‘The Wedding Banquet’ Is a Patchwork of ‘90s Style
Bowen Yang's character 'was still in this place of listening to Tori Amos.'
Hey WNVM-ers,
It's Fawnia again — with timely news about The Wedding Banquet, which hit theaters last Friday. Have you seen it yet? I absolutely loved the hilarious, heartfelt movie that made me laugh very hard and snot-cry (thank you, WNVM icon Joan Chen). Kristin Lopez at The Film Maven wrote that Fire Island director Andrew Ahn’s homage to Ang Lee’s 1993 queer classic has “a warm, cozy ‘90s feel.” I agree — especially when it comes to the self-expressive, grunge-y wardrobes, which I delve into below. Spoiler free! Plus, this website is also an official Bowen Yang fan account.
And in news, the many remakes that are coming our way, a weird Keanu role, and a must-read soda story (seriously).
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We Are Family
The Wedding Banquet’s costume designer Matthew Simonelli on all the ‘90s references, including a floppy-haired Hugh Grant and Kevin Bacon.
By Fawnia
While watching a screening of The Wedding Banquet, I felt some warm and fuzzy ‘90s nostalgia quite a few times — and not just because writer-director Andrew Ahn celebrates Ang Lee’s groundbreaking 1993 queer dramedy through his unique and very 2025 vision.
The updates to the farcical rom-com scenario now involve two couples. Commitment-phobic Chris (Bowen Yang) rejects the marriage proposal of Min (Han Gi-Chan), scion of a South Korean empire and MFA student with a soon-to-expire visa. Chris’ best friend Angela (Kelly Marie Tran) faces another failed IVF round with her partner Lee (Oscar-nominated Lily Gladstone), and they can’t afford yet another. So Min suggests a marriage of convenience to Angela in exchange for IVF funds — and cackle-lols and heartfelt tears and sniffles ensue.
Connecting back to the ‘93 original, Lee’s longtime collaborator James Schamus co-wrote and produced both The Wedding Banquets. Adding another throughline, Ahn’s costume designer Michael Simonelli1 worked with Lee’s, Michael Clancy, who passed away in 2022, and his then-assistant David Russell. Relocating the setting from 1993 New York City to Seattle, the birthplace of grunge, also invokes the unconventional, establishment-bucking spirit of the ‘90s — especially in this movie’s eclectic, emotional wardrobes.
“The ‘90s of it all definitely informed this, like looking back in honor of Ang Lee's original work, and paying tribute to all the people involved with that project,” says Simonelli. “It’s my way of acknowledging it.”
Chris’ ‘90s Nostalgia
Stalled academic Chris wiles away time leading bird-watching tours2, while putting his dissertation on pause. When sweet, earnest Min proposes — with a Cartier ring, no less — a stunned Chris balks. His ‘90s-vintage-filled closet full of oversize patterned sweaters, abstract-print shirts, blocked windbreakers, and an ‘80s-iconic Members Only jacket3, reflect his stagnation.
“These pieces just felt like they were memories of college or earlier; that he was still in this place of listening to Tori Amos, who's amazing and a perennial musician. She's always on the edge, and it just felt like him trying to sort out his presence,” says Simonelli. “There’s some reflection back to these earlier wild days. In this present moment, he hasn't fully turned the page onto what could possibly be. He's still stuck in this place.”
A look through Simonelli’s inspiration board for Chris features lots of extremely fun throwbacks, like Tom Selleck’s thirst-trap, circa-‘81 “Magnum, P.I.” camo short-shorts, a Gen-Z baiting, floppy-haired Hugh Grant, Kevin Bacon’s 1991 on-point airport style, and a chunky, graphic sweater-clad Woody Harrelson when he dated Glenn Close (!) that same year.
“Chris currently has some nostalgia for a period that felt safer,” says Simonelli. “He's being asked to connect [by Min], but he can't quite do it.”
Angela’s Grunge Aesthetic
Chris and Angela’s best friendship is also illustrated through their complementary, if not co-dependent, dark-and-moody, ‘90s-vintage-stacked closets. “These two characters were really pinpoints in the Seattle vibe,” says Simonelli. “Seattle, in terms of music and style, there’s so much freedom of expression in a very specific grunge way.”
