Aige's Faves in Old Hollywood Costumes

Who doesn't love nice clothes?

One of my many goals is to be able to have enough money to wear nothing but clothes from ModCloth and Etsy for the rest of my days. In the meantime, I can only admire other people's clothing--particularly the movie costumes of some of Old Hollywood's Leading Ladies.

In no particular order, here are ten of my favorite Old Hollywood costumes (worn by women)......

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Of course, I have to mention my "fave", Ms. Dottie D!

Most would associate the black top/red skirt ensemble with Carmen Jones and Dorothy Dandridge herself. That outfit--the colors in particular--are definitely a Carmen thing, but unfortunately, the TRUE stunner of the 1954 film is often overlooked--the dress pictured below:

This dress was definitely ahead of its time with its attached hooded scarf, the sequined (but somehow, not tacky) bird-looking thing on the shoulder, the low and diagonally cut neckline to the left (her left) and the peek-a-boo cut out on the right.

Here is a better look at the top part of the dress:

From Confessions of a Serial Dater in LA

I loved this dress so much that I wanted it to be my prom dress. I don't think I was even in high school yet when I made that decision. 

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From All Good Things

We owned Imitation of Life on VHS for many years before I actually watched it for what I believe was the first time--I was about six or seven and I cried myself to sleep because of its ending. I didn't watch it again until I was about 10-12 years old, and look...when I saw Lana Turner in the dress pictured above, the air "whooshed" from my lungs, but how she wore it in the photos below is what killed me:

Look! The freaking sash/train is over her shoulder!

Lana Turner w/Juanita Moore & Susan Kohner (from Sound on Sight)

From House of Retro

If you haven't seen Imitation of Life (1959), please check it out, if not for the movie itself, at least for this dress.

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From 5x5 Clothing

The "love goddess" Ms. Rita Hayworth wore many stunning outfits. Gilda alone is like a great fashion show--and when we think Gilda, we think the long black gown she wore while singing "Put the Blame on Mame", but like Dorothy's pink dress, the little number above is criminally unsung. I mean, for one, Rita's body: Amazing; her hair: Killin' it; the pose: Slayin'. This outfit isn't making Rita--Rita is making this outfit!

 Plus, I've seen probably a handful of other outfits--especially from this era of Hollywood--that look anything like this.

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From Wikipedia

I bring you legs, breasts, thighs, and sweet potato pies from the legendary silent star, Theda Bara. "The Vamp" wore many "risqué" costumes in her movies, but the most controversial is arguably the one she wore in 1917's Cleopatra, pictured above. I haven't even seen the movie and I am positively, absolutely, undeniably, and reliably here for this dress.

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From Warner Archive

The curly hair, the hat with the dangling grapes, those SHOES, and of course, the drop waist dress with the fringe at the skirt. At just sixteen years old, Nina Mae McKinney donned the look of a quintessential flapper when she played "Chick" in Hallelujah! (1929).

Her dress has DICE on it. Iconic.

From Hollywood Past (great site, btw)

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Katharine Hepburn was/is popular for many things--her preference for wearing pants (and those ugly sandals with socks, might I add) is one of those things. Now, I love Ms. Hepburn's pants suits and slacks, but if I had to choose my "Favorite Katharine Hepburn" outfit, it would have to be a dress--the one below:

From National Portrait Gallery

All eyes were on "Kate the Great" when she wore this gorgeous gown in The Philadelphia Story. It's so simple, yet so elegant. "Understated elegance" I guess you could say. Dexter (played by Cary Grant) maliciously referred to Tracy (Katharine's character) as a "goddess" (basically called her arrogant) in one scene of this movie. If I were Tracy and I knew I owned this dress, I would have said "Thank you" and sashayed away.

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Lauren Bacall--a woman who never goes wrong when it comes to fashion. I happen to be a big fan of french berets, so it was only right that I add one of her outfits from The Big Sleep to the list:

With real-life hubby, Humphrey Bogart (From GlamAmor)

Another costume that's so simple, yet so stylish. Give me a cigarette in a cigarette holder and I'd step into any and all business meetings in this outfit. French beret and all. I'm also a fan of checkered patterns and houndstooth.

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The top reminds me of Wonder Bread packaging, but that's not a bad thing at all. In the role of "Georgia Brown", Lena Horne wore this sexy outfit in 1943's Cabin in the Sky. What I really love about this costume is that like Rita Hayworth's Gilda outfit, I can't recall seeing too many other costumes like it--specifically cropped tops.

Just thought I'd throw in one more photo featuring the Wonder Bread top and Ms. Horne's jealousy-inducing stomach area. This is actually one of my favorite photos of Lena Horne in general.

*Both of the images above were obtained from Classic Movie Stills*

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Like most, I'm usually here for anything Audrey Hepburn wore, but the black jumpsuit above is just sooo me (flats included). 

The outfit is pretty nice from the front too, but man--when Audrey (as the title character in Sabrina) turned her back to the camera, I can't remember exactly what I said or did, but there's a chance that a series of "Oh my Gods" may have slipped from my lips. 

*Both of the images above were obtained from Fanpop*

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In the movie, the dress looks pink. Outside of the movie (in screen test photos and candid ones), the dress looks red. Whatever color it is or was, I present Marilyn Monroe slaying us all in 1953's Niagara:

From GlamAmor

THIS is the kind of dress you'd wear to seduce someone while pretending to be a sweetheart with good intentions *dorky wink*.

Also from GlamAmor

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I hope you enjoyed scrolling through my list! 

Do we share any comment favorites? Do you have a favorite that didn't make a list? 

Leave a comment below!


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This images above were used for informational purposes only. If the rightful owner(s) of any of these photos wishes to have them removed, please contact me, and I will do immediately.

--Adrienne (aka "Aige")