Top 20 Most Iconic Movie Dresses of All Time

MsMojo

From classic Hollywood elegance to unforgettable red carpet moments, these legendary movie dresses have left a lasting mark on fashion and film history. See gowns that range from Marilyn Monroe’s iconic halter dress to Audrey Hepburn’s timeless little black dress and beyond. Join us as we celebrate the stunning costumes that helped define some of cinema’s most unforgettable characters and moments!

Transcript

00:00You're a real, um, what's the word I'm looking for?

00:02Knight in shining armor?

00:04Weirdo.

00:05Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most memorable gowns to ever grace the

00:10silver screen.

00:11So you want a dance prank or you want to sit here and have a heart attack?

00:16Number 20, Julie Andrews dress, Mary Poppins.

00:19There is only one word that can describe this dress, and it is supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

00:28Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

00:28Even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious

00:31If you say it loud enough, you'll always have it cocious

00:37Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

00:37Julie Andrews' jolly holiday dress in Mary Poppins is as pitch-perfect as her voice.

00:42The red-and-white Edwardian-style ensemble is full of frills and ruffles that scream early 20th-century fashion.

00:48At the center of it all is the crimson corset, which is the focal point that pulls the entire gown

00:53together.

00:54Accessorized with matching shoes, a lacy parasol and tulle-covered hat,

00:58Andrews sings, dances, and creates pure magic with this iconic look.

01:02Number 19, Jennifer Lawrence's dress, The Hunger Games Catching Fire

01:18Jennifer Lawrence's Katniss Everdeen is one of our favorite female heroines.

01:23She takes charge, kicks butts, and looks fierce while doing it.

01:26In The Hunger Games Catching Fire, President Coriolena Snow forces her to wear a wedding dress designed by Cinna for

01:32her televised interview.

01:42A collaboration between the movie's costumer, Trish Somerville, and designer Tex Severio, the white dress is coated in crystals with

01:49metal cutouts.

01:50As Katniss spins, the dress twirls into flames, which turns it into a black winged gown representing a Mockingjay.

01:57Number 18, Rita Hayworth's dress, Gilda.

02:00It is the little black dress that started it all.

02:03When they had the earthquake in San Francisco back in 1906.

02:12Rita Hayworth's dress in the 1946 film Gilda is the epitome of glamour.

02:17The black satin dress is effortlessly chic, with a simple straight silhouette and fabric gathered at the hip.

02:22Paired with matching long-sleeved gloves, this design was made by Jean-Louis, who drew inspiration from John Singer Sargent's

02:29painting Portrait of Madame X.

02:31The vision paid off, and the dress took on a life of its own.

02:34In fact, post-World War II, the very first nuclear bomb to receive testing featured an image of Hayworth in

02:41the dress.

02:42That would eventually inspire Jessica Rabbit's equally iconic look in Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

02:47I'm not bad. I'm just drawn that way.

02:50Number 17, Julia Roberts' dress, Pretty Woman.

02:54This Pretty Woman dress is everything and more.

02:56They really let you borrow this from the jewelry store?

02:59I'm a very good customer.

03:02If you were going to buy this, how much would it cost?

03:04A quarter of a million.

03:06Ha ha ha!

03:06Julia Roberts' red off-the-shoulder number is one of the highlights of this beloved rom-com.

03:11Costume designer Marilyn Vance is behind the gown.

03:14However, the studio was concerned about the color due to Robert's crimson locks, and wanted Vance to go with black.

03:20While that does sound fabulous, the red shade is a standout, and it actually compliments her hair better than anyone

03:26could have imagined.

03:27The perfect vibe for a night out at the opera.

03:29This dress isn't just pretty, it's stunning.

03:32Did you enjoy the opera, dear?

03:34Oh, it was so good, I almost peed my pants.

03:37What?

03:38Number 16, Elvira's dress.

03:40Elvira, Mistress of the Dark.

03:42It is the neckline to end all other necklines.

03:46Halloween's favorite lady, Elvira has been a staple in the world of horror for decades.

03:51And until then, this is Elvira, the gal who put the boob back in the boob tube.

03:57Same unpleasant dream.

04:00In 1988, the hostess with the mostest finally got her own film, Elvira, Mistress of the Dark.

04:06And of course, she sported her signature look.

04:09Co-created with her late friend, Robert Redding, her ensemble consists of a form-fitting black

04:14dress with shredded sleeves, pulled-in waist, and plunging decollete.

