Six years after the twisted dark comedy A Simple Favor captivated audiences, Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick are back for the sequel—A Simple Favor 2—this time trading suburban secrets for a sun-drenched, high-stakes destination wedding in Capri, Italy. And if the first film was defined by sharp suits and sharper betrayals, the follow-up promises even bolder fashion, murderous intrigue, and hats so large they could double as parasols.
The sequel reunites Lively’s cunning Emily Nelson—fresh out of prison after serving time for double murder—with Kendrick’s Stephanie Smothers, the former best friend who helped put her there. Yet, in a twist only Emily could orchestrate, she asks Stephanie to be her maid of honor at her lavish wedding to wealthy suitor Dante (Michele Morrone). Cue a whirlwind of deception, vintage mobster-inspired tailoring, and jaw-dropping couture.
Wedding Bells and Fashion Statements
Costume designer Renée Ehrlich Kalfus, who worked on both films, told CNN that the sequel’s wardrobe is “grander, more over-the-top” than the original. Emily’s first appearance sets the tone: a high-fashion jumpsuit riffing on prison stripes, accessorized with handcuff-like hoops and a chain-gang-inspired belt. But the real showstopper is her wedding dress—a latex-and-satin masterpiece with a 40-foot veil, lined with blood-red crystals as a “harbinger of things to come.”
Director Paul Feig (Bridesmaids) drew inspiration from the real-life Capri wedding of fashion editor Giovanna Battaglia, aiming for “ostentatious grandeur.” The result? A ceremony dripping in extravagance—and foreshadowing.
From Power Suits to Power Plays
Fans of Emily’s androgynous, razor-sharp suiting from the first film won’t be disappointed. Kalfus revealed that Lively’s original look was inspired by Feig’s own three-piece-suit wardrobe. “Blake and I looked at each other and said, ‘Somebody should dress like Paul,’” Kalfus recalled.
This time, Emily’s style is “more heightened”—think dramatic hats, exaggerated silhouettes, and dominatrix-inspired latex. Meanwhile, Stephanie’s floral sweaters and sweatshirts reflect her reluctance to participate in the wedding, creating a visual clash between the two leads.
A Wedding Doomed by Design?
As Emily’s mother-in-law, Portia (Elena Sofia Ricci), dryly notes, “No amount of fashion can save this wedding from being a disaster.” Given Emily’s track record, she may be right.
A Simple Favor 2 promises a lethal mix of high fashion and deadly secrets when it hits theaters [release date]. One thing’s certain: Blake Lively’s hats alone deserve their own billing.
Related topics：
