Emily Blunt as Queen Victoria I in 2009’s “The Young Victoria.” This periwinkle dress was designer Sandy Powell’s favorite costume in the movie.
Royalty, Creativity, and Wisdom
In ancient times, the color purple was so expensive to produce that only the super elite, like royalty, could afford such a decadent dye for their clothing. This linked the color purple with royalty. In addition to luxury, purple has associations with creativity, wisdom, power, ambition, and even magic.
Purple can be both stimulating and calming because it’s a mix of red and blue, making it either cool or warm depending on the amount of either pigment. Cooler shades of purple are violet, periwinkle, indigo, and so on. It’s also based somewhat on my perception of the color since purple can be tricky to tell it’s temperatures sometimes.
This list ranks cooler purple costumes from period movies. Costumes from Modern set and Fantasy/Sci-Fi movies have separate lists, as do warmer purple costumes. Articles of clothing, like undergarments, cover-ups, sleepwear, and outerwear are not included.
Costumes are ranked by aesthetics, memorability and how they suit the character/film.
Marilyn Monroe wearing a high-necked purple outfit and tiara in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (1953), the best purple or violet costume in modern movies.
Power and Prestige
Purple has long been associated with royalty. This is because the dye used to achieve the color was super expensive and thus only those in positions of power and prestige could afford such a decadence.
In addition to feelings of luxury it also evokes feelings of creativity, wisdom, power, ambition and magic. The mix of red and blue also makes it both simulating and soothing. As Purple and be more blue or red it can either cool or warm.
This page ranks shades of purple costume from modern movies that are cooler, shades like Violet, Periwinkle, Indigo and so on. Cooler purple I.E Violet costumes from Fantasy and Period films have separate ranks as well as warmer redder purples costumes. Articles of clothing, like undergarments, cover-ups, sleepwear, outerwear etc. are not included.
The costumes are ranked by aesthetics, memorability and how it suits the character/film. Subjective opinions do influence the order but there was an attempt at objective but subjectivity does keep it interesting.
Amy Adams as Giselle in “Enchanted” (2007) wears a simple, strapless gown to the ball to show her growth as a character.
Luxury, Power, and Ambition
Purple has many meanings and associations, including royalty and luxury. In fact, purple used to be a color for the ruling class because it was an expensive color dye. Purple is also associated with creativity, wisdom, power, ambition, and magic.
As a combination of both red and blue, purple can be warmer or cooler depending on the mix of red to blue. This list is for the warmer shades of purple, like magenta, fuchsia, eggplant, some lilac, some lavenders, jam, boysenberry and so on. It’s not totally precise, color values and hex codes were checked, but mostly it’s just based on how the costume looks as a whole and what tone stands out.
Purple movie costumes that have more blue tones or shades or that appear cooler like violets, periwinkles and other shades of the blue/red combo have their own lists. This list ranks warm purple costumes from Modern movies. Period and fantasy/sci-fi costumes have separate rankings.
For centuries, Cleopatra has captured the imagination of many artists, musicians, authors, and filmmakers. Her story contains no shortage of drama, romance, and tragedy, so it’s not surprising that many artists have created works that imagine what she was really like. In so doing, each artist has put their own spin on her story and legend.
This post is dedicated to those actresses who over the years have brought the fabulous Queen of the Nile to life from notable adaptations. Though I more than missed some.
In 2008’s “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian,” Susan Pevensie wears a costume that strikes a good balance between utility and style.
Passion, Wealth, and Power
Much like vibrant shades of red – burgundy and darker reds have the same passionate energy but because the darker reds have other colors and shades mixed in they have a timeless sophistication. Burgundy also has connotations of wealth and power.
This ranking is all about costumes that are darker red, but not purple. Colors include burgundy, maroon, crimson, red-magenta, etc. Think wines, not tomatoes. Bright red costumes have their own rankings. This ranking only considers costumes from Fantasy/Sci-Fi or any otherworldly type movie. Dark reds/burgundy costumes from modern and period movies have their own separate rankings.
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. And subjective options could have some impact on things.
Marilyn Monroe as Pola from How to Marry a Millionaire (1953) in her Glamorous Burgundy gown she wears in order to ensnare a man with money
10 Best Burgundy Costumes in Modern Movies
Dark Red Tones – Burgundy, Wins, Red-Browns & Purpley-Reds
Much like brighter shades of Red, Burgundy and darker shades of red enjoy the same passionate energy but because there is a mix of other colors, like blues or blacks, the darker red colors have a timeless sophistication. Burgundy also has connotations of wealth and power.
Satine in her iconic Red Gown from Moulin Rouge (2001)
Red – Joy, Passion, Danger, & Energy
Red is a primary color that comes from a variety of popular 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.