04:18The inspiration behind countless Halloween costumes every year, Elvira's spooky yet chic

04:23look has us all going baddie.

04:25Elvira, you're the best thing that ever happened to our town.

04:28You've touched a part of my son that nobody's ever touched before.

04:33I wish.

04:35Number 15, Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino's dresses.

04:38Romy and Michelle's high school reunion.

04:40This dynamic duo is our fashion idols.

04:50On-screen BFFs, Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino play fashionistas Romy White and Michelle Weinberger.

04:56After the BFFs' big fight, they make up and redo their grand entrance at the reunion,

05:01arriving in two of the coolest dresses ever.

05:04Pink, blue, shiny, and mini, they are pure 90s.

05:08Their outfits even get the stamp of approval from former classmate-turned-Vogue editor, Lisa Luter.

05:13Actually, Christy, they've got nice lines, a fun, frisky use of color.

05:18All in all, I'd have to say they're really not bad.

05:23However, the best part of their iconic looks is that they prove that being true to yourself

05:27never goes out of style.

05:29Number 14, Jennifer Connelly's dress.

05:32Labyrinth.

05:32This dress is truly out of this world.

05:35Jennifer Connelly's gown in the 1986 Jim Henson fantasy flick Labyrinth is an achievement

05:40in costume making.

05:41Mostly white, the costume is made of several materials, including organza, satin, and even

05:47glass.

05:47But I'll be there for you as the world falls down.

05:58The bottom features several layers of fabric, creating lots of volume and dimension.

06:03The puffy sleeves are iridescent, catching the light as Connelly's character Sarah flounces

06:08around the ballroom and dances with Jareth the Goblin King.

06:11But I'll be there for you as the world falls down.

06:2020-plus years later, its influence seems evident in another famously fantastical flick, Enchanted.

06:26Number 13, Kate Winslet's dress.

06:29Titanic.

06:29James Cameron spares no expense when it comes to making his blockbusters.

06:34For Titanic, even the finest of details are given careful consideration.

06:38When it comes to Deborah Lynn Scott's Academy Award-winning designs, she absolutely nails

06:43the Edwardian accuracy.

06:45Perhaps the most memorable of the film's many costumes is the stunning dress worn by Kate

06:49Winslet in the formal stateroom scene.

07:01The deep burgundy and gorgeous beading are absolutely jaw-dropping.

07:06From dinner to dancing, the dress serves Rose well, as she struggles with the constraints

07:10of her status and her desire to break free from it.

07:13I don't know the steps.

07:15Neither do I.

07:15Just go with it.

07:17Don't think.

07:18Number 12, Sarah Jessica Parker's dress, Sex and the City.

07:22When it came time to bring Sex and the City to the big screen, fashion was a top priority.

07:27Setting back Carrie's Manolo Blahniks, Sarah Jessica Parker wears an array of unforgettable

07:31pieces in the film.

07:33However, the most important of all is Carrie's wedding dress.

07:36He's not coming.

07:38Oh my God.

07:39You mean he's not coming?

07:40Gifted to the bride-to-be by Vivian Westwood herself, the dress is a sight to behold.

07:46The off-white gown features a tight bodice with a V-shaped neckline, while the bottom

07:50is amply layered.

07:51Although the dress became a symbol of heartbreak, Carrie reclaims the iconic gown when it makes

07:56a cameo as her Met Gala dress in the Revival series And Just Like That.

08:00And just like that, I repurposed my pain.

08:05Number 11, Audrey Hepburn's dress, My Fair Lady.

08:08May I introduce Miss Eliza Doolittle?

08:10My dear Miss Doolittle.

08:12How kind of you to let me come.

08:14Delighted, my dear.

08:16Audrey Hepburn has played style mavens in films like Sabrina and Funny Face.

08:20One of her most notable fashionable roles is Eliza Doolittle.

08:23The character's costumes help guide her transformation from floral merchant to style icon.

08:28In one unforgettable moment, she arrives at the Ascot racecourse dressed in a gown that

08:32could stop any of the racehorses in their tracks.

08:35How do you do?

08:39How do you do?

08:40The black and white lacy garment features a tall neckline with striped ribbon accents and

08:45a constricted silhouette with a flouncy bottom.

08:47Even in a sea of other black and white gowns, hers is the most loverly.

08:52Number 10, Emma Watson's dress, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

08:56Hermione Granger might be the smartest student at Hogwarts, and also the most stylish.

