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The Most Memorable Party Dresses Ever
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The Most Memorable Party Dresses Ever
Here are 31 unforgettable party dress moments that continue to take our breath away.
By
Chelsea Peng
Mar 9, 2015
Getty Images
Every girl's got one. From history or the movies—eight times out of 10 following a makeover sequence set to pop music—here are 31 unforgettable party dress moments that continue to take our breath away.
View Gallery
31
Photos
Getty Images
1
of 31
Marchesa Luisa Casati, 1922
Whoa, right? The Marchesa Luisa Casati, who famously said she wanted to be a living work of art, rocked this diamond-net costume by Worth at what must have been one epic fancy-dress party.
Everett Digital
2
of 31
Vivien Leigh in
Gone With the Wind
, 1939
Rhett forces Scarlett to attend a birthday bash in this scandalous dress to alert the townspeople to her badness, but really—who cares whom you've been snogging when you look this glam?
Everett Digital
3
of 31
Cinderella in
Cinderella
, 1950
"Why is this one important?" said no one ever.
Everett Digital
4
of 31
Audrey Hepburn in
My Fair Lady
, 1954
Mega sparkly? Check. Tiara? Check. Posh accent? Check check. This was the ultimate to our 7-year-old selves, and we haven't forgotten it since.
Everett Digital
5
of 31
Audrey Hepburn in
Sabrina
, 1954
Note to self: Go to culinary school in France. Befriend a baron. Return home such a sophisticated woman no one recognizes you. Oh yeah—and bring back a high-low Givenchy (or was it Edith Head?) ballgown.
Everett Digital
6
of 31
Audrey Hepburn in
Breakfast at Tiffany's
, 1961
Everybody just
adores
Holly Golightly's black Givenchy, but we've always been partial to this full-skirted little number. Because if you're going to go postal on your vanity after receiving some very distressing news, you might as well do it wearing hot pink.
Everett Digital
7
of 31
Olivia Newton-John in
Grease
, 1978
We're staunchly #TeamGoodSandy, which is why her sweet, true-personality-reflecting prom dress—and
not
her leathery "You're The One That I Want" get-up—made the cut. (Plus, you know, this isn't "The Most Memorable Leggings and Big Hair Ever.")
Everett Digital
8
of 31
Molly Ringwald in
Pretty in Pink
, 1986
We'll level with you: This Home Ec pillowcase isn't anyone's ideal, but she
did
put a lot of effort into splicing Iona's dress and the one her dad bought her together. Bottom line is we can recall what Andie wore to the prom, and that's a lot more than we can say for some other film heroines.
Everett Digital
9
of 31
Julia Roberts in
Pretty Woman
, 1990
Brava, costume designer Marilyn Vance. Vivian's transformation from hooker with a heart of gold to
La Traviata
-appreciating lady wouldn't have been complete without this draped, off-the-shoulder scarlet frock.
Everett Digital
10
of 31
Belle in
Beauty and the Beast
, 1991
Duh.
Getty Images
11
of 31
Princess Diana at the Serpentine Gallery, 1994
They don't call it the Revenge Dress for nothing. After her separation from Prince Charles, Diana brought out the big guns, aka this stunning Christina Stambolian ensemble, which she had previously considered too sexy.
YouTube
12
of 31
Alicia Silverstone in
Clueless
, 1995
To die in a red Alaïa would be a heavenly way to die. Except it's actually "an a-what-a" according to her mugger, and Cher Horowitz lived to wear a whole slew of preppy designer outfits. (P.S. The party scene itself is definitely in our top 10.)
Everett Digital
13
of 31
Kate Hudson in
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
, 2003
"Yellow silk" sounds like a hella wrinkly and impossible-to-pull-off combo, but Andie Anderson made it so that, at every school dance, there was at least one girl trying to pass as
Composure
magazine's how-to columnist. Bonus points if that was you at Homecoming.
Getty Images
14
of 31
Kate Moss in vintage at an AnOther Magazine party, 2003
In Kate Moss' impressive fashion oeuvre, this dress from renowned vintage store Lily et Cie still stands out—so much so that the model herself recreated it for her most recent Topshop collaboration.
