Red – Passion, Danger and Energy
Red is a primary color that comes from multiple shades and tones. It’s a color of passion, danger and energy, a bold color that stands out and can make the heart beat faster.
Because of that, I’m focusing on costumes that feature bright, vivid reds. Think cherries and tomatoes, not wine. Cherry is primary red, whereas burgundies, crimsons, and scarlets are darker shades of the color.
This ranking is only for fantasy and science fiction movies. Costumes from period and modern movies have their own rankings. Also, undergarments, cover-ups, sleepwear, outerwear, swimwear etc are not included.
The costumes are ranked by aesthetics, memorability and how well it suits the character/film. This list aims for objectivity but no list truly is.
List is subject to change.
10. Lydia from Beetlejuice (1988)
Designer: Aggie Guerard Rodgers
To be freed Beetlejuice needs to get married so he strikes a deal with Lydia (Winona Ryder) that he helps her friends if
she marries him.
Her gown for her creepy surreal wedding is bright red which is in reference to the Victorian poem about wedding superstitions. It’s made up from sheer red ruffles with a polka-dots.
Aside from the color it looks like a normal 1980s wedding gown with a full skirt, an illusion neckline a ruffle collar but the whole vibe is perfectly macabre
9. Queen of Longtrellis from Tale of Tales (2015)
Designer: Massimo Cantini Parrini
Based on Giambattista Basile’s collection of stories, Tale of Tales (2015) is a collection of three different stories, all of which feature a darker take on fairy tales. They’re also clothed in early 17th century Spanish and Italian fashions. The costumes in this movie have fantastic attention to detail.
During a scene when the Queen of Longtrellis (Salma Hayek) is in a labyrinth, she wears a dramatic red and black gown. The red is quite vivid which is nicely offset by the black embroidery and lace which are original from the 18th century.
The lace is along the standing collar, on the shoulder and trimming the hem of the sleeves and skirt. The sleeves are long and flowing and there is an elegant train on the skirt. This costume is spectacular and quite bold.
8. Sister Evelyn from The Fall (2006)
Designer: Eiko Ishioka
In The Fall (2006), a hospitalized patient tells a story to another patient who is a young girl. She imagines other patients and staff as characters in the story. The setting of the story also reflects her background but is more fantastical.
One of the characters is Sister Evelyn (Justine Waddell), who is the niece of the villain and feigns love for the main character. When she is first introduced she wears a regal and dramatic dress that looks more like a robe. It has large appliquéd lotus flowers down the center-front as well as trim on the bell sleeves that are lined in yellow.
The neckline is high and the dress has a bell-like silhouette. The most memorable aspect of the costume is the fan-like headpiece that obscures her face which resembles a lotus flower.
7. Anna Valerious from Van Helsing (2004)
Designer: Gabriella Pescucci
Van Helsing (2004) is a vampire horror fantasy movie distributed by Universal Pictures, which is why classic Universal monsters like Count Dracula and Frankenstein’s monster were woven into the narrative.
During the masquerade scene, Anna Valerious (Kate Beckinsale) dances with Dracula and wears a gorgeous red ball gown. The bodice is very pointed and has gold embroidery at the center-front with flanking pleats. The sleeves are short and puffed with red feather accents.
The center-front of the skirt has the same embroidery motif as the bodice and there is a slight bustle. At the hem there is a gold pleated trim that is attached underneath the skirt but it can be seen poking out and when the gown is being held up. She also wears sparkly red jeweled star jewelry, matching tiara, white gloves and a complementary gold mask.
6. Belle from Beauty and the Beast (2014)
Designer: Pierre-Yves Gayraud
The 2014 live-action version of Beauty and the Beast gives the tale more of an epic scope with a grand battle in the finale. The costumes worn by Belle (Léa Seydoux) are magical, with the dress she wears to visit her family and during the climax inspired by coral.
Around the neckline are some coral-like pieces that blend into the low-scooped neckline. The fabric has a golden shimmer in the weave and the bodice has some textural embroidery in a fluid pattern. The sleeves are long and fitted, but there is some volume near the shoulders. The skirt is full and appears to have at least two layers of the shimmering red fabric. At the back there is a bustle that looks like a shell.
