The movie musical Mamma Mia is known for its bright colors, positive attitude, and general atmosphere of giddiness and joy. Viewers love to return to the first movie, which quickly became a feel-good classic, as the perfect adventure into escapism, romance, and familial affection. With the coming of the second movie in 2018, the feel-good vibes only continued on, better and brighter than before.
Something that the second movie might improve upon the most, however, is the style. The clothing choices in these films keep it mostly--like everything else in the films--fun and unpretentious, but with the coming of Lily James as young Donna, the costumes certainly upped the ante in style choices. That being said, each film has its own highs and lows of stylistic moments.
Best: Donna's Overalls
Donna's overalls originated in the first film, passing mostly unnoticed as the standard outfit that Meryl Streep's character eventually became associated with.
With the second movie, delving into Donna's origin story as it does, viewers are allowed to experience a thrilling little moment when Donna bursts out of a dressing room and reveals the assumed original overalls that become inseparable from the character.
Worst: The Dynamos' Pants
Something went really...weird, with the Dynamos' outfit.
The Dynamos, or more specifically named, Donna and the Dynamos, are comprised of three cool young women, headed by a woman who is seen to be on the top of her style game in every other scene--so why would such a woman suddenly don such ill-fitting, unbecoming trousers for when she stands in the spotlight, of all places?
Best: Young Donna's Shirt-Dress
One of Donna's best style moments in all of the second movie is when she appears in a sort of long, short dress-length top thrown over jean shorts and a smaller strappy top beneath.
The outfit becomes one of the main outfits that young Donna flounces around in throughout the movie, and rightly so--it suits her free-spirited energy perfectly.
Worst: The Animal Dresses
At the end of the second movie, all of the characters leads come out to dance in full Abba-inspired garb, making tradition of the strange yet charming similar choice of the first movie.
The Dynamos emerge in tiny white dresses absurdly embellished with the images of large cartoon animals; and though it was clearly meant to be an homage to outfits Abba members wore, the cheaper, costume-store quality of the outfits doesn't quite have the same effect.
Best: Sophie's Butterfly Dress
Sophie is not allowed many great wardrobe-flaunting opportunities. That is to say, she isn't given many items worth flaunting.
Compared to the flare of young Donna, and even older Donna, Sophie's style comes off as unimaginative veering on childlike. The delicate butterfly dress she wears at the end of the second movie is the most flattering piece she is seen in.
Worst: Sophie's Shawl Combos
There comes a time in the second movie when Sophie appears wearing a large, tassled, loudly colored, and dazzlingly patterned scarf. Alas, the look could almost be cool--big scarfs often are--but in this instance, the scarf is a little too bright to be funky and simply not becoming on Sophie.
It's as if the costumer tried to give her a bit of Donna's pizazz, but didn't personalize the look in the same way Donna's character got.
Best: Donna's Orange Skirt
Donna has a few staple items she moves between in the movie, sometimes sticking mostly to one arrangement but other times swapping out certain pieces and mixing and matching.
One of her best mix and match instances is when Donna wears the yellow top she earlier wore with her overalls and pairs it with her long, orange skirt, creating an elegant but playful look.
Worst: Harry's Cropped Leather Jacket
In the first movie, Harry was referred to as "Harry Headbanger" in reference to who Donna knew him as in his younger years. When the second movie came along and offered up an in-the-flesh version of young Harry for viewers, he was very little as he had been described.
He wears skinny jeans and a cropped leather jacket, an outfit that fits more in with 2020 than what is presumably meant to be the '70s, and which befits someone posing as a rocker more than an actual "headbanger".
Best: Young Donna's Funky Coat-Dress
Despite Harry's unfortunate outfit in his scenes with young Donna, the scene isn't completely lost to his fashion fail. Donna shines in her chic, funky patterned coat--or is it a dress?
It's often difficult to peg Donna's clothes, as this one, as some of her other pieces are more than initially meets the eye.
Worst: Sophie's White Pants
One of the most underwhelming clothes choices in the movies is Sophie's white pants. One would think that, after viewing the impressive wardrobe of young Donna, Sophie's outfits would also be improved in the second movie. Quite the contrary.
For some reason, the more the movie emphasizes Donna's creative taste, the more it emphasizes the blandness of Sophie's.