15 Movie Dresses That Are Just as Gorgeous as the Characters Themselves

Movies
year ago

Costume designers are always behind the scenes. But the viewers often memorize characters thanks to their clothes. Some dresses are actually so gorgeous that they might even overshadow the character herself.

Now I’ve Seen Everything values movies not only for the acting, but also for the stunning dresses.

Kate Hudson, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)

The long silk dress Andie Anderson from Composure magazine appeared in at the end of How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days won a lot of people’s hearts around the world. Even though yellow is not a flattering color for everyone, Kate Hudson was the embodiment of elegance in it.

Monica Bellucci, The Brothers Grimm (2005)

The costumes in The Brothers Grimm were created by the famous Gabriella Pescucci. The long red dress for Monica, who portrayed the witch, is a combination of red velvet, the best-quality white organza for the neck and the details on the sleeves, with bead embroidery, applied beads, golden glass beads and trim, red crystals, lace, ribbons, etc. And the headpiece is a crown made from golden organza on a structured cage, with applied beads and red crystals.

Nicole Kidman, The Golden Compass (2007)

The golden cape with sequins over top of the silk dress is memorable for how unusual it is, and it reflects the character of Mrs. Coulter, a beautiful but cold and powerful woman. According to costume designer Ruth Myers, she drew inspiration from old Hollywood.

Léa Seydoux, Beauty and the Beast (2014)

Belle wears a truly royal-style emerald green dress when she finds herself in the Beast’s castle. She wears it when she is wandering around the forest and finds the grave of the Beast’s lover. This dress, like all other costumes, created by Pierre-Yves Gayraud, combines the elements of Empire and the Renaissance.

Emma Stone, La La Land (2016)

The retro blue cocktail dress that Emma Stone’s character wears for the party, after which she meets Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) is from Mary Zophres. In the film, the blue color is a symbol of creative potential. Both Mia and Sebastian have it, and he also wears blue in the same scene.

Olivia Hussey, Romeo and Juliet (1968)

Juliet’s dress, like all the costumes in the film, matches the historical period — the style of the 15th century. All the Capulets wear a vibrant red, and the Montagues are dressed in cold blue.

Kirsten Dunst, Marie Antoinette (2006)

Costume designer Milena Canonero created not just the clothes that correspond with the time, but the costumes that communicate additional layers of meaning. For example, this dress with the floral print matches the print on the walls when she’s reading a chilly letter from home. The letter says that her siblings already have children, and she still doesn’t. Marie Antoinette obeys the rules of Versailles and literally loses herself, pursuing someone else’s goals.

Marilyn Monroe, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

© Gentlemen Prefer Blondes / 20th Century Studios, AF Archive / Mary Evans Picture Library / Cinetext Bildarchiv / East News

The most glamorous blonde of the 1950s is Marylin Monroe, in her bustier dress made from pink satin with matching evening gloves. She charms viewers and the people in the film, singing the famous song “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend.” The pink dress became iconic and was recreated many times, like by Madonna in the “Material Girl” music video.

Emma Watson, Beauty and the Beast (2017)

That red dress from the original Disney cartoon was recreated in the film, but with slight changes. Emma Watson wanted to create the look of a modern, strong, and brave Belle, but the old dress didn’t give off that vibe. Costume designer Jacqueline Durran tried to find a balance between the tender doll-like dress and the new feel of the main character.

Cate Blanchett, Cinderella (2015)

Designer Sandy Powell, while working on the costumes of the evil stepmother, was inspired by 1940s fashion, so the look was very stylish, bright, and easy to recognize. Especially, the green dress Cate Blanchett’s character appears in at the most important ball in Cinderella’s life.

Carey Mulligan, The Great Gatsby (2013)

The beige dress has a simple cut, but it’s decorated with crystal drops. Daisy wears it for one of the luxurious parties Gatsby organizes, where he tells her that all the parties are for her. According to costume designer Catherine Martin, this dress was inspired by the № 33 from the Prada collection of Spring-Summer 2010.

Anya Taylor-Joy, Emma (2020)

Compared to the other complex dresses of the character, this one is a very simple but tender and memorable dress. The floral ornament matches the nature landscapes in this scene where Emma finds out about George Knightley’s feelings. And this visual harmony wasn’t the director’s or the cinematographer’s idea, but Alexandra Byrne’s. She wanted to highlight the fact that the character fits in with the environment, yet she is different.

Emma Watson, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

This tender pink dress with frills is the first really feminine look of Hermione in the Harry Potter movies and the first dress in the entire franchise. Thanks to the dress, Harry and Ron finally notice that she’s not only their friend, but also an attractive girl.

Liv Tyler, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2003)

The velvet dress with the amazing embroidery is called Requiem because it was labeled as such in the Lord of the Rings exhibit. This is because she’s wearing it in the scene where her father is telling her to forget about her dreams of living with a human and to go to Valinor, the location where immortal Elves lived.

Constance Wu, Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

The character of Constance Wu revived the passion for Cinderella-style ball gowns when she was dressed in the light blue tulle in the wedding scene. After that, the dress was given to the Smithsonian Institution for keeping.

When we look at movie characters, we sometimes want to be in their place just to try on their amazing clothes. Who wouldn’t like to wear a satin cloud dress, like a fairytale character, or Elvin clothes from The Lord of the Rings? Which of these dresses would you like to try on?

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