Jenna Ortega, a 21-year-old actress, has recently been making waves with her wardrobe choices inspired by the 1988 cult classic film “Beetlejuice.” She has been paying homage to the original movie while promoting the sequel on red carpets around the world. Her stylist, Enrique Melendez, has helped create stunning looks that reference iconic costumes and characters from the original film. For example, at the London premiere, Ortega wore a structured gray and black ensemble inspired by a statue created by Catherine O’Hara’s character in the film, complete with black velvet opera gloves and a miniature model of the Deetz family home as a purse.
In Venice, Ortega wowed in a custom red sheer Dior gown inspired by Winona Ryder’s character Lydia Deetz’s iconic red wedding dress. She has also showed love for Michael Keaton’s character Beetlejuice, with two different updated takes on his burgundy wedding suit. In Venice, she wore a custom burgundy Paul Smith suit, and in London, she sported a burgundy blazer dress from Alexander McQueen. Ortega has also been seen carrying a Handbag for the Recently Deceased, a reference to the creepy handbook from the movie, as a favorite accessory.
Even while traveling, Ortega has stayed in character, matching her outfits to different characters from the film. For example, at the Venice Film Festival, she channeled Alec Baldwin’s character Adam Maitland with a black and white plaid blazer over a red top paired with a pleated khaki mini skirt. Another standout look was Ortega’s near replica of Lydia Deetz’s final outfit, which included a Thom Browne navy blue sweater, a white collared button-down, and a plaid skirt, as well as the Handbag for the Recently Deceased.
Ortega has also embraced the striped suit look with a Dolce & Gabbana pinstriped suit dress, described by Melendez as “soft goth glam La Bella Mafia vibes.” She has also channeled Lydia’s black veiled outfit with a cropped tuxedo jacket, semi-sheer black lace dress, and matching platform heels in New York City. Additionally, she stunned in a custom strapless teal Lurline dress with a shrunken head molded into the bodice and stitched around her legs, a fun nod to the shrunken heads in the original film.
In Mexico, Ortega continued to impress with custom patent Mary Jane snake pattern platforms inspired by the head snake in the first movie. She wore an archival Vivienne Westwood dress covered in black sequined swirls that Melendez said truly exists in the world of Tim Burton. Ortega’s dedication to embracing the iconic looks and characters from “Beetlejuice” has captivated fans and showcased her versatility and creativity on the red carpet. Her unique interpretations and attention to detail have made her a standout at premieres and events, solidifying her status as a rising star in Hollywood.
