
As a result, many found themselves trapped in a pink fatigue, vowing never to use the color again. But before Barbie's live-action, we had Legally Blonde as the very embodiment of pink. Now, with the prequel show being announced, the question that arises is if “Elle” series will redeem pink looks’ esteem.
If anyone can be and do it all, it is Elle Woods. A character so determined, with so much self-respect, manners, niche knowledge, and perspicacity has served and continues to serve as the definitive role model for girls and women worldwide.
The protagonist played by Reese Witherspoon demonstrated that it is not necessary to sacrifice personal taste and style to be respected and taken seriously. Nor must one accept stereotypes of what it means to be an accomplished woman in the current world. Moreover, she is the evidence that they shouldn't have to choose between certain things – being beautiful or being intelligent. Women can be both. It all depends on one’s strength of mind, determination, and self-belief.
Beyond her valuable life lessons, the protagonist also presents key insights into the fashion scene. First things first, orange will never be the new pink. With 43 different outfits in a 90-minute movie – most of them pink – Elle Woods reclaims pink and reveals that it is not just a sign of femininity, but of power and confidence.
Among many other of her fashion-wise lessons – whether it's awareness of fashions and seasons or that businesswear doesn’t have to be boring –, the essential one is to embrace the clothes that make one comfortable, beautiful, and special. No matter who it hurts. While some may have judged her as an airhead girl due to her signature color glam looks, she was, in fact, merely expressing her personal style while pursuing her impressive judiciary career.
A character this legendary is sure to have an impact on fashion still for a long time. With her return right to our screens in her high school days, this will be even more evident. And it seems already to be having an effect. According to an analytic fashion account @databutmakeitfashion, pink bags have increased 38% in popularity over the past month based on a sentiment analysis she ran on dozens of online posts.
Besides the popularity of the color in accessories, several celebrities have been reinforcing its success through garments. At Cannes, while model Heidi Klum was spotted wearing a leather pink jacket with a matching bag at the city’s airport, businesswoman Bella Hadid was photographed in a pink bikini at Eden-Roc’s beach.
Other celebrities who have embraced the shade in their public appearances include Greta Gerwig in Cannes wearing a Balenciaga FW 2022 couture dress, Lizzo at the Met Gala after party with a velvet pink bodice, and Sophie Turner in a baby pic suit at the Louis Vuitton Women Cruise 2025 show. The resurgence of pink was also spotted on the runways, as seen in dresses and sets at Gucci Resort 2025, Bottega Veneta Pre-fall 2024 Intrecciato suit, classic tweeds at Chanel Resort 2025, pink ensembles at Verner Spring 2025, and glamorous dresses at Atelier Prabal Gurung Fall 2024.
When Prime Video hosted its first upfront presentation with Witherspoon wearing Dolce & Gabbana's hot pink tweed, it became even more evident that the pink sensation isn't going anywhere anytime soon. “Pink has always been her color,” the streaming’s Instagram wrote. And, it might become everyone's color too.
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