When the movie The Mummy was released in 1999, it received less than stellar reviews.

One Vogue article said, “as soon as Star Wars [The Phantom Menace] arrives, it’ll be back to the sarcophagus for this one.” Their complaints were with the CGI, which has indeed aged like milk.

While the CGI hasn’t help up, the late 90s take on a classic horror movie is as endearing today as it was when I first watched it with my dad. Evy and Rick’s misadventures fed my obsession with travel and adventure in a way few movies have done since. The Mummy was proof that nerds could be dashing and adventurous, which is why I still love this movie.

The movie also influenced my style more than Audrey Hepburn ever could. If you’re here, you’re probably the same. Keep going to see how you can use The Mummy in your Hero Look.

What You Need to Know About The Mummy (1999)

The Mummy is based on Boris Karloff’s original 1932 monster classic. When I say based, I mean they both feature a hero and a mummy, and that’s about all. But when it comes to 90s adventure movies, what more do you need?

The $80 million movie featured “cutting edge” technology which gets… more endearing with each passing year. Yet, it shined with practical effects that made the movie memorable. The “juicy” mummy haunts me almost as much as that chocolate cake in Matilda.

The characters are all adventure archetypes, like the rugged explorer, the plucky scholar, and the questionable sidekick. They’re brought to life by great actors who were there to do their jobs and have a great time.

The costumes are also timeless pieces for the genre. The costume designer John Bloomfield had worked on other genre-defining costumes. His resume includes Conan the Barbarian, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, and Waterworld.

With all this in mind, historical accuracy is not as important as the iconic feeling of the costumes. The Mummy is a great adventure piece, not a historical drama, and the costumes serve this purpose. That’s one of the reasons learning how to dress like The Mummy is so fun!

Orientalism and Costumes: The Dark Side of Adventure Stereotypes

I know, I know, you want to get to the part where I talk about which pants are the perfect embodiment of Rick O’Connell. I will, don’t worry. But first, we need to talk about Orientalism.

Orientalism both fetishizes and demonizes cultures that aren’t Western, often the Middle East and East Asia. Think “sexy Chinese girls,” “mystical Japanese man,” and the “magical Arab stuck in their old ways.” Gross, right?

Now, I love this movie with all my heart. It’s one of my go-to feel-good adventure movies. But holy shit is it guilty of Orientalism. And yes, it does show up in the costumes.

Let’s take Anck-su-Namun for example, and her gold body paint… “outfit”. An upper-class woman in Ancient Egypt would have worn a full-length sheath dress. She also would have been DECKED OUT in jewelry, makeup, and fancy wigs. Instead, in the first movie, our girl is reduced to a literal untouchable sex object.

Like, they could have done the arm-body paint thing without stripping her naked, and it would have made as much sense. But nah. We needed something that is both the epitome of the Other and Desire, so naked girl painted gold will do.

This is a male fantasy that has its roots in the harem myth. According to most Western understandings of the harem, a powerful Oriental man kept his sexiest women in their sexiest outfits hidden away from the world. Why? Because they’re controlling meanies who didn’t want their women available to anyone other than themselves, ESPECIALLY the “well-meaning” white visitors. How VERY Victorian.

(P.S. If you’re interested in what history says about harems, and how they functioned in the Ottoman Empire, here are some great podcasts to get you started).

And hey, I’m not saying you shouldn’t love this movie. It is, in my opinion, a perfect piece of adventure cinema, and it should get the credit it deserves. But when it comes to emulating the movie, which is part of what Hero Looks is all about, it’s important to know what’s all in good fun, and what’s a harmful stereotype.

Dressing for The Heat

I promise we’re gonna get to the specific shoes for exploring Egyptian tombs. First I wanted to touch on the thing that works for everyone’s outfits in this movie: dressing for the heat.

There are three things to keep in mind:

• Lighter fabrics- cotton, chambray, linen, silk, and rayon
• Lighter colors- wear lighter colors on the fabrics that are closer to your skin to keep yourself cooler
• Looser-fitted clothing- this will help with air circulation.

I DO NOT MEAN ILL-FITTING CLOTHING. Still wear things that fit, but instead of wearing denim shorts, wear chinos. Instead of yoga pants, loose skirts, etc. You get the picture.