As Lee undergoes another round of IVF, Angela grapples with her fear of becoming a parent, while confronting her fraught relationship with her life-of-the-party mother, May (Joan Chen). Angela armors up in earthy neutrals, long skater shorts, oversize cable-knit sweaters, and a very cute pair of shorts-overalls.
“For Angela, it was really important for me that she felt queer. That she was really trying to stay true to her own identity,” says Simonelli.
Lee’s Floral ‘90s Dress That I Definitely Had
Angela and Min plan for a quickie city hall ceremony that’s derailed when Min’s formidable — and formidably chic — grandmother, Ja-Young (Minari Oscar winner Youn Yuh-jung) flies in from Seoul on a surprise mission. Chris and co. scramble to “de-queer” the house, as also seen in the trailer.
“You look GAY!” a frantic Chris yells to Angela. Panicking, she grabs a floral ‘90s dress from from Lee’s closet.
“That dress was patchwork, and on-theme of things being sewn together. [A chosen] family is patchwork-ed together,” says Simonelli, who landed on it during a massive vintage haul at Red Light Vintage in Seattle. (Look out for patchwork, symbolizing a cobbled-together chosen family, throughout the film — both in the costumes and dialogue.)
Completing her masquerade, Angela also reluctantly applies pink blush and lipstick, but manages to low-key express her true self. “There's got to still be a little bit of ‘Angela stubbornness’ in this look,” says Simonelli. “So she wears the floral dress over a men's t -shirt.”
Lee’s Bold, Decades-Spanning Looks
As the grounding force in the couple and friendship quad, Lee dresses with ease and self-assurance, and enjoys experimentation with pattern and color. “Lee loves clothes. She loves self-expression. She's relaxed. She's a little bit granola,” says Simonelli, who dressed her in vintage, new vintage-referential pieces, and custom Batsheva4, like a red sheer polka dot dress and a purple velvet and ruffled hanbok-like silhouette.
“There's a little ‘70s and a lot of ‘80s in flavor,” says Simonelli, pointing to a multi-color crochet sweater Lee wears to the office that's actually from Urban Outfitters, accessorized by neon pink ‘80s-style sunglasses, and her bold red leather coat by Cordera. “That felt very- ‘70s, almost Shelley Duvall.”
Angela and Chris’ Vintage ‘90s T-shirts
Whatever Nevermind long-timers know that I am a sucker for vintage t-shirts, and the stories behind them. Turns out that Chris’ YMCA tee also has a sentimental backstory for Simonelli, too. The Brooklyn-based costume designer joined a Y during the Vancouver shoot, and immediately felt welcome.
“All sorts of different people; lots of queer people,” says Simonelli. “I was really observing this space that's fostering community, while working on this film, which is about building family and community.”
Simonelli scoured eBay for the perfectly worn-in blue ‘90s t-shirt, with the YMCA logo and a graphic of people holding hands.
“Bowen's character is aware of needing support in some way, and wanting to connect with people,” says Simonelli. Away from his immediate family, Chris also looks out for his young cousin with a perfect shag mullet, Kendall (Bobo Le).
Angela parties hard at her bachelorette party — complete with a tacky veil and penis straws which are gross for everyone — in a Trans-Siberian Orchestra vintage t-shirt. Is Angela really a fan of the symphonic metal/prog-rock band that became an arena rock Christmas tradition in the late-‘90s? (Yeah, I totally had to Google that.) Well, Simonelli imagined that May and Angela made TSO concerts into an annual mother-daughter holiday outing.
“This band that's cool and nostalgic, but also funny and campy, and the t-shirt graphics are all really cool,” says Simonelli. “Angela might be a little nerdy, and it's just showing her quirkiness and sense of humor.”
Joan Chen’s Spotlight-Stealing Moment
I also felt like effervescent, adventurous May — as personified by Joan Chen — would also be super into rocking out to TSO with Angela, even if the esoterically-jangly music wasn’t quite her bag. “Joan Chen is amazing,” says Simonelli. “She's so hilarious and fun — and she's game.”