5. Queen Clementianna from Mirror Mirror (2012)
Designer: Eiko Ishioka
Mirror Mirror (2012) is a comedic take on Snow White, but with intricate and large costumes. The Queen (Julia Roberts) gets the largest and most ornate costumes throughout the film. During a masquerade scene, she stands out in red against the white costumes of the guests.
The costume is a bright red ballgown with a peacock feather motif. The yoke is a sheer white with a sharped standing edge. The shoulders stand up and have cut-outs. The sleeves are bell shaped with white peacock feather embroidery at the wrists as well at the center-front of the structured bodice.
The skirt is very wide and has a pannier-like look to the silhouette. Standing from back there is an Elizabethan whisk collar made from white peacock feather. To match, she has white headpiece that is worn over her forehead.
4. Queen Amidala from Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
Designer: Trisha Biggar
In the first installment of the Skywalker Saga (1999), we are introduced to Queen Amidala (Natalie Portman), who is also the future mother of Luke and Leia. In her opening scene her planet is being invaded and thus this costume is sometimes called the “Red Invasion Gown” or the “Throne Room Gown.”
The overall inspiration is Chinese Imperial. Silk-satin cords were sewn on red silk and made into panels that make-up the costume. The costume is also very ridge in shape and difficult to walk in.
Faux fur edges the collar, hem, hems of the sleeves and along the edges of the tabard which also has metallic gold embroidery. Canonically the fur is made from creatures that sheds. Also canonically the lantern lights at the bottom are self-illuminating jewels. Eagle-eyed viewers can see the electric cord in one scene.
She wears a very ornate headdress with a red jewel suspended over her forehead, canonically called the “Jewel of Zenda.” This look was used in the marketing of the film and remains one her most memorable looks.
3. Arwen from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
Designer: Ngila Dickson
The Lord of the Rings film trilogy was known for its stunning production, which of course includes costumes. Every one of the dresses worn by Arwen (Liv Tyler) is stunning. One of her garments that was heavily showcased in the film’s promotion is the “The Blood Dress, ” also referred to as ” the dying frock.”
Like many of Arwen’s costumes, there are two layers to this dress. The outer dress is made from dark blue silk velvet with a reddish paisley scooped neckline. This reddish paisley is used at the upper part of the sleeves. The underdress is most likely the same dark blue.
The long cascading bell shaped sleeves are made from deep rose velvet that does read more red. Between the sleeve parts is a gold trim roughly at the elbow. Due to the rich striking color the sleeves really do stand out against the dark blue gown.
2. Mina Harker/Murray from Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992)
Designer: Eiko Ishioka
In Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992), Mina Harker (née Murray) (Winona Ryder) has a signature color palette of greens. However, when she dines with Dracula, she doesn’t wear her color. It’s the only instance that she doesn’t wear green, instead wearing a red bustle gown that he designed for her.
The gown has a V-neck and mirror V-shape in the back. Adorning the front and back of the bodice and waistline there is a matching red fabric 3D trim. The sleeves go to the elbows and they flare out into a bell shape. The back of the gown has an impressive full bustle. Also, the hem is treated with pleating. It’s a stunning, dramatic gown, and a real stand out.
1. Buttercup from The Princess Bride (1987)
Designer: Phyllis Dalton
The Princess Bride (1987) is a classic movie, that in addition to being highly quotable has something for everyone. There are many beautiful costumes, but the one that Buttercup (Robin Wright) wears for the longest duration is her red riding habit.
This costume resembles fashions from the 15th century and looks very similar to a houppelande-style gown. It has a high neckline with a notched V-shape. The sleeves are long and quite wide and are gathered at the wrist to form a narrower opening. The skirt is long and pleated at the waist.
She wears a gold belt with it, leather gloves with a tassel, and a gold net headpiece. It may be casual but it is also beautiful, graceful, and iconic as she wears when she reunites with her true love.
Fun Trivia
Leslie Knope wore Buttercup’s riding costume in the 2013 Parks and Recreation episode, “Recall Vote.”
Honorable Mention: The Woman in Red from The Matrix (1999)
Designer: Kym Barrett
While she herself is not a character in 1999’s The Matrix but rather a training distraction for Neo, her 1940s inspired bright red dress is certainly gorgeous, iconic, and very memorable
