Laura Dern’s Khaki Shorts In ‘Jurassic Park’ Are EVERYTHING

I want to talk about one of the most important costume pieces in film history. It’s not a ballgown or a film noir dream of a dress. It’s a simple piece of clothing cut from tan cotton cloth. There are no sequins to set them off or feathers to frame them. They are simple and humble, yet they stick in your memory. They are Laura Dern‘s khaki shorts in Jurassic Park — and they are magnificent.

I mean, take a moment and bask in the comfortable stylings of Dr. Ellie Sattler:

These shorts tell us everything about Laura Dern’s character in Jurassic Park. Look at those well-worn wrinkles. Thrill at how crisply folded the hem-lines are! Observe the flattering pleats. Also, the shorts are a mid-calve length, which not only reflects the no-nonsense fashion of the period, but helps Dr. Ellie Sattler resist the framing of the male gaze. She’s dressed for her own comfort, and not a stranger’s wandering eye. More than anything else, she looks comfortable.

Ellie’s shorts tell us that Ellie is not in the story for romantic reasons. (Which makes Dr. Ian Malcolm’s bold attempts to flirt with her all the more foolhardy.)  She’s here to partake in the thrilling adventure as an equal, and she does. Ellie is the one who has to restore power to the park and she’s the one who holds Hammond to the fire for what he’s done. She runs, fights, and shrugs off misogyny like it’s something she does on the regular basis (because it is!). Dr. Ellie Sattler is here to slay and she’s got the butter soft tan shorts to prove it.

Monday marks Jurassic Park‘s 25th anniversary and while much has been made about how it’s changed film history with its triumphant use of CGI, there hasn’t been nearly enough written about what a revolutionary character Ellie Sattler was. Like Laura Dern herself, Ellie is as intelligent as she is ferociously brave. This is a woman who never backs down. She’s a true heroine insomuch that she is propelled by curiosity, not greed. Everything she does is both the smart thing to do and the right thing to do. She wears shorts.

When Steven Spielberg made Jurassic Park, he could have dressed Ellie in just about anything. It’s his movie and his vision. And he chose to dress her in the most down-to-earth, realistic ensemble possible. Sure, Dern’s coral button-up shirt and indigo tee pop on screen, but the look is anchored by those amazing khaki shorts.

Maybe they stick in your mind’s eye because the style is so anachronistic today, but I think the real reason why they’re so memorable is that they are a truly perfect bit of film costuming: it’s a garment that defines a character, and Dern’s talent made that character a heroine for the ages.

I love Laura Dern’s khaki shorts in Jurassic Park so very, very much, and I think you should, too.

Where to Stream Jurassic Park