Youth, Renewal, and Success
Green as a color has many meanings: youth, vibrancy, greed, jealousy, renewal, growth, nature, abundance, success, peace, as well as calming energies. Green is the only color that can be warm or cool as it is a neutral color. All this combined with the added bonus that many women look beautiful in green and it is no wonder that it is used for many timeless movie costumes.
This page ranks the ten best green costumes from modern movies— “modern” meaning the movie reflects the fashion of when the movie was released. (Period movies and fantasy/sci-fi movies have their own rankings.)
Costumes are ranked by aesthetics, memorability, and how they suit the character and film. Subjective opinions do influence the rankings, but I do try to be objective. Articles of clothing like undergarments, cover-ups, bathing suits, sleepwear, outerwear etc. are not included.
Also costumes that I deem more blue-green (Teal, Turquoise, and the like) have their own ranked lists.
Enjoy!
List is subject to change.
10. Andy Sachs from The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
Costume Designer: Patricia Field
When it comes to a fashion movie The Devil Wears Prada is an obvious choice as it puts fashion front and center in the narrative as well with the characters. Throughout the film we see Andy (Anne Hathaway) experimenting with fashion until finally coming into her own.
All comes to head in Paris during Fashion Week, when Andy takes the spot from her co-worker. She did it because she believed that her boss didn’t give her a choice and learns that her ambition is in line with her boss’ and she finds that it is a bridge too far.
At the end of the movie when Andy walks away from the fashion world she looks quite chic. She wears a very dark green dress with a small black crop jacket. The top looks like a corset and the skirt has tiers with black trim. She just looks impeccable and on point with the classic look, the Bridget Bardot hair style and the red lip.
But yes, this dress is in gact dark green and not black.
9. Lisa Fremont from Rear Window (1954)
Costume Designer: Edith Head
Rear Window is often considered Hitchcock’s best film and is one of the 11 films he did with costume designer Edith Head. Lisa Fremont (Grace Kelly) is a socialite and girlfriend of Jeff, the main character who is watching tenants from the titular rear window of his apartment.
As a socialite all her outfits are glamorous. The light green suit she wears when she invites herself for the night and when she is first introduced to Doyle, a friend of Jeff’s and police. It consists of a buttonless jacket that is lined with white. The skirt matched the green jacket.
She pairs the look with a white wrapped around sleeveless halter neck blouse, white belt, white gloves and a white pillbox hat with white netting. The white combined with the light green makes the look fresh and bright. It also works with the cool refined elegance that Grace Kelly brought to her roles.
8. Kate from Picture Perfect (1997)
Costume Designer: Jane Robinson
As a means to getin ahead at her ad agency and to impress a guy, shy and awkward Kate (Jennifer Aniston) fakes having a fiancé. Of course in classic 90s romantic movie fashion shenanigans get in the way of not too perfect plan.
Throughout the movie Kate’s wardrobe is one point however it’s her green mini-dress that super memorable. It’s very in style for late 90s slight hybrid between a corset and slip dress that is also short. The spaghetti straped dress is white with green lace layered top created a playful pattern. The edge of the lace is scalloped and is ever so longer than the main body of the dress.
It’s cliche, alluring and just a little playful perfect for the personality Kate is trying to convey.
7. Madeline Swann from Spectre (2015)
Costume Designer: Jany Temime
In the 24th installment of the James Bond film series, Bond meets the daughter of one of his antagonist’s. Madeline Swann (Léa Seydoux) works as a psychiatrist in a private clinic.
During the train scene she glides into the dining car in this resplendent gown. The color is a minty green or pistachio color. It looks to be made from a silk charmeuse. It has very minimal detail though it does a low back with drape. It’s very classic, effortless, and glamorous perfect for a Bond girl.
6. Louisa from What a Way to Go! (1964)
Costume Designer: Edith Head
If you love over-the-top costumes and Edith Head designs mixed with comedy then What a Way to Go! is the movie for you. Louisa (Shirley MacLaine) recounts her experience being married to four different men who all leave her a massive fortune. Three out of the four men were poor to start and in the marriage they became rich before dying. Turns out however she is not into being rich, she wants love.