Everett Digital
15
of 31
Hilary Duff in
A Cinderella Story
, 2004
Let this be a testament to Monique Lhuillier: When you borrow one of her dresses—even if it is rather bridal for prom—Chad Michael Murray falls in love with you, and you run away to Princeton together.
Everett Digital
16
of 31
Lindsay Lohan in
Mean Girls
, 2004
Why doesn't
every
movie have a dress that marks its turning point? It would be so much easier to time your bathroom breaks that way, although in this one, Cady Heron blowing chunks all over Aaron Samuels kind of gives it away things are about to take a turn for the worse.
Getty Images
17
of 31
Kate Moss at her 30th birthday party, 2004
Told you it was too hard to pick just one Kate look. This one's from her
The Beautiful and the Damned
-themed birthday party at Agent Provocateur founder Serena Rees' house.
Kobal Collection
18
of 31
Sarah Jessica Parker in
Sex and the City
, 2004
While Carrie and her Russian artist beau took a detour to Mickey D.'s in this scene, our hearts merged onto Oscar de la Renta Highway. We imagine SJP's did too, judging by her lifelong friendship with the designer.
Getty Images
19
of 31
Emma Watson in
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
, 2005
Every girl wants to live Hermione's Yule Ball scene: You step onto the foyer. Your hair is the best it's ever going to look. The music swells, and Ron and Harry kick themselves for not asking you out first.
Getty Images
20
of 31
Sarah Jessica Parker in Alexander McQueen at the 2006 Met Gala
Every time we see this picture, we sob a little inside because that tartan-tulle confection is the work of a madcap genius who died much too young.
Kobal Collection
21
of 31
Keira Knightley in
Atonement
, 2007
Some girls dreamt of James McAvoy and that white-hot library scene; our thoughts were filled with this sweeping emerald gown by designer Jacqueline Durran, which has (rightfully) topped every
"best film costume" list
this side of 2000.
Getty Images
22
of 31
Michelle Obama in Jason Wu at the 2009 Inaugural Ball
How could you not love a first lady who can
get down with a turnip
and
glamorous dresses by then-up-and-coming designers? This was a big moment for America but an even bigger one for Michelle O.'s lookbook.
Getty Images
23
of 31
Kate Moss in Marc Jacobs at the 2009 Met Gala
The theme was "The Model as Muse." That's pretty much all you need to know.
Getty Images
24
of 31
Blake Lively in Marchesa at the 2010 Met Gala
With her up-to-there stems and professional-level posing, Blake Lively cemented her status as Bona Fide Movie Star and fashion darling that very night.
Everett Digital
25
of 31
Leighton Meester in
Gossip Girl
, 2010
Well, what else would you wear
but
red-orange Oscar de la Renta to persuade Chuck Bass to go home while standing on Avenue Montaigne? #nobrainer
Getty Images
26
of 31
Carine Roitfeld at the
Vogue Paris
90th Anniversary Party, 2010
We don't know any 56-year-olds who've
ever
pulled off anything like this.
Getty Images
27
of 31
Anna Dello Russo in Emilio Pucci, Gareth Pugh at the
Vogue Paris
90th Anniversary Party, 2010
How do you stand out at arguably the fashion-iest fashion party of all time? Stick on a steel-feather headdress with your room-filling white gown.
Getty Images
28
of 31
Kate Middleton in Jenny Packham at the 10th Annual ARK Gala, 2011
If you bring your face really close to the screen, you can see Kate Middleton turning into a full-fledged princess right when this photo was taken.
Getty Images
29
of 31
Florence Welch in Alexander McQueen at the 2012 Met Gala
This is what happens when you put the right girl in the right dress: magic.
30
of 31
Beyoncé in Givenchy Couture at the 2012 Met Gala
Beyoncé's patented guide to making an entrance: 1. Arrive late. 2. Breeze in right before the photographers pack up wearing plumed, transparent haute couture—with a staircase-draping train.
Next
14 Things That Look Like You Bought Them in Paris
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Chelsea Peng
I'm Chelsea Peng, the assistant editor at MarieClaire.com.
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