Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, Floral Costumes are Fantastical, Nobel and True
Flowers are synonymous with beauty and femininity, so it makes perfect sense that movie costumes that use floral are super lovely.
This is a ranked list of floral costumes from Fantasy and Sci-fi movies, which are ranked by aesthetics, memorability and how well they suit the character/film. Undergarments, cover-ups, sleepwear, outerwear, swimwear etc are not included, but in some instances, especially on this list, a matching outerwear was added.
Costumes on this list should have more than just a few rosettes or trim sewn on. The florals should be either an all- over-print design either through pattern, or embroidery, or painted, or beading or woven into the fabric and it should have some visual contrast against the main material, we should see that the focus are the flowers, leaves or other kinds of botanicals.
Floral costumes from Period and Modern movies are also not included, as they have their own respective ranked lists. Also I didn’t want to cross-reference with other costumes on my other lists, so some costume might not be listed or got moved around if they ranked higher as Floral rather than a the color based ones. Also while I do try and be objective as I can, my own subjective do contribute.
List is subject to change.
Spoilers!
10. The Duchess from Paradise Hills (2019)
Designer: Alberto Valcárcel
The Duchess (Milla Jovovich) of 2019’s Paradise Hills present herself of some-what kind rehabilitator of young upperclass ladies who need to molded to fit into societal standards. However she’s actually an antagonist who lures the girls in with her soft manner and graceful costumes.
Most of her costume use florals which is a hints to her true identity. When her mask starts to slip she is wearing white off-the shoulder gown with puffed sleeves and red rose appliqués. The contrast of the red on white is sharper than her other costumes making for good punch for the main characters as the try get off the island.
9. Giselle from Enchanted (2007)
Designer: Mona May
Giselle (Amy Adams) is the perfect archetypal Disney princess who is thrown out her idyllic fantasy world and lands in Manhattan.
In typical fairy-tale fashion she literally fashions her costumes out of curtains. For her date with Prince Edward she uses curtains made from a pink, purple, and green floral pattern. It’s off-the shoulder with a ruffled neckline and charming purple bows and rosettes.
It’s very Giselle as it’s unapologetic girly.
8. Ofelia from Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
Designer: Lala Huete
An interwoven narrative combining harsh reality with fantasy, Pan Labyrinth uses a myriad of fairy tale references to tell unique heartbreaking story that is half-fantasy and half-war drama. The story can be seen as a young girl, Ofelia, (Ivana Baquero,) using fantasy as a coping mechanism or can be read as the fantasy in the movie is real.
However you choice to read it (personally I’m the magic is real camp) the ending is bittersweet and gets me every time. At the end, Ofelia chooses to not to harm an innocent and is killed by her step-father. She arises in the underworld realm as a Princess, having completed her ultimate task.
The underworld scene is one few times in the movie that warm tones are used. Her costume is a gold dress with a rose design. Ruffles grace the hem, cuffs and and neckline which uses the same floral fabric For more added warm she wears a sheer red jacket which compliments her red shoes, a clear reference to Dorothy fromThe Wizard of Oz.
7. Belle from Beauty and the Beast (2017)
Designer: Jacqueline Durran
The Live action remake of Beauty and the Beast ends in everyone celebrating the lifting of the curse.
Often mistaken for a wedding gown, Belle’s (Emma Watson) gown is actually referred to as “The Celebration Gown.” Though it 100% looks like a wedding gown sans a veil.
Her celebration gown is white with sheer 3/4 length sleeves. The gown is decorated with orange roses. The choice to make the roses orange softens the look as red on white might have looked a little more dramatic and not a soft as whimsical as the orange tone.
It has more of a 1950s aesthetic than Rococo which a little cobfusing given the movie’s overall aesthetics but it’s still very beautiful.
6. Lady Tremaine from Cinderella (2015)
Designer: Sandy Powell
2015 Cinderella is often considered one the better Disney live action remakes. In addition to not being a total one-to-one remake of the original it also have great costumes many of which are florals with a 1940s/1950s take on the 19th century.
When Lady Tremaine (Cate Blanchett) makes her introduction she wears a yellow-green top with a large black floral design. The long black skirt has green flowers for a reprisal yet matching look. Her boots also match her top and her hat is rather dramatic. It’s elegant and intimidating.
