The most iconic party dresses

From Audrey Hepburn’s Givenchy LBD in Breakfast at Tiffany’s to Helen Mirren’s 2007 Oscars outfit, take some party style inspiration from these iconic party dresses

By Penny TraversPublished: 31 October 2015

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Audrey Hepburn Breakfast at Tiffany’s LBD

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We can’t possibly mention the classic LBD without mentioning Audrey Hepburn’s classic Givenchy number in the iconic film Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Her character Holly Golightly cleverly accessorised the simple design with a diamond necklace and tiara. Perfection.

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Grace Kelly High Society dress

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Grace Kelly’s dusty pink embroidered Edith Head gown in High Society was as dreamy as party dresses get.

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Princess Diana ‘John Travolta’ dress

The only thing more iconic than the dance between John Travolta and Princess Diana at the White House in 1985 is the gown she wore.

The midnight blue velvet floor-length gown was designed by Victor Edelstein and was quite daring with its off-the-shoulder cut.

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Marilyn Monroe gold dress

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If there’s one thing Marilyn Monroe did well, it was make a statement with her outfits. This golden lamé dress by William Travilla, worn for a photoshoot in 1953, was no exception.

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Helen Mirren Oscars 2007 dress

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Helen Mirren famously made her red carpet entrance at the Oscars 2007 in this show-stopper of a Christian Lacroix gown before picking up an Academy Award for her portrayal of The Queen.

She famously told Oprah afterwards, ‘It held me like two angel’s hands.’ That it did.

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Jackie Kennedy bow dress

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It’s hard to pick a favourite out of all the stunning dresses Jackie Kennedy, aka Jackie O, wore. We like this chic bow number that she wore at a dinner with John F. Kennedy.

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Gwyneth Paltrow Oscars 2012 dress

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After that disastrous punk Alexander McQueen dress at the 2002 Oscars, Gwyneth more than made up for it ten years later with this elegant white Tom Ford caped gown.

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Kate Middleton Jenny Packham dress

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For her first official appearance after the Royal Wedding in 2011, the Duchess of Cambridge picked an ethereal beaded gown by one of her favourite designers, Jenny Packham.

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Vivien Leigh Gone With The Wind red dress

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Scarlett O’Hara sure knew how to make an entrance. She famously stood out from the crowd at Ashley’s birthday party when she wore this red velvet feather gown – while everyone else wore dull outfits.

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Elizabeth Hurley Safety Pin dress

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Who can forget that dress? Liz Hurley turned heads in her black safety pin Versace dress.

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Amy Adams Oscars 2013 dress

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Actress Amy Adams positively stole the show at the 2013 Oscars with this dreamy pale blue ballgown by the late Oscar de la Renta.

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Carrie Bradshaw Versace dress

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In her role as Carrie Bradshaw in Sex And The City, Sarah Jessica Parker wore many a great dress. None as beautiful as this ruffled Versace number that she wore in Paris for the season finale.

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Keira Knightley Atonement green dress

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Who can forget the gorgeous green silk dress Keira Knightley wore for her love scene with James McAvoy in Atonement?

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Molly Ringwald in Pretty in Pink dress

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You didn’t know how much you wanted a prom dress until you saw Molly Ringwald in her pink dress for the first time.

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Jessica Rabbit dress

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Yes, she’s a cartoon, but you can’t fault Jessica Rabbit’s showstopper of a sequin gown.

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Julia Roberts Pretty Woman red dress

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Who didn’t want to get dolled up for the opera like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman? We still cringe a little at the moment Richard Gere snaps the jewellery lid shut on her hands though.

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Sharon Stone Basic Instinct dress

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Sharon Stone most certainly knew the power of a little white dress. Although we would recommend wearing appropriate underwear!

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Dirty Dancing white dress

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The only thing better than the final dance in Dirty Dancing is the dusty pink dress Jennifer Grey wore to go on stage with Patrick Swayze.

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Elizabeth Taylor party gown

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Elizabeth Taylor wore many beautiful dresses in her lifetime, so we can’t possibly pick a favourite. However, his sleek number from 1953 is up there.

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Jerry Hall glitter dress

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Never one to fade into the background, Jerry Hall wore this gorgeous embellished number back in 1990.

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