When you’ve grown up reading fairytales about princes, frogs and happily-ever-afters, it’s safe to say that every little girl needs something to aspire to as she grows up. We tend to crave this from all angles of our lives but never more so than our favourite celebrities and their extraordinary fashions.
Here are just a few of the most iconic outfits (of recent history anyway!):
1. Keira Knightley – Atonement (2007).
Even though Keira Knightley wasn’t playing the most lovable character in Atonement, we were able to forgive her in a flash because of her emerald green beautiful gown, which was put together from scratch by costume designer Jacqueline Durran.
2. Kate Hudson – How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003).
To say Kate Hudson knocks it out of the park with this stunning yellow Aidan Mattox gown is the understatement of the century. Paired with the necklace to end all necklaces full of beautiful diamonds, Matthew McConaughey’s character Ben didn’t stand a chance.
3. Julia Roberts – Pretty Woman (1990).
What could be more inspiring than the rags to riches story portrayed by Julia Roberts and Richard Gere in Pretty Woman? Well, the movie’s wardrobe actually. This brown polka dot gown alone went on to top best dressed lists all of the world and is still sought after nearly twenty years later.
4. Sharon Stone – Basic Instinct (1992).
Despite the rather discourteous associations that have been made with this Basic Instinct scene, there is no denying that Sharon Stone gave new meaning to the word power-dressing with this elegant white number. It’s just a shame her character’s behaviour wasn’t so elegant…
5. Julie Christie – Dr Zhivago (1965).
It is no understatement that Julie Christie’s fashion in Dr Zhivago went on to spur a revolution in the fashion world, especially with high-end designers who have since adopted the Russian-style fur and Boho look in many of their collections.
6. Marilyn Monroe – The Seven Year Itch (1955).
Arguably the most famous dress on this list, Marilyn Monroe is synonymous with the flowing white beauty of her William Travilla gown, which will probably live on through popular culture for the rest of time.
7. Grace Kelly – Rear Window (1954).
This dress is still responsible for some of the most influential collections put together by fashion houses Dior and Oscar De La Renta. It is most definitely a timeless feminine look that women everywhere still seek to achieve to this day (albeit in their wildest dreams!).
8. Audrey Hepburn – Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961).
Another one of the world’s most recognised movie scenes, Audrey Hepburn paved the way for decades of fashion inspiration playing on the term ‘the little black dress’ (or ‘LBD’ as you might know today).
9. Audrey Hepburn – My Fair Lady (1964).
Overkill to the absolute max, there is nothing quite like Eliza Doolittle’s dress in My Fair Lady, designed and put together by the inimitable Cecil Beaton.
10. Belle – Beauty and the Beast (1991).
Self-indulgent I know, but I simply couldn’t put a list together of iconic dresses without including the best dress of all time from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. You might be laughing now but with a live action remake on the way, mark my words, you are going to be seeing this dress brought up a lot more over then next year.
