Red dress of Julia Roberts
DesignerMarilyn Vance
Year1990
TypeOff-the-shoulder evening gown

Julia Roberts wore a red dress in the 1990 romantic comedy film Pretty Woman. The ensemble was created by costume designer Marilyn Vance, and is worn during a "transformative" scene in the film where Roberts' character, Vivian Ward, accompanies her love interest to a night at the opera. 30 years after the film's release, Vogue Paris referred to the off-the-shoulder evening gown as “iconic”, and stated that it contributed to making the romantic comedy "legendary".[1]

Background and design

Pretty Woman (1990) is a film depicting a sex worker who discovers high society while embarking on romance with a millionaire.[1] The production studio had instructed Vance, who designed the gown, to make the color black to prevent a possible clash with Roberts' red hair color.[1] However, she retained her original idea of a red gown, with Roberts enduring multiple screen tests and Vance designing three creations before landing on the right shade to persuade director Garry Marshall.[1][2]

The ensemble is worn during a "transformative" scene in the film where Roberts' character, Vivian Ward, accompanies her love interest to a night at the opera. 30 years after the film's release, Vogue Paris referred to the off-the-shoulder evening gown as iconic, and stated that it contributed to making the romantic comedy "legendary".[1][3] Marshall was heavily involved with the fashion of the film and collaborated with Vance on the final look's design.[3]

The dress is a scarlet red sculptural column evening gown with a low back, off-the-shoulder detail, a plunging sweetheart neckline, and a drape tied around the hips.[1][4] The ensemble was accessorized with a complementary ruby diamond necklace and white opera gloves.[4][2][5][6] It exhibited ruffled detailing and voluminous sleeves, in line with 90s fashion trends.[7][8]

In Pretty Woman, Roberts portrays Vivian Ward, a Hollywood Boulevard prostitute who entertains older businessman Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) and subsequently falls in love with him.[1][4] Vance utilized her style portray to character's evolution in the film as her fashion becomes more polished and minimalist, inspired by Edward.[1] The dress was designed to be "diametrically opposite" to her revealing outfits at the beginning of the film.[1] The gown is worn during a "pivotal transformation" sequence which presents [Vivian] as a "real lady" prior to an evening at the opera.[1][9] The scene where Roberts wears the gown has been referred to as cinematically significant and an "all-time movie moment", featuring improvisation intended by Gere for the film's gag reel. In the film, Edward surprises Vivian by snapping a necklace case on her fingers, with Roberts letting out a "yelping" and "iconic" laugh.[10][11][12] Marshall later referred to it as "the trademark for the movie".[12]

Reception and legacy

Harper's Bazaar and Grazia Daily have referred to the gown as the most famous costume piece in the film.[4][5] 30 years after the film's release, Vogue Paris referred to the gown as iconic, and stated that it contributed to making the romantic comedy "legendary".[1] Johanna Cox of Elle described the piece as "one of the most famous red dresses in film history".[13] The gown was reproduced for the musical adaption of Pretty Woman, with a "more relaxed and less corset-like" design.[8] Los Angeles brand Reformation released a version of the gown in 2014, called 'the Bali dress'.[5][4] Marie Claire framed the gown as one of the most unforgettable pieces in cinema.[14] Entertainment Weekly included it in a list describing "20 of pop culture's most show-stopping red dresses", while Parade featured the frock as one of the most iconic red dresses in film.[15][16] It was exhibited at the Victoria & Albert Museum in 2014.[1] Vance was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Costume Design in 1990 for her work on Pretty Woman.[1]

Floriane Reynaud of Vogue Paris wrote that the dress was "eye-catching, incredibly sexy without losing an ounce of elegance… all of the attention is now focused on Vivian, who we now view from a different perspective: one of admiration instead of disdain."[1] Writing for Harper's Bazaar, Kerry Pieri expressed that the gown echoed the spirit of Valentino.[4] People declared that the dress "she wears when she goes from duckling to swan [..] has a wow factor that goes unmatched".[17] Marie Claire described the dress as "gorgeously draped" and stated that "when Edward fell in love with [Vivian] that night, we did too."[2] In an analysis on red in film fashion, Refinery29 wrote that Vivian "connotes new — and commanding — elegance in her red ballgown and opera gloves."[18] Entertainment Weekly's Mary Sollosi dubbed the piece as Vivian's "true Cinderella moment."[15]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Reyand, Florain. "The secrets behind Julia Roberts' red dress in Pretty Woman". Vogue Paris.
  2. 1 2 3 Goldstone, Penny. "This legendary fashion moment from Pretty Woman almost never was". Marie Claire UK. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  3. 1 2 Vance, Marilyn. "'Pretty Woman' Costume Designer Remembers Garry Marshall: "A Star Generator" Who Wasn't Fancy but Real". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Pieri, Kerry. "The Red 'Pretty Woman' Dress Can Now Be Yours For $388". Harper's Bazaar. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 Rosseinsky, Katie. "Cult Brand Reformation Has Recreated The Iconic 'Pretty Woman' Red Dress". Grazia Daily. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  6. ↑ Komar, Marlen. "A Brand Is Selling A Dress That Looks Exactly Like The Red 'Pretty Woman' Dress". Bustle. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Vivian Ward". Parade. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  8. 1 2 Halperin, Moze. "'Pretty Woman: The Musical' Makes a Sad Statement About Gender, Class and Fashion". Observer. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  9. ↑ "As Julia Roberts turns 50, look back at her most stylish moments over the years". The Telegraph. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  10. ↑ Tobias, Scott. "Pretty Woman at 30: conservatism, materialism and glowing star power". The Guardian. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  11. ↑ Atad, Corey. "10 Things You (Probably) Didn't Know About 'Pretty Woman'". ET Canada. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021.
  12. 1 2 "Director Reveals: Iconic Jewelry Box Scene From 'Pretty Woman' Was a Practical Joke Intended for the Film's Gag Reel". Patch. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  13. ↑ Cox, Johanna. "Happy Birthday, Pretty Woman". Elle. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  14. ↑ "20 Greatest Movie Dresses of All Time". Marie Claire. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  15. 1 2 Sollosi, Mary. "20 of pop culture's most show-stopping red dresses". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  16. ↑ Solana, Salado. "National Wear Red Day: 17 of the Most Iconic Red Dresses in Film & TV". Parade. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  17. ↑ Wurzburger, Andrea. "All of Julia Roberts' Outfits from Pretty Woman, Ranked". People. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  18. ↑ Jana, Rosalind. "From Rebecca To Moulin Rouge: The Femme Fatale Power Of A Red Dress". Refinery29. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
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