Fashion will always be a hot topic of conversation. Since trends are always changing, fashionistas do what they can to keep up with the evolution. Some fashionistas pay attention to their favorite celebrities as they figure out what they want to wear. Actresses, models, and singers often pave the way by setting trends with each new season. Other fashionistas follow their heart by paying attention to whatever calls out to them while shopping at department stores and boutiques. Whatever looks good at the moment is exactly what they’re willing to invest in for their wardrobes. Other fashionistas pull inspiration from iconic outfits they’ve seen in blockbuster movies.
Over the years, tons of incredible movies have premiered with characters rocking attention-grabbing and unforgettable outfits. In 2023, “Barbie” starring Margot Robbie came out. It caused quite a stir. Some of the outfits Robbie wore as Barbie were sparkly and divine. If you rewind to the ’60s, thinking about Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” is another good call. The romantic comedy featured one specific outfit that will always stand the test of time.
Who could forget about Sandy’s sultry outfit from the final scene of the movie “Grease”? The edgy musical made waves in 1978 as a song-filled comedy with characters that certainly pushed the boundaries. Barbie, Holly, and Sandy’s outfits will continue to inspire fashionistas forever – and their outfits barely scratch the surface. (While we’re on the subject of fashion, click here to uncover fashion trends from the 1950s that should make a comeback.)
Cher’s yellow plaid outfit in “Clueless”
- Actress who wore it: Alicia Silverstone
- Year: 1995
Alicia Silverstone was incredible in 1995’s “Clueless.” She led the way in the romantic comedy as a high school student with a genuine fashion obsession. Silverstone played the role of Cher, a popular girl at a ritzy Beverly Hills high school. When her silly game of playing “matchmaker” between two teachers suddenly works out, she realizes how powerful and influential she really is.
She goes out of her way to turn a dorky girl into a popular goddess on campus – but she gets in way over her head. In one scene from the movie, Cher wears a yellow plaid skirt paired with a matching blazer and vest. She completes the outfit with a white tank top underneath along with white socks that go above her knees. The outfit represents how pristine and preppy the character of Cher is supposed to be.
Barbie’s pink cowgirl outfit in “Barbie”
- Actress who wore it: Margot Robbie
- Year: 2023
Fashionistas everywhere were obsessed with the color pink in 2023 because of the “Barbie” movie. When it hit theaters, it made massive waves in the fashion industry. Margot Robbie landed the titular role and wore a multitude of fabulous outfits the entire way through. One outfit, in particular, stands out among the rest, though.
Barbie dresses in a pink cowgirl suit after escaping Barbieland and joining the real world with humans. The cowgirl get-up consists of a pink button-up vest with a V-neck cut, high-waisted bellbottom pants in a matching shade of pink, a pink bandana necktie, white boots, and a white cowgirl hat. As Barbie, Robbie also accessorized with a pair of dangling silver earrings.
Vivian’s red dress in “Pretty Woman”
- Actress who wore it: Julia Roberts
- Year: 1990
The idea of a love story featuring an escort and a businessman is as shocking as it gets. Still, “Pretty Woman” was a huge success when it premiered in 1990. Some may argue that it was ahead of its time as a modern take on the classic story of Cinderella. Julia Roberts plays Vivian Ward, a young woman who exchanges sexual favors for money.
When she falls in love with a client named Edward, both of their lives flip upside down. In one scene from the movie, Vivian joins Edward for an upscale event. She wears a gorgeous red dress paired with white gloves that cover her elbows. The scene is pivotal to the storyline of “Pretty Woman” since it portrays Vivian’s full-fledged transformation from rags to riches.
Holly Golightly’s black dress with pearl jewelry in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”
- Actress who wore it: Audrey Hepburn
- Year: 1961
Audrey Hepburn will forever be remembered as one of the classiest actresses of her era. She starred in several movies from the 50s through the 80s. “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” is arguably her biggest role ever, though. It premiered in 1961 telling the story of a beautiful young woman named Holly Golightly living in New York City. A love story between Holly and her neighbor ensues as the movie focuses on themes of happiness, self-discovery, romance, and personal identity.
In one unforgettable scene from the movie, Holly runs errands for the day wearing a stunning black dress paired with some over-the-top jewelry. Her pearl necklace perfectly matches the pearl hair clip tying her tresses into a bun. She completes the outfit with black gloves that cover her elbows in an elegant manner. In some instances, while wearing the dress, Holly is also seen wearing a sleek black pair of sunglasses.
The Girl’s white dress in “The Seven Year Itch”
- Actress who wore it: Marilyn Monroe
- Year: 1955
Marilyn Monroe is considered one of the most beloved actresses to walk the Earth. The 50s was a wonderful decade for her and her career. She starred in “The Seven Year Itch” in 1955, which was a romantic comedy about a man named Richard Sherman falling for a model in New York City. The model, played by Monroe, doesn’t have a real name in the movie. She simply goes by “the girl.” Richard becomes heavily infatuated with her and considers cheating on his wife to experience a night with the breathtaking model who’s caught his attention.
