Glamorous, Sensual & Dynamic
Black is a sophisticated and elegant color. It signifies formality like a “black tie” affair. It can also mean death and mourning, sadness, maturity, mystery and power. Black is typically flattering on most people but it can be hard to showcase it on film however when it does it makes a very bold statement.
This page ranks black costumes from modern movies. They are ranked on beauty, memorability and how they reflect the character. Black costumes from period and fantasy movies have their own lists.
Undergarments, cover-ups, sleepwear, outerwear, swimwear etc are not included.
List Subject to change.
10. Helen from Bridesmaids (2011)
Designer: Romona Keveza
The 2011 comedy Bridesmaids centers around two best friends, one getting married, the other whose life is spiraling. The main character, Annie (Kristen Wiig), is the coveted maid of honor, and she is introduced to the other bridesmaids at the engagement party.
This includes the bride’s new friend, the seemingly perfect Helen (Rose Byrne). Of course, within seconds of meeting her, we see that she is vastly condescending. This is best captured in her designer gown, which makes her the most overdressed woman at another woman’s engagement party.
The gown is sleeveless asymmetrical neckline made from a sheer black overlay. It has a defined waist with a full a-line skirt. This gown is more suited to a red carpet than a daytime occasion, but that is Helen.
9. Vivian from Pretty Woman (1990)
Designer: Marilyn Vance
1990’s Pretty Woman is a take on the Cinderella myth, but with a classic modern rom-com lens. Like every classic rags-to-riches tale there is an element of a fashion transmutation.
For Vivian (Julia Roberts), she starts dressing in a chic manner when she goes out to dinner in a black cocktail dress. It’s made from black lace with a low off-the-shoulder rounded neckline, echoed in a black stripe of lace close to her neck. The sleeves are short and the hem hits just above the knees.
8. Vesper from Casino Royale (2006)
Designer: Roberto Cavalli
In 2006’s Casino Royale, Bond is paired with Bond girl Vesper (Eva Green) who is a British Treasury agent. For a dinner scene with Bond, she wears a super sophisticated sleek sleeveless black silk floor length gown. The neckline is a low sweetheart with gathered cups. The back of gown reveals a dual straps on either side with a cut-out.
Her Algerian lover’s knot is worn with it.
7. Andy from The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
Designer: Patricia Field
One of the most memorable movies about fashion, The Devil Wears Prada pairs the importance of fashion with the pitfalls of ambition. A big turning point in the movie is the red carpet gala event when Andy (Anne Hathaway) outshines the first assistant. As it’s a work event, Andy’s look suits her burgeoning sense of style and is a good balance between understated and gorgeous.
As it’s a red carpet formal event, the gown is floor-length and has a sleek silhouette with a deep wide v-neck and is softly draped. The sleeves are short and have a long black lace trim peek out under the sleeves. The sides of the gown are ruched and it has a bow-like drape at the front.
6. Nina from Black Swan (2010)
Designer: Amy Westcott
Black Swan ends with ballerina Nina (Natalie Portman) performing the role of Odile, the black swan, in Swan Lake. This role is what Nina has been suffering the whole film for, to dance the seductive role with utter perfection.
For her seductive role as Odile, Nina wears an edgy black tutu. It has an asymmetrical neckline with black feather and chaotically placed rhinestone crystals at the bust.
The tutu is very textured with tulles and feathers which adds to the beautiful chaos of the look.
Despite it’s limited amount of screen time that this costume got it still iconic and very memorable.
5. Kitty from The Killers (1946)
Designer: Vera West
The Killers is a classic film noir with an equally classic femme fatale who brings destruction to all the men around her. When Kitty (Ava Gardner) is first introduced, she is the picture of glamour and seduction in her floor length black satin dress with a high slit at the center front.
The dress is sleeveless with a single asymmetrical strap starting at the center-front of the neckline and up to one shoulder. The cups on the bodice are gathered.
4. Sylvia from La Dolce Vita (1960)
Designer: Piero Gheradi
One of the most memorable scenes of Frederico Fellini’s memorable 1960 film, La Dolce Vita, is when Sylvia (Anita Ekberg) goes into the Trevi Fountain in the middle of the night.
As the film is black and white, the black strapless dress off-set against her fair features makes for a dynamic shot. The dress has a back train panel that is a lightweight white fabric that adds to the dynamism of the scenes when she wears this dress.
3. Diana from Indecent Proposal (1993)
Designer: Theirry Mugler
While the premise and plot of Indecent Proposal is problematic, the dress that Diana (Demi Moore) is gifted is a highlight in the movie.
The floor-length sleeveless gown bears the signature design style of Mugler with his dramatic and futuristic aesthetic. The visual point of interest is definitely the neckline with the angled cut-out peaks and the angled neck straps over the chest.
This dress was dubbed “the most famous dress of the ’90s.”
2. Gilda from Gilda (1946)
Designer: Jean Louis
Gilda is one of the classic examples of film noir complete with one of its iconic femme fatales, Gilda ( Rita Hayworth). Though she is not the fatale type, as she doesn’t plot demise, she is more chaotic, dangerous and desirable.
Gilda has many iconic moments, like the hair flip, however the dance scene is one of the most memorable parts of the movie. Her gown in this scene was inspired by the painting Portrait of Madame X by John Singer Sargent. It’s a black satin strapless gown with a high slit and gathered-like detail on the side. This gown is so famous that it has its own wiki page.
1. Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
Designer: Givenchy
The beginning of Breakfast at Tiffany’s is iconic as Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn) stands in front of Tiffany’s with coffee and a danish, dressed to the nines. There is no denying that it’s an iconic look even if you haven’t seen the movie you know this costume and is synonymous with Hepburn herself.
The dress is a simple sheath dress. It has a lovely back detail with the rounded collar. The multiple strand pearl necklace with a large sparking focal point along with the mini tiara gives the dress a dramatic flair.