In the opening sequence during a festive Lunar New Year gala, May, radiant in a silver sequin and qipao-reminiscent Self Portrait dress, enthusiastically receives an ally of the year honor. “This is [May’s] moment. This is her Oscar acceptance speech,” says Simonelli. “She is gonna take this and she's gonna milk it for all it's worth. She loves the attention.”
Right after stealing the stage from the traditional lion dance that I loved as a kid, May — with her main character energy — inserts herself into Angela and Lee’s infertility narrative. Angela simmers quietly in a subdued gold-beige tuxedo blazer — also exemplifying the mother-daughter disconnect. “Angela pulls back visually, as May is really fully leaning into that spotlight,” says Simonelli.
Later, May conveys empathy and support in soft beige monochrome, as she and Angela reach new ground in their relationship. May’s understated Ann Taylor sweater set and streamlined trousers appropriately feel grounded for the scene. But the successful realtor does stride into Angela’s house in statement-making platform heels (and takes them off inside, of course).
“I wanted to take May onto a more glamorous route. She has a nice Chanel handbag, too,” says Simonelli. “She's signaling, ‘Yeah, I've made it.’ She's really scrappy, didn't have a lot, and figured it out. She's proud of what she's accomplished.”
Speaking of — in an early-‘90s Sliding Doors situation, Lee had considered Chen for the green card bride role, also named May, but that production fell through. The stars aligned in 2025, as Chen absolutely shines, while flexing her dramatic and comedic chops — another poignant thread back to 1993.
We are two Gen X journalists who celebrate people of our generation doing cool things, as well as analyze all the '80s and '90s nostalgia in current pop culture, fashion, and beauty. Read more stories like this one here!
You Oughta Know
For more The Wedding Banquet content, watch Stevie’s cute “speed date” with Kelly Marie Tran. He also had an illuminating conversation with director Andrew Ahn about how the OG The Wedding Banquet inspired his career and why working with Margaret Cho on Fire Island made him smile. -FSH [Asian A.V. Club]
Plus, here’s a meaty interview with Joan Chen: “I thought by 30 I should be done, but at 60 all of a sudden I woke up.” YESSSS. She’s having a “renaissance,” you say? (Fawnia said it months ago.) -CW [NYT]
Kea-news! Our guy is going to be the villain in a (stay with me here) Weezer movie that is a mockumentary about a rivalry between them and Dogstar, Reeves’ band. Other Gen X-ers attached include (continue staying with me) Juliette Lewis and Johnny Knoxville. -CW [Stereogum]
You won’t regret reading this delightful interview with a bunch of people who mourn Tab, the diet soda. -CW [Soda Fountain]
We have been bombarded with remake news over the past few weeks, so here it is all in one place -CW:
I Know What You Did Last Summer: The sequel, including original stars Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr., arrives in theaters July 18. [The Hollywood Reporter]
Clueless: The original returns to theaters for its 30th anniversary in June. Plus, Alicia Silverstone is reprising her role as Cher in a Peacock series. Amy Heckerling, the writer-director of the original, is attached as a producer. [Deadline]
Pride & Prejudice: Gen X force of nature Olivia Colman will star as the loopy Mrs. Bennet in a new Netflix production of the film. (She is going to KILL in this role.) Lizzy Bennet and Mr. Darcy will be played by Emma Corrin and Jack Lowden, respectively. [You’ve Got Mail]
Carrie: HOW has it been 50 years since this movie came out?? To celebrate, Netflix is making it into a series that will be a modern reimagining of the bloody Stephen King story. [The Hollywood Reporter]
Beetlejuice: Apparently Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice (fans’ preferred title) is happening, since the sequel did so well. [Screenrant]
Simonelli has some serious fashion costume bonafides, including assisting Eric Daman on “Gossip Girl,” and designing five seasons of “Search Party.”
Cheryl, an avid birder, as seen on Notes, will love this. (How many birds does he have on his life list?? -CW)
Yes, they’re all millennials, so maybe Chris is yearning for the safe space of his early childhood. Although, he was not even a twinkle in his parents’ eyes during the Members Only heyday. Eh, whatever, movie magic!
Designer Batsheva Hay just joined Substack at Bat or Not — welcome!
Whoa! Thanks for the namecheck!! Glad we're all on The Wedding Banquet table this week!