In one scene from the movie, Monroe’s character wears the most iconic white dress in cinematic history. The low-cut white dress dips low enough to show off some cleavage. It’s designed with a cinched waist and a hem that lands about midway down her calves. Most people recognize the scene where Monroe seductively pushes her dress down while stepping over a subway grate that blows a heavy gust of upward wind.
Dorothy Gale’s blue and white checkered dress in “The Wizard of Oz”
- Actress who wore it: Judy Garland
- Year: 1939
“The Wizard of Oz” is currently regarded as one of the most timeless musical fantasies ever. Even in 2024, people of all ages enjoy watching “The Wizard of Oz” due to the magic it offers on screen. Judy Garland landed the role of Dorothy Gale in the movie and spent every scene wearing a blue and white checkered apron-style dress.
Dorothy wore the dress along with a white short-sleeved top underneath, a pair of blue ankle socks, and a pair of ruby-red slippers covered in glittery sparkles. Dorothy wore her hair in two pigtails that were tied off with blue ribbons at the ends. To this day, Dorothy’s outfit from “The Wizard of Oz” is a popular Halloween costume option for young children to request.
Superman’s heroic costume in “Superman: The Movie”
- Actor who wore it: Christopher Reeve
- Year: 1978-1987
Christopher Reeve suited up to tackle the role of Superman in four different movies between 1978 and 1987. The first movie cemented Reeve as a truly heroic and epic actor. Loads of stars have taken on the role of Superman over the years, but many of them look at Reeves’s movies for the blueprint of how to approach such a fearless and valiant character persona.
The iconic outfit Reeves wore was the Superman costume that comic book lovers recognize from the pages of their favorite graphic novels. The highly recognizable costume is blue, red, and yellow, consisting of a skin-tight bodysuit, a midsection belt around the waist, a red cape, and a giant letter “S” across the chest.
Darth Vader’s armor in the Star Wars franchise
- Actor who wore it: David Prowse, Bob Anderson, Sebastian Shaw, Hayden Christensen, Gene Bryant, Spencer Wilding, Daniel Naprous
- Year: 1977-2016
Darth Vader has been around as a daunting character in the Star Wars saga for nearly 40 years. A long list of actors have suited up in Darth Vader‘s armor to make these movies come to life. In some cases, one actor was hired to wear the armor while another actor was hired to give Darth Vader his voice.
For example, back in 1977, David Prowse wore Darth Vader’s armor while James Earl Jones did all the talking. The heart-wrenching storyline that reveals how Darth Vader became an evil villain after starting out as an innocent child will always be intriguing to watch. The armor itself will forever be considered iconic and attention-grabbing in the eyes of diehard Star Wars fans.
Carrie Bradshaw’s wedding dress in “Sex and the City”
- Actress who wore it: Sarah Jessica Parker
- Year: 2008
“Sex and the City” premiered as a movie in 2008 with the same name as its beloved show. The show aired on television for six seasons starting in 1998. Sarah Jessica Parker played the role of Carrie Bradshaw in both the show and movie franchise. In the 2008 movie, Carrie was preparing to tie the knot with her off-and-on boyfriend, Mr. Big. Although they’d been in and out of each other’s lives for a decade, he continually showcased his inability to fully commit to her.
Their wedding scene was nothing short of dramatic. Big completely ditched carry at the altar – and she used her bouquet to bash his head. Instead of meeting her at their church location for an elegant day full of romance and bliss, he told his driver to peel out. Carrie’s bridal outfit is still considered one of the most memorable wedding dresses in cinematic history. The ivory-colored ballgown was princess-like to go along with her peacock feather hair clip and veil.
The bride’s yellow jumpsuit in the Kill Bill movies
- Actress who wore it: Uma Thurman
- Year: 2003-2004
“Kill Bill: Volume 1″ hit theaters in 2003 followed by its sequel, “Kill Bill: Volume 2″ in 2004. The action thriller saga starred Uma Thurman in the leading role with Quentin Tarantino as the director. The most iconic outfit from both movies was a yellow jumpsuit worn by Thurman. Her character didn’t exactly have a real name, by the way. Thurman’s character went by “the bride” whenever she was referenced on screen.
The reason she was nameless was because Tarantino wanted to add to her mysterious appeal. The bride’s goal in both movies was to seek revenge against people she once trusted. They attempted to murder her on her wedding day, but instead, they left her in a four-year coma. By the time she woke up, she was ready to fight. She suited up in her bright yellow jumpsuit to make it happen.
Lorelei Lee’s pink gown and gloves in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”
- Actress who wore it: Marilyn Monroe
- Year: 1953
Marilyn Monroe makes our list again for her glamorous role in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.” The musical comedy premiered in 1953 with Monroe playing the part of Lorelei Lee. In one scene, Lorelei sings her heart out about diamonds being a girl’s best friend. During the high-vibrational musical number, Monroe dances across the stage while wearing a bright pink dress with matching pink gloves that cover her elbows.
Lorelei accessorized with several bold and flashy diamonds, including stacked bracelets, stacked necklaces, and shimmery earrings. “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” is about a man concerned that his son is about to marry a gold digger. Lorelei’s song about diamonds being her best friend doesn’t do much to help her case – but her charm works for her.
