It’s hard to define an iconic dress – it has to be instantly recognizable: Where was it worn and by whom? For example: ‘Remember that Swan dress that Bjork wore to the Oscars?’
A lot of the most famous dresses are widely available as fancy dress outfits too – and for good reason. Doesn’t everyone fancy being Marilyn for a few hours?
There are lots of others I thought about including: Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra (but which of her 60+ costumes would you choose?), Liz Hurley’s safety-pin dress, Geri Halliwell’s Union Jack dress, Gaga’s meat dress, any of the Disney princesses…
What do you think? Did I pick the right outfits for my top 10?
1. Marilyn Monroe’s white dress
Marilyn’s white halterneck dress from the famous subway scene in the ‘Seven Year Itch’ is probably the most recognizable dress in the world. It sold for a huge $4,520,000 million last year. I wonder whether the person who bought it has ever worn it…? (I would!)
2. Audrey Hepburn’s black dress from Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Probably the most famous LBD of all time is the Givenchy gown worn by Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 movie Breakfast at Tiffanys
Source and copyright: Some rights reserved by Christina Saint Marche
3. Jackie Kennedy’s pink Chanel suit
The double breasted pink and navy Chanel suit worn Jackie Kennedy on the day the JFK was assassinated was imprinted in the mind of a nation when she insisted on wearing the blood-stained suit for the swearing-in of Lyndon B. Johnson and for the flight back to Washington, D.C. with the President’s body.
This photos of Mrs. Kennedy arriving at Love Field in Dallas, photograph by Cecil Stoughton, November 22, 1963. Courtesy National Archives, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, Massachusetts.
Source and copyright: Some rights reserved by Marion Doss
4. Judy Garland’s Dorothy dress
Not all iconic dresses are showstopping gowns. The gingham dress worn by Judy Garland in the Wizard of Oz definitely falls into this category. It sold for a huge $480,000 last Saturday. There were six versions of this dress used in the movie though, so I’m not sure which one it was…
Source and copyright: Some rights reserved by J.Zee
5. Bjork’s swan dress
Who can forget Bjork’s arrival on the red carpet wearing her swan dress at the 73rd Academy Awards on March 25, 2001. It was designed by Macedonian designer Marjan Pejoski, and was basically a flesh coloured body stocking with a swan draped around the neck. It caused a lot of controversy at the time, but I love it.
Source and copyright: Some rights reserved by Pulicciano
6. Princess Leia’s dress
What can I say – pretty much everything Princess Leia wore was iconic, but the white dress is probably the second most famous (behind the slave girl bikini of course)
Source and copyright: Some rights reserved by jimivr
7. Princess Diana’s wedding dress
This dress is definitely iconic, but I’ve never really liked it. I remember watching the Royal Wedding (I was 7) and even then I remember feeling disappointed when she got out of the carriage and her dress was all creased…
Source and copyright: Some rights reserved by thefoxling
8. Marilyn’s ‘Happy Birthday Mr President’ dress
Marilyn’s sparkly sheer dress from 1962 when she sang ‘Happy Birthday Mr President’ to JFK. It was one of Marilyn’s last public performances and the dress was stunning!
Source and copyright: Some rights reserved by ky_olsen
9. Audrey Hepburn’s Ascot dress from My Fair Lady
Another dress which I loved from the first time I saw it, this is of course the dress from the Ascot scene from My Fair Lady. This dress sold for $3.7 million last year.
Source and copyright: Some rights reserved by thefoxling
10. The red sequined dress
I couldn’t decide between Jessica Rabbit’s red sequin dress and the ones worn by Marilyn and Jane Russell in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes – and I’m pretty sure one was inspired by the other so I’m including both!
The red-sequin gown worn by Marilyn in “Gentlemen Prefer Blonde” sold for $1.2 million in 2011.
Photo source and copyright: Some rights reserved by Movie-Fan
And then of course there’s Jessica Rabbit.
I’m not bad
I’m just drawn that way…
Source and copyright: Some rights reserved by aszaidan
Great choices, nice to see Norma Jeane in there three times…!
Did you pic well? Yes, Although I was expecting to see the Tves St Laurent ‘abstract’ dress in your list.
http://www.ds303.com/digitalsalutations/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/YSLDress.jpg
That’ll be Yves St Laurent ‘abstract’ dress……..
To expand on this post, I’ve an excellent book on my bookshelf on this subject.
Fabulous Frocks by Jane Eastoe & Sarah Gristwood. ISBN 978 1862 057 982
Thanks Gerryquiff – I’ll take a look at that. Great suggestion about the YSL dress – I didn’t think of that one
…..and the Paco Rabanne ‘silver disc’ dress that Audrey Hepburn wore in the film Two for the Road. (you’ve featured that in the past, so you’re forgiven)
http://collections.glasgowmuseums.com/starobject.html?oid=203537
very true – perhaps I should have made it a top 15!
Great blog! I adore Marilyn’s style – beautiful woman, and Audrey Hepburn – well, timeless beauty! Like the sound of that ‘Fabulous Frocks’ book… Another one is ‘Vintage Fashion’!
do you have any details about that book Natalie? I googled it and there seem to be quite a few books with that title
thanks!
of course, it is Vintage Fashion, Collecting & Wearing Designer Classics, by Emma Baxter – forward Zandra Rhodes. really good, well I enjoyed it
x
thanks for that – appreciate it
No problem – hope you enjoy it as much as I did
Reblogged this on sparkling flakes.
There are so many to choose from but I definitely think you did a great job with this list!
Reblogged this on stacyblaise.
While Dorothy’s dress in The Wizard of Oz is considered iconic, I’ve always been much more fascinated by the ensemble worn by the Wicked Witch of the West. Tucked, gathered, buttoned up and flowing, with an attached cape for added drama, it was a beautifully designed costume.
true – and the absolute opposite to Glenda the good witch’s sparkle-fest costume which I loved as a kid!
Another fabulous book for your Christmas list.
Fashion Box. by Thames & Hudson. ISBN 978 0500 515 525
http://www.thamesandhudson.com/FashionBox/9780500515525
“This book takes a look at sixteen classic fashion items as worn by the stars who made them famous. Each of the pieces has its own chapter introduced by an essay from fashion writer Antonio Mancinelli, followed by a series of unforgettable photographs of the clothes worn by such stars as Brigitte Bardot, Ursula Andress, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Kennedy, Grace Jones, Lauren Bacall and Emmanuelle Béart. “
Oh, I just love Marilyn’s pink Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend dress and Scarlet O Hara’s dress she made from the draperies … Who’s in the picture with Marilyn in the Happy Birthday dress?
ah – now that pink dress probably should have been in the top 10 – how could I have missed that out?! I did think about the Scarlet O’Hara curtains dress too, but I couldn’t find a photo of it so I skipped that one!
I think it’s JFK’s brother-in-law Steve Smith with Marilyn – but don’t quote me on that!