09:00She looks beautiful.

09:03Yeah, she does.

09:12Trading in her uniform for a gown to celebrate the Yule Ball, she arrives at the event in

09:16a beautiful dress that is simply magical.

09:18The pink layers, billowy cap sleeves, and matching ribbon tied at her waist, the dress

09:23is more than just a costume piece.

09:25Played by Emma Watson, Granger's dress represents the transition from childhood to adolescence.

09:40It is a pivotal moment in her growth as a character, and the dress helps symbolize it.

09:45Number 9, Kate Hudson's dress, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.

09:49If you could wear sunshine, it would look exactly like this dress.

09:53Kate Hudson as Andy Anderson made rom-com history when she wore this stunning yellow number

09:57in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.

09:58You're beautiful.

10:09You look pretty good too, Sparky.

10:12The satin fabric, the V-shaped neck, and open back make up the simple yet divine gown.

10:17Later in the film, she wears a breathtaking 80-carat diamond necklace named after famed dancer

10:22Isadora Duncan, which makes this already beautiful ensemble even more exquisite.

10:27This is Isadora.

10:29Two and two, you can.

10:3184 carats, named for Isadora Duncan.

10:36Trust us, Andy is not losing anyone in this look.

10:40Number 8, Jennifer Garner's dress, 13 going on 30.

10:43No one could have anticipated just how iconic this dress would become.

10:47I like your shoes.

10:48Thanks.

10:50I like your dress.

10:52It's because I've got these incredible boobs to fill it out.

10:5513 going on 30s costume designer Susie DeSanto admitted to People magazine in 2024 that Jennifer

11:00Garner's thriller dress was not planned at all.

11:03Opting for something fun and cute, the costume team pulled out the colorful Versace mini.

11:08The perfect blend of Jenna Rink's 13-year-old inner and her outer 30-year-old selves,

11:12everyone became obsessed with it.

11:27Replicated by fans for Halloween and recreated for stars like Ariana Grande,

11:31this dress truly is ageless.

11:34Number 7, Judy Garland's dress, The Wizard of Oz.

11:37It is one of the most recognizable pieces in the history of cinema.

11:43Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue.

11:51Worn by Judy Garland, Dorothy Gale's gingham getup from The Wizard of Oz was crafted by famed

11:57MGM single-named costumer Adrian.

11:59The look was inspired by author L. Frank Baum's descriptions in the original novel.

12:03Many different versions of her outfit were made before the final design was selected.

12:07The white and blue checkered apron over a blouse became the simple yet memorable one we know today.

12:13Are you a good witch or a bad witch?

12:17Who, me?

12:19I'm not a witch at all.

12:20I'm Dorothy Gale from Kansas.

12:22A departure from Adrian's more glamorous designs, this would go on to become one of his most famous creations.

12:29Number 6, Grace Kelly's dress, Rear Window.

12:32Grace Kelly is the definition of poise.

12:35Is this the Lisa Fremont who never wears the same dress twice?

12:38Only because it's expected of her.

12:41It's right off the Paris plane.

12:43You think it'll sell?

12:44From To Catch a Thief to High Society, her elegance is unmatched.

12:48In Alfred Hitchcock's thriller Rear Window, she is at her peak style.

12:53Playing a chic socialite named Lisa Fremont, she wears a variety of beautiful clothes.

12:58Designed by the legendary Paramount costume designer Edith Head,

13:01her black and white dress is the pièce de résistance.

13:04What would you think of starting off with dinner at 21?

13:07Will you have perhaps an ambulance downstairs?

13:10Ah, better than that.

13:1221.

13:14The deceivingly simple top is the first thing you notice before the ballet-esque bottom is revealed.

13:19Paired with a tulle shawl, it is no mystery as to why this look is so fabulous.

13:24Number 5, Lily James' dress, Cinderella.

13:27When Disney decided to adapt Cinderella into a live-action film,

13:31one of the biggest questions was what her dress would look like.

13:34With multiple Oscars under her belt,

13:36costume designer Sandy Powell was the perfect person to take on this tall order.

13:39The costume designer's job is not just putting clothes on people,

13:42it's actually helping create the character.

13:44It's helping the director create his vision for the whole film,

13:47and it really is about collaborating with the actors on their character through what they're wearing.

13:53What resulted was a stunningly blue and sparkly gown that was fit for a princess.

13:57In fact, Lily James looks like she's practically floating in it.

