Joy, Passion, Danger and Energy
Red is a primary color that comes from a number of shades and tones. It’s a color of joy, passion, danger and energy. It’s a bold color that stands out and can make the heart beat faster, thus increasing blood flow and stimulating appetite. It is also an auspicious color and is used as a bridal color in many cultures.
This ranking only considers costumes from modern movies—in this case, movies more or less set in the modern world, even if not the 2020s precisely. Period costumes and fantasy/sci-fi costumes have their own rankings. Undergarments, cover-ups, sleepwear, outerwear, and swimwear are not included.
This ranking is all about bright or vivid red costumes. Think cherries and tomatoes, not wine. Or primary red, not burgundies, scarlets or crimsons. The costumes are ranked by aesthetics, memorability and how well they suit the character/film. This list aims for objectivity but no list truly is.
List subject to change.
10. Laney Boggs from She’s All That (1999)
Costume Designer: Denise Wingate
In the 1999 teen rom-com, She’s All That, a bet is made to turn an artistic nerd into prom queen material, Laney Boggs (Rachel Leigh Cook) is given a makeover in the very late ’90s teen rom-com style. When her new and different look is revealed she makes her iconic walk down the stairs wearing this red dress.
The silk dress is a spaghetti strap with a rounded neckline. The straps are gathered through the neckline giving the bodice a soft effect. The gathered neckline is the only real detailing as the 1990s had a fairly minimal aesthetic. The mid-thigh hem of the dress is also very late ’90s. As the movie says her look is new, but not improved, just different. Just a little more flattering.
9. Louisa “Lou” Clark from Me Before You (2016)
Costume Designer: Jill Taylor
Based on the book of the same name 2016’s Me Before You tells the story of Louisa “Lou” Clark (Emilia Clarke) who is hired as a caretaker for Will, a once wealthy banker and sportsman who is now tetraplegic after being hit by a motorcycle. Lou learns that Will is planning on a assistant suicide and Lou tries to convince Will to change his mind by showing him what life as to offer and is worth living.
Throughout the movie Lou demonstrates a very quirky approach to fashion. She has her iconic bumblebee tights and leprechaun shoes. In scene where the two go to concert she wears a stunning red dress. While Will does tell her to remove her pick neck scarf the vintage style of this dress is still very much in her fashion wheelhouse just more elevated.
The red dress is a lovely a-line silhouette and is knee-length. The sleeves are short and very well balanced by the modified v-neck Queen Anne neckline. The skirt has large pleated which gives the look a softness to the over-all sense of structure and sophistication of the dress.
She looks sublime.
8. Princess Mia from The Princess Diaries II: A Royal Engagement (2004)
Costume Designer: Gary Jones
The 2004 sequel to The Princess Diaries sees Mia (Anne Hathaway) getting ready to assume the throne as she is now twenty-one years old. The movie kicks off with her grand birthday party—which is also a ball—and to which she wears a red ballgown.
The ballgown is strapless with a folded over neckline that has a sparkle application. The bodice is form-fitting as the standard princess style look. And at the waist, there is a thin dainty bow.
The skirt is full, with a sheer overlay that gives the look softness. The sheer overlay has the same sparkle application at the neckline. For jewelry she wears delicate diamond earrings and a lavish diamond tiara which is a near replica of the Bourbon Parma tiara. The bright bold color makes her the focus of the scene and she looks stunningly regal.
7. Margot Wendice from Dial M for Murder (1954)
Costume Designers: Moss Mabry and Lillian House
One of Alfred Hitchcock’s greats, 1954’s Dial M for Murder is about a murder plot gone awry. After suspecting his wife, Margot (Grace Kelly) of an affair, her husband blackmails a man to murder her while she’s alone and on the phone. However things do not go as planned.
Margot’s most iconic look from this movie is from the opening scenes. She wears a red “new look” style of dress that is strapless with a cinched-in waist and full skirt. The neckline is a sweetheart and the hem hits just above the ankles.
A red lace overlay goes over the bodice and skirt, and the lace layer extends into a scallop hem and just goes slightly higher over the neckline. This same red lace fabric is used for a shrug with three-quarter sleeves. She also wears diamond jewelry with this classic 1950s look.
6. Helen Sharpe from Death Becomes Her (1992)
Costume Designer: Joanna Johnston
Death Becomes Her is a black comedy about the fear of age and the length people go to bypass the aging process. After her toxic best friend ruins her life, Helen (Goldie Hawn) gets her revenge by living well, launching a book and looking magically flawless.
