5 of the Most Famous Dresses in History
Rose Bertin, an 18th-century French dressmaker often referred to as the world’s first fashion designer, once told her most famous client, Queen Marie Antoinette, “There is nothing new except what has been forgotten.”
Some gowns, however, steadfastly defy the passage of time and refuse to be forgotten. They are destined to remain fresh in the public consciousness, no matter how many years pass or how many trends come and go. Such dresses have transcended mere fashion to become enduring symbols of power or romance, tragedy or transformation, capturing moments in history in finely crafted fabric and thread.
Here’s a look at five iconic gowns from history, from the elaborate wardrobes of prerevolutionary France to the heights of Hollywood royalty.
Marie Antoinette’s Court Dresses
Marie Antoinette was the epitome of excess in prerevolutionary France. Her name became synonymous with profligacy, promiscuity, and the decline of moral authority within the French monarchy, and her legendary quote, “Let them eat cake,” is widely known even today — despite there being no evidence that she ever uttered the words.
The French queen’s reputation for frivolity was only heightened by her magnificent court gowns. There was no holding back when it came to her dresses, which were often constructed using panniers — hoop skirts that added volume around the hips — giving her gowns impressively impractical width. Combined with luxurious silk garments, large box pleats, bodices, ribbons, bows, frills, and jewelry, the finished look was nothing short of glorious — and, for the increasingly irate revolutionaries, entirely inappropriate. Today we can still admire the splendor of Antoinette’s court dresses in various contemporary portraits, perhaps none more iconic than “Marie Antoinette in Court Dress” by French painter Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun.
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Queen Victoria’s Wedding Dress
In 1840, England’s Queen Victoria married Prince Albert. It was a massive public occasion, and one that revolutionized bridal fashion. Rather than wear the traditional red ermine robe of state, Victoria decided to marry in white.
At the time, it was common for wedding dresses to come in a variety of colors, but white dresses were more rare as they were so hard to keep clean. But as soon as Victoria stepped out in her white satin wedding gown, made with English Honiton lace — a deliberate choice to support and stimulate Britain’s lace industry — she established a tradition that endures to this day. While initially embraced only by wealthier brides, the trend of wearing a white wedding gown eventually spread across all economic levels, becoming standard in the 20th century and beyond.
Marilyn Monroe's “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” Dress
Marilyn Monroe wore an array of iconic dresses, but perhaps none pushed the boundaries as much as the skintight, crystal-embellished gown she wore to serenade President John F. Kennedy in 1962. It instantly became one of the most talked about dresses in history, seen by many as nothing less than scandalous, especially when combined with the star’s sultry and flirtatious rendition of “Happy Birthday.”
The sheer, flesh-colored gown, designed by French fashion designer Jean Louis, was so formfitting that Monroe had to be sewn into it. Overall, it created the illusion of nudity while technically remaining modest. Along with the performance, the gown became a symbol of 1960s glamour and rebellion against conservative social norms, and remains iconic to this day.
Audrey Hepburn’s Little Black Dress
In 1961, the romantic comedy film Breakfast at Tiffany’s was released in cinemas to widespread critical acclaim. The fashion world also took note, thanks to star Audrey Hepburn’s instantly iconic little black dress. Designed by Paris couturier Hubert de Givenchy, the sleek, floor-length black satin gown was custom-made for Hepburn. Accessorized with pearls, long black gloves, and a tiara, the dress represented a sophisticated minimalism that went on to influence fashion for decades. Building on French designer Coco Chanel’s introduction of the “little black dress” in the 1920s, Hepburn’s gown is now considered one of the most influential dresses in the history of 20th-century costume design.
Princess Diana’s “Revenge Dress”
On the night of June 29, 1994, Prince Charles confessed on British television that he had cheated on his estranged wife, Princess Diana, after their marriage had, in his words, “irretrievably broken down.” The same night as the broadcast, Diana attended the Vanity Fair gala at London’s Serpentine Gallery, wearing a slinky and daringly short black dress with an off-the-shoulder, cleavage-baring neckline — something rarely if ever seen worn by British royals at the time.
The press caught on immediately, quickly dubbing it Diana’s “revenge dress.” While never confirmed, it was widely regarded as Diana’s unspoken and yet very public response to Charles’ infamous television interview. In the 1998 book Diana: Her Life in Fashion, author Georgina Howell called the princess’ gown “possibly the most strategic dress ever worn by a woman in modern times.” Whatever the intention, the “revenge dress” remains one of the most famous dresses of the last half century.