For her third husband she marries a man who starts out rich. She thinks this can break her curse but it turns out he just gets richer. Louisa likens her third marriage to a glamorous movie where the lead actress is constantly changing into fabulous gowns for fantastic social parties.
This gown is an emerald green and looks like it’s made from a silk charmeuse. The bodice is ruched down the center front. Off the back of the gown there are a few draping that she extends out for dramatic effect.
5. Estella from Great Expectations (1998)
Costume Designer: Judianna Makosky
The 1998 version of Charles Dickens’ book is a contemporary retelling set mainly in New York City, but also Florida.
The character dynamics are very much the same, with Estella (Gwyneth Paltrow) a cool austere flirty girl who is set to break hearts.
When she reconnects with Finn as adults in Central Park—Finn being this version’s Pip—she wears this super minimal green look. It’s a Donna Karen cardigan with a slinky girl skirt. The one button looks make the own look effortless and cool. The color choice is less about the character and more that it’s the director’s color of choice. He understands the color.
4. Jane Carter from Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)
Costume Designer: Michael Kaplan
In this installment from the Mission Impossible franchise, nuclear war is trying to be avoided. Jane Carter (Paula Patton) a member of the crew, is tasked with getting satellite override code. To do this she needs to seduce the target. And what is the best way to ensure a successful seduction, the right attitude and the right dress.
Jane wears this gown for her objective and it is absolutely the right gown for the job. It is a gorgeous jade green color. It’s one shoulder with a wrap like drape at the bodice. The silhouette is a-line but the fabric is lightweight so it has a good fluid movement. The skirt has a high slit off-center front. If that wasn’t enough, there is a cut-out at the small of the back. It’s like a modern gown fit for a goddess.
3. Melanie Daniels from The Birds (1963)
Costume Designer: Edith Head
Alfred Hitchcock’s natural horror thriller was based on a real effect which involved toxic algae and a short story by Daphne de Maurier. The film shows the birds attacking for no explained reason which adds to the horror of the film. Melanie Daniels (Tippi Hedren) is a socialite who is blamed for the birds attacking since the attacks correspond to her arrival.
Through most of the film, Melanie is seen wearing a parrot-green two-piece suit with a high lapel collar. The jacket has two pockets at the front. The belt also matches. The fabric looks like it could be wool. On the whole, this outfit is very classic yet functional, she looks like she is just going about her day as an upper crust society lady. It is also an iconic look.
2. Ali from Burlesque (2010)
Designer: Donatella Versace
Small town waitress Ali (Christina Aguilera) dreams becoming a professional dancer. That dreams leads her working at Burlesque club. However it’s her singing skill that impress.
Ali’s olive green gown is scene in a more dream-like fantasy scene. It’s made from lightweight fabric that has a gorgous drape. The most iconic aspect of this gown is the gathered off-the-shoulder cowl neckline that just adds a very refined sense of drama.
It’s a very iconic costume especially for a shade of green few can pull off and make alluring. Kudos to the movie for doing so.
1. Mia Dolan from La La Land (2016)
Costume Designer: Mary Zophres
La La Land is a throwback movie to the romantic notion of the golden age of Hollywood wrapped in modern pragmatism. It certainly gives the impression of a grand romance but the end is reality. It is a bittersweet movie for all the dreamers out there.
The costumes fit that lush dreamscape as they are romantic and still modern. Mia (Emma Stone) wears this emerald dress on a date. She ditches that date to go to the movies with Sebastian and the movie gets interrupted when they go to the planetarium which is just a magical and romantic scene.
Like most of her colorful looks the dress is knee length and is made from a lightweight fabric which looks lovely when she dances. The sleeves are caps and they are gathered at the seams. The bodice is rouched down the center. The neckline is a sweetheart and the back is a low v-shape. She pairs it with a green faceted pendant necklace.