It is also an auspicious color and is used as a bridal color in many cultures.
This ranking is all about costumes that are bright and vivid reds. Think Cherries and Victory Red lipstick and not wine.
So that primary red shades and not burgundies or scarlets or darker shades of reds, those shades have separate rankings.
Robin Wright as Buttercup in her pretty blue princess dress from “The Princess Bride” (1987)
The Color the Seas and Skies
As color blue can peak the imaginations as it’s a of vast space like the ocean and sky. It a soothing color as it can soothe the min and soul with it sense of security, of trust and reliability. It’s a color noble that can depicts characteristic of good and virtuous characters.
It can also depict sadness and loneliness as well coldness and passivity.
It is favored by men and women and navy blue is universally flattering and therefore it the most popular color in world.
This page ranks the 10 best blue woman costumes in Fantasy/Sci-fi movies. Blue costumes from period movies and movies set in their own modern times have their own unique lists. Teal and other blue-green movie costume will get their own posts.
There is an honorable mention that that fits into all three categories. It’s special so it gets its own place of distinction.
Articles of clothing, like undergarments, cover-ups, sleepwear, outerwear, swimwear etc are not included.
The costumes are ranked by aesthetics, memorability and how it suits the character/film.
List Subject to Change.This post was revised from my Hubpage article.
Drew Barrymore wearing a lovely light blue jacquard gown in the 1998 Cinderella reimagining, “Ever After.”
Blue – A Noble and Virtuous Color
Blue is a powerful color that can soothe the mind and the soul. It can make us feel a sense of security, trust, and reliability. It is also a color that peaks our imaginations as it’s the color of the seas and skies. It’s a color or noble characteristics, of good and virtuous characters.
A while ago I did a list of non-Christmas Christmas movie list on Hubpages and I thought let’s do that again but here with different movies. So you can check out the other list HERE which is a bit more in step with other lists like this. Do look at it, it’s all I want for Christmas.
So here are eight other movies that are less commonly on other people’s lists. No shade to other lists on other sites. These movies have a winter setting or have a scene at Christmas and they have a familial tone.
Many films have the winter-y or snowy setting and a familial tones like Fanaa or Star Wars but I would not call those non-christmas Christmas movies, even though Star Wars movies have been coming out around Christmas (except Solo) so there is that added touch but all the same there not among the list.
So here are eight movies. I’m going try to avoid spoilers. These are ranked in no order.
Emmanuelle Beart as Manon in Manon des Sources
Manon de Sources – I think I have talked about this movie a little bit before. But towards the end of the film there are some scenes at Christmas, at least one scene at Christmas. However would say the the family angle some more into play here. Also if you want to want this movie you must watch Jean de Florette first because Manon des Source is the second part. But I highly recommend this movie.
Lady and the Tramp
Lady and the Tramp – This movie has a Christmas bookend as it starts and end at Christmas. But I don’t think I have to say too much about this one, it being a Disney classic however I will say that this film does have a strong message of family.
Belle and the Beast
Beauty and the Beast – This one might just be superfluously here but I don’t care, it’s snowy and magical, so It counts.
Anya
Anastasia – Again you have snow imagery and a strong message of family togetherness. Plus Once Upon a December could be played in a Holiday rotation and wouldn’t feel out of place.
Gin, Miyuki and Hana
Tokyo Godfathers – I wouldn’t say that this was my favorite Satoshi Kon movie, (that would be Paprika.) It is one those movies that is a Christmas movie but it seldom makes any of the list, so it’s here.
The film is set on Christmas eve and is the story about three homeless people finding a baby. It has a non-traditional take on family.
David Bowie as Maj. Jack ‘Strafer’ Celliers in Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence- I haven’t seen this movie is quite a long time and I don’t really remember it super well but I recall liking it. So this a war-time Drama starting David Bowie as a POW. The last scene of this movie takes place at Christmas.
Daniel Emilfork as Krank dressed as Santa
City of Lost Children – I reviewed this movie not too long ago. It has some Christmas imagery and it weird but there is also the family connection as the main character tries to save his brother, the weird family the mad scientist makes and the orphans. It has all the making of a Christmas classic oddly enough.
Dr Zhivago
Dr Zhivago – I will admit I haven’t seen this movie but I have always wanted to but the run-time is intimidating. Then again I have seen Lawrence of of Arabia which is longer so that is on me, one day. Anyway like most of the movies listed here this one again is about family and has a pivotal scene set at Christmas.
Do you have a favorite non-Christmas movie? If so what is it? One of my favorites is on my Hubpages list . Can you guess it???