“Wait a second,” you might think, “did you say lighter colors are better for the desert? What about all those people who wear black?”

I thought the same thing, so I did a little digging (archeology pun!). Turns out darker colors are great for absorbing heat, and as long as your outer layer is a thicker fabric, it keeps the heat from your skin. At least according to NPR.

So the next time you look askance at people wearing black in the summer, remember, science might be protecting them!

Not only do these rules apply to most of our characters in this movie, but they’re also helpful for anyone who exists in the summertime.

How to Dress Like The Mummy (1999)

There are three main characters in The Mummy, and sorry, Jonathan is not one of them. Besides, fashion-wise he’s the equivalent of Jane’s dad in Tarzan. Instead, we’ll go over Imhotep, Rick, and Evy.

Imhotep

Imhotep, like most bad guys, is the most dramatic ass bitch and I love him for it. He runs around in Ancient Egyptian finery, whipping up sandstorms in his Cloak that is The Most, smirking and screaming as he sees fit.

If this sounds like you on a typical Thursday afternoon, read on. For the rest of us, Imhotep’s look is the same as Ancient Egyptian clothing worn by most upperclassmen. He wears a linen kilt held together by a belt and subtle Egyptian kohl around his eyes. His statement necklace has religious significance. He also has that fantastic cloak with wings embroidered on the shoulders.

Again, if this is your normal Friday night outfit, we’re here to learn from YOU. I am not a kilt person and would wear loose-fitting pants instead. I also have tits, so linen blouses or crop tops under the cloak will have to do. Statement necklaces are still my go-to, although I prefer gold medallions with personal significance.

Rick O’Connell

This man has so many better things to do with his time than fight mummies, and his entire outfit SCREAMS this.

Rick dresses like the stereotypical adventurer, a costume that favors pragmatism.

• White, military button-up shirt (with big pockets for all your things)
• Khaki pants because utility
• Belt and shoulder holsters for his many guns and knives (please refrain on the weapons unless you’re fighting ancient monsters)
• Practical brown leather combat boots
• If you must have a coat, a brown military-style is your best bet
• A scarf for keeping your head cool during the day, and warm at night (also: The Aesthetic)
• A devil-may-care attitude that may or may not get you killed

Evelyn Carnahan

First of all, I love her.

Evy’s outfits for most of the movie are 1920s “athletic wear” for women. They are very practical, well-fitting, and made with linens and cotton so this woman can BREATHE dammit.

• Full length or midi skirt
• White or cream-colored blouse
• Defined waists
• Silk cardigan/jackets
• Black with bronze and gold-colored accents
• Silk scarves
• Accessories of historical or personal significance
• Sandals or low heels
• A sense of curiosity and wonder that may or may not get you killed
• Makeup is simple, with brown eyeshadow (hold the eyeliner), rouge, and a natural red tint is your go-to

For more details on makeup and hair, check out this great video.

Fashion Magic: Dress Like a Late 20s Adventurer

When it comes to historical costumes, there’s a tendency for people to want to be as authentic as possible. For some people, this is super fun! For others, like myself, that attention to detail is stressful.

I want to throw on an outfit and forget I’m even wearing it. This goes double for dressing “like an adventurer.” I should be able to run around, get dirty, and move in my adventure look. If I’m worried about accuracy, I’m also worrying about OTHER people judging my accuracy.

When the direction Stephen Sommers cast Brendan Fraser, he said that Brendan “didn’t take himself too seriously.” If he did, Sommers worried that audiences wouldn’t be able to “go on that journey with him.”

The Mummy is a quintessential fun summer blockbuster. It’s dramatic, adventurous, and fun. And that’s the energy I want you to bring to your Adventure Hero Look.

Whether you’re reading books that shouldn’t be read or digging yourself out of a cursed desert hole, don’t worry about taking yourself too seriously. And don’t worry about taking your outfit too seriously. It’s here to serve you, not the other way around. Play around, and if this Hero Look gives you joy and encourages your inner O’Connell, then by all means go for it!

Hey, if you enjoyed this and want to see your favorite piece of media on the blog, please let me know!

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