Also shout-out to the wacky florals of the step-sisters as well as Cinderella’s work dress which has flowers but they are less notable and her wedding gown which is one another upcoming list.
5. Maria from The Secret of Moonacre (2008)
Designer: Beatrix Aruna Pasztor
Loosely based on The Little White Horse, The Secret of Moonacre, is about an orphan, Maria Merryweather, (Dakota Blue Richards) is sent to live with her bachelor uncle. As the story unfolds Maria learns of her family’s rivalry with another family and a curse that will destroy the valley unless Maria breaks it before the next full moon.
This movie has a captivating dreamy aesthetic with a whimsical Victorian design approach. Maria’s gray-blue outfit consists of a fitted bodice with a wide lapel and a bustle skirt. A large scale reddish-orange floral design adds a lot great complimentary details.
This costume is very similar to her pink outfit thought she wears this one with her signature Saturn necklace.
4. Arwen from Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings (2001) Extended Cut
Designer: Ngila Dickson
While I used to be more of stickler for the costumes I list to be in the movie and not from a deleted scene, I think at this stage the extended cuts of The Lord of the Rings count just as much as the Theatrical versions, maybe more.
Arwen’s (Liv Tyler) costume as she bids farewell to the Fellowship is in the extended version and really it shouldn’t have been cut but at least it’s in the extended version and not deleted.*
Her silvery purple gown has bell-shaped flowers and leaf pattern. The sleeves are open which reveal the longer form- fitting purple sleeves of the purple under-dress.
While this costume is seen for a moment it’s one her memorable costumes
Shout-Out to Arwen’s Rose gown which was unfortunately was deleted from the films.
3. Lucy from Dracula (1992)
Designer: Eiko Ishioka
In Dracula, Lucy (Sadie Frost) is presented as the foil to Mina. While Mina is poor she’s also a conservative young lady while Lucy is rich and open to sexual encounters.
The costumes of the 1992 version reflective this duality as Lucy’s costumes are odd and revealing. In her introductory scene she wears an off-the-shoulder white floral lace dress layered over pink fabric.
The placement of the rose design is placed right over her bust, highlighting her openness. There are other roses as well making the roses a feature and a highlight.
It’s a very provocative yet dreamy costume that emblematic of the costume design of the movie, though at the same time it’s one her more wearable looks in the movie.
2. Snow White from Mirror Mirror (2012)
Designer: Eiko Ishioka
2012 gave the world two new yet quite difference adaptations of Snow White, both of which had lovely and interesting costumes. Mirror Mirror’s take was lighthearted, opulent, bright and colorful to compliment its comedic tone.
The first time we are introduced to Snow White (Lily Collins) she is wearing a pink and yellow dress. The bodice is pink with floral embroidered appliqués the puffed short sleeves. These sleeves are sheer and have a muted greenish- yellow tint.
The fabric used for the sleeves is also used as the ruffle trim along the neckline. This makes the costume read more yellow than pink. The pink bodice also has tabs along the hem. The skirt is long and made for a floral yellow fabric.
The total effect of this costume is youth, innocence, and beauty, all which suit Snow White’s character until she learns to fight later in the movie.
This costume was originally #3 on my best yellow fantasy/sci-fi movie costumes list but while it does read yellow it’s more flowery than it is pink or yellow. (Originally as in when I hosted these articles over on hubpages.)
1. Padme Amidala from Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
Designer: Trisha Biggar
One of the main plot-lines of Episode II is the assassination attempts made on Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman) that forces her to have Jedi protection and falling in love with her bodyguard.
As part of the effort to protect her, she and protector go to her idyllic home. As the two converse in a meadow, Padme wears a her most romantic costume. Her meadow dress has a medieval aesthetic. It’s yellow and off-the-shoulder.
he bodice is covered in tiny pink flower clusters with a matching shawl. The trim that makes up the shoulder straps also have floral patterns as does her hair accessories.
This costume is pure romance and was one of the costumes that inspired these floral lists. It’s also the costume she wears in the scene that is now a meme based on her and Anakin’s odd “flirtatious” banter.
