The most iconic movie dresses in history

In film, costume design is no accident. Every detail of every piece of clothing is carefully thought out. It’s no surprise, then, that these creations sometimes give rise to moments that make a powerful impression. The following dresses have left an enduring mark on the movie industry.

Costumer designer Jacqueline Durran worked with actress Emma Watson to create this beautiful ball gown as a reflection of the character Belle’s strong personality, individuality, and modern attitude. This revisited version of a timeless fairy tale relies strongly on the 1991 animated classic.

While Dorothy’s dress in The Wizard of Oz may seem plain compared to the costumes worn by other characters in Lyman Frank Baum’s fantasy world, the ensemble, including Judy Garland’s ruby slippers, made a lasting impression. What’s more, young Dorothy’s dress is revealed in a very particular way. The movie opens in black and white, then turns to sepia before finally reaching full colour in the imaginary world of Oz thanks to a new process known as Technicolor.

A true beauty of her time, Rita Hayworth (as Gilda) dances provocatively while singing “Put the Blame on Mame” in an elegant sheath dress that fits her curves perfectly, leaving no doubt as to her intentions despite removing only her gloves. The scene certainly stirred more than one man’s imagination at the time!

Prominent 1940s actress Marlene Dietrich appeared in A Foreign Affair, a feature film about the realities of post-war Europe. Among the outstanding costumes in this large-scale production, three elegant gowns were chosen for the musical numbers. The dresses were special for another reason, though. The actress and singer had previously worn them during shows for American soldiers deployed overseas. Including them was a nice nod to the artist’s other professional activities.

For the musical number “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend,” Marilyn Monroe wears a beautiful pink dress with an oversized bow. The story behind this outfit is quite exceptional. It was created only a few hours before shooting the scene to replace another dress considered too revealing by the film’s producers. Today, the pink gown holds an iconic place in the public’s imagination.

Without a doubt, the costumes for Tarsem Singh’s retake on the famous Grimm brothers’ tale not only distinguish this work from others, but transform it into a must-see visual experience. Throughout the film, the oversized, brightly coloured dresses, designed specifically for the occasion by Eiko Ishioka, are a sight to behold, even those of the evil queen. In fact, dozens of yards of fabric were needed to make each dress, and every outfit was designed according to each character’s specific personality.

Each time Grace Kelly appears as an elegant young socialite in the film Rear Window, she wears a sublime outfit reflecting the evolution of her character. From the film’s opening scenes, Grace surprises with a beautiful ensemble composed of a black top with a deep V-neck and a full skirt enhanced with trimmings the same colour as her bodice.

Throughout the film, the character of Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh) wears dresses on the fringe of socially acceptable fashion at the time in which the movie is set—in other words, styles that attract male attention. The colours of her dresses weren’t left to chance either. Audiences will notice a lot of red, symbolizing love, passion, and scandal.

The costumes seen in Sissi, as well as its two sequels, reflect Empress Elisabeth’s style quite well, namely that of a woman who created rather than followed trends.

A rather bland nighttime scene shot above a subway grate on the corner of Lexington Avenue and 52nd Street in front of a horde of overjoyed men made Marylin Monroe’s twirling dress famous. Strictly speaking, the outfit has no importance in the film’s narrative. Nevertheless, it remains engraved in our collective memory and played a role in the Hollywood star’s divorce from baseball player Joe DiMaggio.

Cleopatra’s famous golden dress was the perfect outfit to represent and demonstrate the power wielded by this character portrayed by Elizabeth Taylor in the eponymous film.

In Belle de Jour, Catherine Deneuve dons sublime outfits designed by couturier Yves Saint Laurent. They’re designed to evoke her character’s double life as a bourgeois wife who sells her body while her husband is away. The little black dress seen at the end of the film truly catches the eye, though, with its air of sobriety and purity.

Catherine Deneuve is among those actresses known for wearing fabulous outfits in many of their movies. The costumes for Donkey Skin (original title: Peau d'âne) were designed to evoke surrealism and fairy-tale imagery. The main character’s famous sun-coloured dress is an excellent example.

A movie that puts fashion centre stage calls for extraordinary outfits! Mahogany is a feature film starring diva Diana Ross as Tracy Chambers, a Chicago student who dreams of becoming an international star. Thanks to her alter ego, Mahogany, Tracy’s dreams do come true.