14:01Powell told Vanity Fair in an interview that she wanted the dress to look, quote,

14:05like a watercolor painting.

14:07And boy, did she deliver.

14:08Oh, it's beautiful.

14:11She'd love it.

14:13Number 4, Vivian Leigh's dress, Gone with the Wind.

14:16Many of Hollywood's classic films have not stood the test of time.

14:20Famously, Gone with the Wind has only become increasingly flawed as years pass by.

14:25The costumes haven't, however.

14:27Crafted by Walter Plunkett,

14:28his 19th century-inspired designs were at their best when featured on Vivian Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara.

14:33Thank heavens you're not in rags.

14:35I'm tired of seeing women in rags.

14:36Turn around.

14:38Oh, you look good enough to eat.

14:40Take, for example, her noted curtain dress.

14:42Fashioned out of green velvet window fixings,

14:45she completes the outfit with a belt made of gold tassels.

14:48The vibrancy of the color and the texture really pop off the screen,

14:52making this one of the most memorable dresses of the era.

14:56Why did you lie to me, and what are you really up to?

14:57Now, Red, you...

14:58In another minute, I'd almost believe you cared for something.

15:00But I do care.

15:01Suppose we get down to the truth.

15:03You want something from me, and you want it badly enough to put on quite a show in your velvet.

15:06Number 3, Keira Knightley's dress, Atonement.

15:09This dress would leave anyone green with envy.

15:12Keira Knightley's gown from Atonement has gone on to achieve a legacy

15:15as one of the most beloved dresses to ever appear on screen.

15:18Produced by the film's costume maker, Jacqueline Duren,

15:21it was inspired by Coco Chanel, and it shows.

15:24Wasn't the version I was meant to read?

15:26I don't know. It was more formal.

15:28An anatomical.

15:29Yes.

15:30The flowy and airy movement of the garment is reminiscent of flapper-style dresses from the 20s.

15:35The striking emerald shade is crisp,

15:37drawing focus to Knightley's character Cecilia Tallis.

15:40Atonement might break our hearts, but this dress definitely makes up for it.

15:44What do you say, C?

15:45Does the hot weather make you behave badly?

15:49Good heavens, you're blushing.

15:51It's just hot in the air, that's all.

15:52Number 2, Audrey Hepburn's dress, Breakfast at Tiffany's.

15:55It does not get more chic than the opening shot of Breakfast at Tiffany's.

15:59Fade in on Audrey Hepburn as she roams the early morning streets of Manhattan,

16:03coffee and pastry in hand, while she window shops at Tiffany & Company.

16:07The sleek black dress she wears as Holly Golightly is designed by Hepburn's close friend,

16:12Hubert de Givenchy.

16:13He sort of describes her as coming in and having quite a sort of eclectic, eccentric style,

16:17but incredibly charming within that.

16:20Topped off with pearls, the gorgeous cut-out back fits the starlet to a tee.

16:25The ensemble was such a big success that it helped make the little black dress a wardrobe staple.

16:36Before we unveil our top pick, here are some honorable mentions.

16:40Kirsten Dunst's dress, Marie Antoinette, why it's good to be the queen.

16:52Molly Ringwald's dress, Pretty in Pink.

16:54This dress is pure 80s nostalgia.

16:57Oh wow, you look great.

16:59Thanks, you look stunning really.

17:03It's breathtaking.

17:04Carrie Fisher's dress, Star Wars Episode IV, A New Hope.

17:08This dress is out of this world.

17:10Darth Vader, only you could be so bold.

17:12The Imperial Senate will not sit still for this.

17:15When they hear you've attacked a diplomat...

17:16You're not so surprised, your highness.

17:18Elizabeth Taylor's dress, Cleopatra.

17:20This golden gown still reigns supreme.

17:28Liv Tyler's dress, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers.

17:32Who knew Middle-Earth was so fashionable?

17:34And there will be no comfort for you.

17:36No comfort to ease the pain of his passing.

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17:55Number 1, Marilyn Monroe's dress, The Seven-Year Itch.

17:59Didn't you just love the picture?

18:01I did.

18:02Yes, Marilyn Monroe's pink number in Gentleman Prefer Blondes is absolutely gorgeous.

18:07But in 1955, she would wear the dress that would become synonymous with her likeness.

18:12In Billy Wilder's The Seven-Year Itch, her character, the girl, stands on a subway grate,

18:16the wind moving her skirt, resulting in one of the most iconic moments in movie history.

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