Unlike many designers, much of the work of costume designer Ellen Mirojnick is contemporary. Her filmography demonstrates the impact she has had on the look and feel of some of the most iconic films of the 1980s and ’90s, such as Paul Verhoeven’s “Basic Instinct” (1992) and “Showgirls” (1995), Adrian Lyne’s “Fatal Attraction” (1987) and “Unfaithful” (2002), and Andrew Davis’s “A Perfect Murder” (1998). These films helped shape the elegant yet dangerous aesthetic of the erotic thrillers that once dominated the box office.

After over 40 years in the industry, Ms. Mirojnick has earned her first Oscar nomination for her austere, sharply tailored looks in “Oppenheimer,” Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster biopic about the physicist who led the effort to create the first nuclear weapons. While she has a wealth of experience creating a diverse range of costumes, her work does not extend to the many costume dramas usually favored during awards season. Instead, her most well-known characters often exude a fashion-forward and realistic vibe.

In a recent video call, Ms. Mirojnick discussed eight of her favorite looks from her career.

‘Fatal Attraction’ (1987)

‘Wall Street’ (1987)

‘Basic Instinct’ (1992)

‘Chaplin’ (1992)

‘Showgirls’ (1995)

‘Cinderella’ (1997)

‘A Perfect Murder’ (1998)

‘Oppenheimer’ (2023)