The blue silk dress worn by Michelle Pfeiffer’s character is the ideal outfit for the femme fatale with its plunging neckline and spectacular slit running from upper thigh to ankle. Rather than sticking with ’80s trends, the costume designer opted for a gown inspired by 1930s Hollywood glamour, a nod to when the first version of this movie was released.

No one’s more spectacular than Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman when her character, Vivian Ward, steps out in a gorgeous red dress to accompany Edward Lewis to the opera. This fairy-tale moment is truly the stuff of dreams.

It’s not uncommon to hear an actor say that wearing a character’s clothes helps them understand and play a role better. Sharon Stone found this to be true for the film Casino. Ginger McKenna’s impressive ensembles helped Sharon identify with the character’s journey from affluence to depression, especially since the movie was based on real events.

The title character of Sabrina, played by Audrey Hepburn, dons a magnificent dress to mark her grand transformation. Indeed, after two years in Paris, Sabrina returns to her father, a chauffeur, blossomed into a sophisticated young woman. The outfit also marked the beginning of a great and fruitful collaboration between the star and haute couture designer Givenchy.

Romeo and Juliet’s first encounter in this Baz Luhrmann movie is legendary. Juliet, played by Claire Danes, experiences this magical moment wearing an angel costume of an immaculate white. The outfit is in total contrast to the black clothing usually worn by other members of her family, the Capulets.

If there’s one word that sums up costume designer Deborah Lynn Scott’s work on James Cameron’s Titanic, it would certainly be “thorough.”Indeed, all of Rose’s (Kate Winslet) outfits were carefully designed to match the young lady and her family’s high social standing, a theme that permeates the film. In effect, the dresses, especially the one worn by Rose when Jack joins her in first class, reflect the desired silhouette.

Satine, the character played by Nicole Kidman in Moulin Rouge!, wears a splendid scarlet dress as her suitor Christian (Ewan McGregor) declares his love for her. They sing a medley of no less than 10 songs that ends with a kiss and promises exchanged by the lovebirds.

All of the dresses worn by this period film’s main character are a feast for the eyes! They’re also an accurate representation of Marie Antoinette’s exuberance as well as French fashion and style in the late 18th century. Most importantly, though, they express director and screenwriter Sofia Coppola’s vision of the character as a frivolous teenager catapulted into a glamorous adult world.

Keira Knightley looks superb in whatever she puts on, and this green dress, worn during pivotal moments of the film Atonement, is no exception. The director chose this particular colour on purpose. Indeed, green symbolizes the two protagonists’ buried feelings as well as jealousy.

Despite its interesting story, The Killers stands out primarily for its visual signature and careful costume design by Vera West. Among the many iconic outfits is a sublime evening gown worn by Ava Gardner that continues to inspire some of today’s greatest designers.

Breathtaking actress Audrey Hepburn exudes glamour and wears flamboyant jewels throughout the film. That said, it’s the black Givenchy dress that still has people talking. Indeed, this creation lies at the origin of the mythical little black dress, an outfit adaptable to nearly any occasion.

In this series, broadcast from 1998 to 2004, viewers came to love Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker), a stylish New York journalist, and her three friends over the course of their crazy adventures. In the film that followed in 2008, Carrie finally married the man of her dreams. The event was destined to be grandiose given that her wedding dress was an original creation by Vivienne Westwood.

Making any historical film requires meticulous attention to detail. In The Young Victoria, designers could actually draw inspiration from the Queen’s real wedding dress kept at Kensington Palace. They even had access to royal archives to recreate other outfits. What better way to ensure an accurate wardrobe?

The character of Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) spent her last moments as a human in a custom-made, breathtakingly lovely wedding dress before being transformed into a vampire by her charming husband, Edward (Robert Pattinson).The dress was so popular when the movie was released that designer Carolina Herrera sold it at her boutique for a cool US$35,000. Mere mortals can purchase a replica at the more reasonable price of US$799.

This dress is just as dreamy in reality as it was in the movie! Its design, in fact, was intimately linked to the story. As Katniss spins, her dress transforms her into the “Mockingjay,” symbol of the impending rebellion in Panem.

The story of Cinderella is a delightful fairy tale par excellence. Lily James’s tailor-made dress in the 2015 version of this classic featured 12 layers of silk. It may not have been comfortable, but the result was quite enchanting.