“Ugh, as if!”: The Clueless Film’s Effervescent Approach to Beauty

“Ugh, as if!”

Do you recognize these words, fellow reader?

Cher Horowitz (played by Alicia Silverstone) said these words in the 1995 Clueless film, written and directed by Amy Heckerling. A bright, funny film loosely based on Jane Austen’s 1815 novel Emma, it explores the thrilling life of main character Cher who, sincerely speaking, loves interfering in other people’s lives. From igniting a budding romance between two teachers and giving the new girl in school a makeover, Cher makes it her life’s work to do good for people. The greatest good she does, however, is for herself. And there’s nothing wrong with that, is there?

From wearing fabulous outfits and giving herself a makeover for the soul, Cher’s forms of beauty are expressed so effervescently in this dear, far-from-clueless film.

Let’s explore the forms of beauty Cher indulges in.

The Beauty of Fabulous Outfits

Cher loves her outfits. In fact, in the beginning of the film, she’s seen browsing through her fancy computer for a perfect outfit for school. This computer literally sports pieces of clothing she can match. In the end, after finding an outfit she’s satisfied with – an adorable, yellow plaid outfit with white Mary Jane shoes and knee-high socks – she smiles and wears it to school.

This fashion-based expression is a form of beauty for Cher. For some, doing a particular hobby can make them feel beautiful. For others, it could be makeup. For Cher, in this moment, it’s outfits. As she walks to school wearing this bright, colorful, and dazzling outfit that makes her stand out, she’s showing she doesn’t care and is confident. She’s got her hair all straight, her makeup is on point and she is proud.

This scene, though right at the very beginning, is a testament to how fashion can make one feel beautiful, and rightfully so.

Even at the (almost) end point of the film, when there’s just about 19 minutes left, Cher is seen strolling through her city wearing yet another fabulous outfit: a cropped, baby-blue sweater, plaid skirt, sheer jacket, white knee-high socks and cute shoes. In this scene, though she looks amazing, she is awfully sad compared to the beginning scene of the film. In the latter, where she’s all happy and confident with her yellow plaid outfit, here she looks devastated.

Heartbroken and confused, she’s at her most dejected point. Yet, even as she’s going through those emotions, she still cares about looking beautiful in this perfect outfit. Even her hair looks good, and that’s pretty admirable. To be heartbroken and sad but still staying true to what makes her feel good? That’s pretty great.

Usually, when people feel sad, they tend to underdress rather than overdress, wearing a comfort outfit and – perhaps – having a comfort meal and show. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course, and each form of comfort is valid and beautiful in its own way, but Cher’s form of comfort is special because it’s unlike what many people like to do, and it shows us we can dress up even if we’re feeling sad.

In fact, maybe we should.

We can do our hair, we can put on the finest clothes, and we can feel beautiful. Showing up for ourselves in our darkest moments can be our greatest asset. So, do you, like Cher!

The Beauty of Makeovers

Cher is an admirable person. Even as she lovingly cares about the external beauty of things – makeup, hair, dressing up – she cares about the internal just as much. Towards the end of the film, she decides to enter the new and exciting journey of makeover-ing her soul.

She begins by viewing the different ways in which her friends are good, realizing that everyone has something that makes them special. For her friend, Christian (played by Justin Walker), it’s seeing the beauty in things. “He always wants things to be beautiful and interesting,” says Cher. For her best friend Dionne Davenport (played by Stacey Dash) and boyfriend Murray (played by Donald Faison), it’s seeing the beauty in romance. Cher describes how cute and loving they are when it comes to caring for each other. And for her teacher Ms. Geist (played by Twink Caplan), she sees the beauty in the world and the environment. After having this realization, Cher helps Ms. Geist by becoming captain of the fictional Pismo Beach Disaster Relief. She starts donating items of hers, encouraging others to do the same, and finally sees life beyond the external side of things.

In other words, Cher’s version of beauty becomes even more honest, authentic, and special. Rather than matchmaking to do “good” for people, she does actual good and feels great about it.

At the same time, she’s still her bright, effervescent, and beautiful self. She hasn’t changed, she’s just evolved.

With this, Cher shows us that there’s more to beauty than just doing things externally. While staying true to yourself and doing you in whatever way that is (like Cher with her outfits) is admirable, it’s even more admirable to go beyond the self and care for others.

Doing that, matter-of-factly, makes you more beautiful. It shows that you’re willing to step up and do good for others, changing the world in small but meaningful ways. By taking part in the Pismo Beach Disaster Relief, Cher shows us that real beauty comes from doing things of real, important value.

And that’s why the Clueless film, though not obvious at first, takes on such an effervescent approach to beauty.

It shows that, yes, you can show up for yourself and feel good, but also do good, because that’s where everything really matters.

Highlight Image:
© Yunona Uritsky on Unsplash