9 Legendary Dresses Worn By Actresses Of Hollywood’s Golden Age That Easily Outshine Modern Ones

Costume is an essential aspect of cinematic storytelling. Costumes communicate the details of a character’s personality to the audience and help actors transform into new and expected characters on screen. Not only do they help world-build and provide non-verbal insights into character and context, but they leave an indelible mark on culture when done exceptionally.
Do you still remember Marilyn’s white dress, Darth Vader’s onyx, or Uma’s black and yellow one-piece? The gorgeous dresses were created by talented designers of movie companies who have experience in the fashion industry and stayed in the history of fashion like world-famous couturiers.
We've gathered some celebrities' dresses that people still talk about with admiration.

#1 Vivien Leigh, Gone With the Wind

Source: © Gone with the Wind / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and co-producers

Vivien Leigh starred as Scarlett O'Hara in the movie “Gone With the Wind’. In a scene of Ashley Wilkes’ birthday, she looked so gorgeous in a tight red dress with a deep neckline decorated with ostrich feathers.

#2 Elizabeth Taylor, A Place in the Sun

Source: East News, © A Place in the Sun / Paramount Pictures

In the movie, A Place in the Sun, Elizabeth Taylor played Angela Vickers. She wore a gorgeous wedding gown designed by the famous Edith Head. "Elizabeth prided herself on her tiny waist and was always willing to wear her gowns very tight to achieve a waspish look. I can still hear her telling me, ‘Tighter, Miss Head, tighter,'" Edith recalls.

#3 Barbra Streisand, Hello, Dolly!

Source: © Hello, Dolly! Hello, Dolly! / Chenault Productions and co-producers

Dolly Levi is the main protagonist of the 1969 film Hello, Dolly! who was portrayed by Barbra Streisand. In the movie, the actress appeared in one of the most expensive dresses ever made for a movie. The luxury golden dress covered with Swarovski crystals weighed 40 pounds. Its weight made filmmakers worry because the actress has to dance while wearing it.

#4 Audrey Hepburn, Roman Holiday

Source: © Roman Holiday / Paramount Pictures, Mary Evans / East News

Audrey Hepburn changed the standards of beauty after starring in “Roman Holiday”. Designer Edith Head redesigned the gown in which Audrey's character, Princess Ann, appears in the last scene. The dress earned the movie and the designer an Oscar award.

#5 Rita Hayworth, Gilda

Source: © Madame X (Madame Pierre Gautreau) / John Singer Sargent / Wikimedia Commons, © Gilda / Columbia Pictures

The scene from the noir film, Gilda, where Rita Hayworth sings a song is deemed one of the top 10 best moments in the history of movie fashion. In the scene, Rita Hayworth wore a tight black dress, designed by Jean Louis.

#6 Grace Kelly, Rear Window

Source: © Rear Window / Alfred J. Hitchcock Productions

The dress, which Grace Kelly put on a stunning dress with a black bodice and a mid-calf full skirt with a spray bunch pattern on the hip area, is considered one of the most copied of Grace Kelly’s outfits.

#7 Jane Russell, The Revolt of Mamie Stover

Source: © The Revolt of Mamie Stover / Twentieth Century Fox

In the movie, The Revolt of Mamie Stover, of the year 1956, Jane Russell wore an emerald-green dress woven with gold thread and a bunch of glittering beads. It was created by William Travilla.

#8 Lauren Bacall, To Have and Have Not

Source: © To have and have not / Warner Bros. and co-producers

In “To Have And Have Not”, Lauren Bacall, who portrayed Marie "Slim" Browning, appeared in a black silk dress. It features an elegant top with shoulders and a draped skirt connected by a large belly ring.

Source: © To have and have not / Warner Bros. and co-producers, © Kevin Mazur / WireImage / Getty Images

#9 Marilyn Monroe, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes

Source: © Gentlemen Prefer Blondes / 20th Century Fox

Marilyn Monroe’s pink dress in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” was created by William Travilla and was used in one of the most famous scenes of the movie.

Source: © Gentlemen Prefer Blondes / 20th Century Fox