Cleopatra’s gold phoenix headdress and cape in “Cleopatra”
- Actress who wore it: Elizabeth Taylor
- Year: 1963
Elizabeth Taylor landed the titular role in “Cleopatra” in 1963. Taylor is remembered as one of the most brilliant actresses of her era. Along with starring in “Cleopatra,” she made waves in movies like “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,” and “The Taming of the Shrew.” Her role in “Cleopatra” is arguably the most noteworthy, though.
In the movie, Cleopatra wears a dress made entirely of gold. That includes the cape and headdress. The headdress, which looked like it was incredibly heavy, was designed to resemble the wings of a bird. The bird in question was a phoenix made out of 24-karat gold. The costume designers for “Cleopatra” used their film budget of almost $195,000 to create Taylor’s legendary on-screen outfits.
Maria von Trapp’s apron dress in “The Sound of Music”
- Actress who wore it: Julie Andrews
- Year: 1965
To this day, people still reflect on “The Sound of Music” as one of the most beautiful musical movies to hit theaters. Julie Andrews plays the role of Maria von Trapp in the 1965 film. One of the reasons “The Sound of Music” is highly adored by the masses is the list of incredible songs performed by all the characters.
It’s difficult to forget catchy hits like “My Favorite Things,” “Sixteen Going On Seventeen,” and “Climb Ev’ry Mountain.” Andrews sings a song that matches the name of the movie while wearing an unforgettable outfit. She wears it while dancing upon the rolling hills of the great outdoors. In the role of Maria, Andrews wears an undecorated apron dress with long dark sleeves and a pair of dark boots. Despite the fact that the dress is super simple, it’s still extremely iconic.
Elle Woods’s pink V-neck dress in “Legally Blonde”
- Actress who wore it: Reese Witherspoon
- Year: 2001
“Legally Blonde” was an amazing romantic comedy that premiered in 2001. It shed light on the issue of sexism that still exists in the professional world today. Reese Witherspoon took on the role of Elle Wood, a beautiful young woman trying to make it as a lawyer at Harvard Law School. At first, her only goal at Harvard was to reconcile with her ex-boyfriend. Eventually, she realizes she’s destined for greatness with the potential of becoming a full-fledged lawyer.
In nearly every scene from the movie, Elle is spotted rocking pink outfits that showcase her femininity and girly sense of style. The most iconic pink outfit she wears is a pink-colored low-cut dress covered in a faint silver pattern. The V-neck dips low enough to reveal some of her cleavage. She accessorizes with a pair of sunglasses, pink strappy heels, sparkling jewelry, and a black tote bag.
Sandy’s leather bodysuit in “Grease”
- Actress who wore it: Olivia Newton-John
- Year: 1978
Olivia Newton-John played the role of Sandy in “Grease” from 1978. She did an amazing job in the musical comedy, opposite John Travolta. He played bad boy Danny Zuko. In the movie, Sandy and Danny are teenagers who fall in love on the sunny beaches of Australia during the summer season.
When their school year starts back up, they cross paths again. She quickly realizes that he isn’t the same kind-hearted and romantic fellow she thought she knew. He tries to act nonchalant with her in front of his friend and it leaves her feeling rejected. Ultimately, they both realize they’re willing to change their ways to be in each other’s lives. The iconic movie outfit she wears in the final scene of “Grease” is a skin-tight leather bodysuit that shows off all of her curves.
Rose DeWitt Bukater’s red dinner dress in “Titanic”
- Actress who wore it: Kate Winslet
- Year: 1997
Kate Winslet played the role of Rose DeWitt Bukater in “Titanic” in 1997. The dramatic movie focuses on a tragic (and fictional) love story between Rose and Jack Dawson, played by Leonardo DiCaprio. In the movie, the young couple falls head over heels for each other on the Titanic ship, just a couple of days before it hits an iceberg and sinks into the ocean.
In one scene from the movie, Rose goes to dinner on the cruise ship while wearing an elegant red dress with silver sparkles and sheer black trim. The dress is perfect symbolism for the opulent and upscale life she’s meant to have if she chooses to marry a wealthy man named Caledon Hockley. Ultimately, she decides she’d rather pursue true love by following her heart with Jack.
Princess Leia’s white dress in “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope”
- Actress who wore it: Carrie Fisher
- Year: 1977
Carrie Fisher does a fabulous job as Princess Leia in the entire Star Wars saga. There’s one movie, in particular, where she wears one of her most iconic movie outfits, though. In 1977, she wore a solid white dress in “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.” The turtleneck collar and space buns on both sides of her head helped turn this outfit into something no one would ever forget.
As Princess Leia, Fisher wore a multitude of interesting outfits in the Star Wars saga. Still, plenty of people who want to dress up like Princess Leia on Halloween will opt for this outfit above the rest. Some of these iconic outfits have given fashionistas guidance about what to do next with their wardrobes. (Next, click here to uncover 15 fashion trends that will take over in 2024.)