Duchess Catherine and Prince William announce their engagement
We can all recall some of the most show-stopping, iconic dresses of all time – from Marilyn’s white dress in The Seven Year Itch to Gwyneth’s candy-floss pink dress at the Oscars. A memorable dress can stick in our minds and become a timeless piece of fashion history, but what have these dresses all got in common?
Comfort Brights fabric conditioner has teamed up with leading style psychologist Kate Nightingale to identify the most iconic dresses of all time and to analyse what makes them so unforgettable.
Kate Nightingale comments: “Looking back through the history of fashion, the common factor among the iconic outfits that stick in our minds is colour and vibrancy. From Julia Roberts’ rags-to-riches red dress in Pretty Women to that daring green dress J-Lo wore at the Grammys, the Hollywood A-list knows exactly how impactful colour can be when it comes to grabbing attention.”
Kate continues: “Red is a stand-out colour in the most memorable dresses of all time. In fact, British women have adopted this theory as research from Comfort Brights fabric conditioner reveals that this colour features most in women’s top three that they would choose to attract admiring glances at a special occasion. Special occasions are one of the few situations where we allow ourselves to show our true colours.”
Despite these style icons flying the flag for colour, 41 per cent of British women are still turning to black as the colour they feel most comfortable in. Comfort Brights and Kate Nightingale are on a mission to get Brits to discover their adventurous inner-celebrity and embrace vibrant brights.
Get some colour inspiration with Kate’s top 10 iconic dresses of all time:
1. Kate Middleton in Issa to announce her engagement to Price William, 2010
Nightingale says: “Kate opted for a royal shade of blue – which symbolises that she is trustworthy and dependable – as she was officially invited into the Royal Family. She carried if off with all the strength and confidence the world expects from a future Princess and as a result, the dress is now deeply ingrained in the minds of women the world over.”
2. Kate Hudson’s canary yellow silk dress in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, 2003
3. Halle Berry in Ellie Saab at The Oscars, 2002
4. Jennifer Lopez in Versace at the Grammy Awards, 2000
5. Gwyneth Paltrow in Ralph Lauren at the Oscars, 1999
Nightingale says: “Soft, subtle and graceful. The perfect choice of colour for Gwyneth’s golden moment.”
6. Julia Roberts’ red dress from Pretty Women, 1990
7. Twiggy’s iconic 60s shift dress, circa late 60s
8. Audrey Hepburn, Funny Face, 1957
Nightingale says: “As she walked down the steps with her arms held high, Audrey looked gorgeous in her flaming red dress – it was the perfect colour to portray her confidence and strength.”
9. Marilyn Monroe and her iconic white dress in The Seven Year Itch, 1955
10. Grace Kelly’s white fairy tale wedding gown, 1956