It's been over a decade since the first Twilight movie was released. (Feeling old, yet?) Based on the novel series of the same name by Stephanie Meyer, the five-movie saga remains a divisive property to this day, but those who fell in love with it all those years ago still have fond memories of Forks and its human and non-human residents.
As a pop-culture juggernaut, everything in the franchise, from its soundtrack to its location, became instantly iconic for its enthusiastic fanbase. And while the awkward Bella Swan wouldn't ever dream of considering herself a style queen, her wardrobe choices really did have an impact on audiences. Here are hidden details you never noticed about Bella's costume.
HER ECLIPSE HAIR WAS FAKE
Kristen Stewart used her natural, long brown locks for Twilight and New Moon. Come the saga's third cinematic instalment, however, some fans couldn't help but notice her hair looked a little... wiggy.
That's because it was a wig. Stewart needed it after cutting her hair to play Joan Jett in a biopic about the singer. Though it stuck out, Bella's wig was really the least noticeable of a very wiggy bunch.
HER JACKET WOUND UP IN A COURT CASE
When Edward gives Bella her first spidey monkey ride around Forks' woods - you know, one of those classic date activities - she can be seen sporting a B.B Dakota jacket. Keen to capitalize, the brand began marketing the item as the "Bella Swan jacket."
Summit, who hadn't licensed the jacket, weren't too happy about this, and put in a legal challenge against B.B Dakota. The label defended the move as "nominative fair use," but a judge ruled in Summit's favor in 2011.
HER WEDDING DRESS NEARLY GOT RUINED
True to the books, much of the Twilight Saga was filmed in Washington -- and some in Oregon -- the home to Bella's real-life hometown of Forks. Meyer chose it for its small-town sleepiness and wet, grey climate.
Great for a hazy, romantic aesthetic... not so great for walking down the aisle in. During Edward and Bella's wedding in Breaking Dawn: Part I, the rain and freshly painted set soon started seeping up the hem, so the filmmakers had to switch to close-ups.
BELLA HAD A NIGHTMARE WEDDING DRESS
In Breaking Dawn: Part I, Bella's anxieties about her impending nuptials come to the fore in a nightmare. The dress she wears in the dream is different to the real thing, which costume designer Michael Wilkinson used to highlight Bella's fears.
"[...] We chose something that was a version of the dress that she would hate to wear. [...] It was stiff and had a boned bodice that showed a lot of bare skin which she'd be horrified by because she's a bit of a tomboy. There's nothing very girly about her style so we had a huge, cumbersome, puffy skirt."
THE DRESS WAS DESIGNED BY CAROLINA HERRERA
Bella's non-nightmare dress -- the real one -- was the creation of legendary designer, Carolina Herrera, famous for kitting out First Ladies like Laura Bush and Michelle Obama. Naturally, she made Bella Swan look equally elevated as a bride.
This was one of the rare instances of a designer label being used in the films, with other notable exceptions being Edward's Gucci prom jacket, and the Belstaff jackets worn by the groom and groomsmen.
KRISTEN STEWART DIDN'T LIKE THE LACY UNDERWEAR
Rarely has Bella looked so uncomfortable -- and that's really saying a lot -- than she did attempting to woo her new husband in Breaking Dawn: Part I. Alice, her sister-in-law cheekily slipped a lacy number into Bella's suitcase.
The lacy number, from lingerie company, Agent Provocateur, wasn't well-received by an equally uncomfortable Kristen Stewart, either. Costume designer Michael Wilkinson recalls her "not having to act much" in the scene.
HER COLOR PALETTE ADAPTS TO THE CULLENS'
Forks isn't exactly a bright and sunny place. Perfect for vampires but a big change for Bella, who was used to the dry heat of Phoenix, Arizona. Twilight costume designer, Wendy Chuck reflected this contrast in Bella's wardrobe.
"She's a warmer character and I wanted that to go against the cold, dampness of the background. [...] As she gets involved with the Cullens her wardrobe progresses to cooler blues and gray-blues and some romantic elements like the floral embroidery on her shirts."
HER NEW MOON CLOTHES REFLECT THE LOVE TRIANGLE
New Moon saw Bella's life thrown completely off-balance by Edward -- and his family's -- sudden departure from Forks. As a result, her personal style took a bit of a hit, as costume designer Tish Monaghan explains.
"When he leaves her, she kinda falls into disarray and gets sloppy and just throws on any old thing." However, her growing bond with Jacob Black also creeps in: "The any old things that we threw on her were in the earth tones [of Jacob’s world]."
EVERYONE WANTED TO LOOK LIKE HER
Though Bella's style was consistent of the down-to-earth variety, matching her grounded personality, as a teenage girl, she wasn't immune to following the trends of the late '00s. And Twihards certainly took note.
After the release of the first film, Nordstrom -- a company sourced for Bella's wardrobe -- decided to make the partnership official with its own line of Bella and Alice-inspired clothing, including lace-trim tops and skinny jeans.
HER FASHION IS EMPOWERING BY THE FINAL FILM
At the very end of Bella's journey in Breaking Dawn: Part II, the heroine emerges not only as a wife, mother and survivor, but a whole new species. Costume designer Michael Wilkinson used her new clothes to reflect her new, powerful persona.
"We see Bella adjusting from being an uncertain teen to becoming a woman-she is no longer hiding in hoodies and boyish shirts but embraces a tighter, smoother look that emphasizes her amazing physique."