At her book launch Helen wears a red gown and looks so glamorous that her toxic friend can not even deal. The gown is sleeveless with a sweetheart neckline. The straps criss-cross at the back. There is also a high slit at the front.
For jewelry she wears a small gold brooch and two chunky gold bracelets on each wrist. It’s minimal in its decoration, but that just makes Helen’s youthful appearance shine even more.
5. Tina Carlyle from The Mask (1994)
Costume Designer: Ha Nguyen
In the opening scene of the superhero comedy film, The Mask, Tina (Cameron Diaz) meets Stanley under the guise of opening an account, but she is really there for nefarious reconnaissance. Her alluring femme fatale look is meant to distract from the camera in her purse.
Tina has a simplistic look, but it’s very effective for her mission. She wears a form fitting long dress that has a very high slit. It’s sleeveless with thin straps and a low neckline. It is not embellished, though she does wear a black jacket with fabric flowers. She also wears silver jewelry to complete the seduction.
4. Lorelei Lee from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)
Costume Designer: William Travilla
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) is a great buddy comedy between two women with drastically different takes on what they look for in a romantic partner. It’s also packed with amazing costumes.
At the start of the film, both Lorelei (Marilyn Monroe) and Dorothy (Jane Russell) work as showgirls. Their sparkling costumes are made with sequins. The costume has long sleeves, a plunging V-neckline covered with a nude-tone fabric inset and the sleek skirt has a high slit. They also wear matching diamond jewelry with red stones.
3. Jo Stockton from Funny Face (1957)
Costume Designer: Givenchy
1957’s Funny Face sees Jo (Audrey Hepburn), a shy, intellectual bookshop worker transformed into a fashion model. The red gown she wears in the movie graces the screen for a fleeting moment in a montage of other beautiful outfits. She wears it as she walks down stairs at the Louvre during a photoshoot.
It’s a strapless sheath gown with a folded neckline, and at its back is a long train. Though the garment is seen only briefly, it was used as one the main images of the film and still remains iconic.
2. Cher Horowitz from Clueless (1995)
Costume Designer: Alaïa
What happens when you take Austen’s classic novel, Emma, and you set it in modern Southern California? You get the mid-’90s classic, Clueless.
During a party scene, Cher (Alicia Silverstone) wears one of her iconic looks. It is a short red dress that is sleeveless and form-fitting. The neckline is slightly curved, yet squared, and the straps criss-cross in the back. She also wears matching satin shoes. It’s very chic and minimal, making the color pop.
Cher also wears a red and black jacket with peplum-like ruffle detail and feather-boa trim at the neck and at the wrist cuffs.
The iconic line about the dress being an Alaïa wasn’t originally in the script, but added later. Costume designer Mona May had to jump through hoops to get an Alaïa dress made for the film, while she designed the jacket.
1. Vivian Ward from Pretty Woman (1990)
Costume Designer: Marilyn Vance
Pretty Woman is a Cinderella-esque rom-com from 1990. Julia Roberts plays Vivian, whose transformation into a chic, sophisticated lady is truly made complete when she reveals her opera ensemble.
It’s during this scene that she’s presented with a diamond necklace and the box lid is playfully shut on her fingers causing her to laugh. That was improvised, the reaction was real.
Originally, the studio wanted the dress to be black, but the designer pushed for red. Her floor length evening gown has an off-the-shoulder neckline and the arms are puffed in a sculptural way. The neckline has a v-notch at the center- front, which adds a subtle bit of sensuality.
The bodice is form-fitting and appears to be ruched. There is a matching fabric swag around the hips that comes down the skirt’s center-front. Aside from the iconic, $250,000 diamond necklace, Vivian also wears long white opera gloves for her evening out.
Honorable Mention: Nine Ball from Ocean’s 8 (2018)
Designer: Zac Posen
2018 Ocean’s 8 is part of the Ocean Heist Franchise. Ocean’s 8 is a jewel heist set against the backdrop of the glamorous MET gala.
Of the eight skilled member, Nine Ball (Rhianna) is the tech genius. Once the diamonds have been secured her slips into a designer gown in order to blend in to the surrounding.
Her red gown is a mermaid off-the-shoulder gown with a a draped ruffle off the neckline.
Her throughout looks in the movie were all down played looks, so her wearing a stunning red Zac Posen gown was a a cinderella moment.
