History Main / BattleBallgown

* ''Webcomic/TheWinxClubPlaysDungeonsAndDragons'': PlayedForLaughs when Musa [[InvokedTrope invokes]] this trope in relation to Stella's angelic character, who is initially dressed in a yellow, Greek-like robe and only wears metallic bracelets and leg protections as armor.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

[[folder:Art]]
* The woman depicted in Creator/SandroBotticelli's ''[[Art/SevenVirtues Fortezza]]'' wears a plated armor underneath her robes.
* Paintings of UsefulNotes/JoanOfArc often show her in armor with a skirt (even though one of the ways the English got her nailed for heresy was her insistence on wearing pants (both because of practicality of riding and to prevent rape while imprisoned).

* The woman depicted in Creator/SandroBotticelli's ''Art/{{Fortezza}}'' wears a plated armor underneath her robes.

* ''Manga/AyakashiTriangle'': Matoi's exorcist ninja suit is [[CustomUniformOfSexy an elaborate variation]] of the style of chainmail [[SensualSpandex bodysuit]] Matsuri wears. It has an [[SexyBacklessOutfit open back]], a midsection with only "dress" flaps covering the underlayer, tight leggings, CombatStilettos, HighClassGloves, a sash attached to both gloves, and a fur neck wrap.

* In the Walden Media film version of ''Film/TheLionTheWitchAndTheWardrobe'', the White Witch wears a breastplate and a chainmail dress to battle, along with [[spoiler: Aslan's shorn mane]].
** The film version of ''Film/PrinceCaspian'' has Susan actively participating in more battles than the book, wearing chainmail, leather, and a long skirt, and making her a fully-fledged LadyOfWar.

* In ''Literature/TheRiseOfKyoshi'', Kyoshi herself wears a long elegant dress with chainmail lining the inside.

* The Surcoat is a cloth piece placed on chainmail; it covers the metal parts from sunlight to prevent burning (it was especially useful for [[UsefulNotes/TheCrusades Crusaders]]), as well as being decorative.

* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', Groundskeeper Willie explains that traditional Scots garb in battle was not the iconic tartan kilt, but rather full-length ballgowns covered with sequins.
* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'': Rose Quartz often wore a pale pink PimpedOutDress both on and off the battlefield. It wasn't armored, but that's justified in that, as a Gem, she could take a lot more physical punishment than a human. [[spoiler: She was also secretly Pink Diamond, and was one of the hardest Gems to poof (injure)]].

** As do Terajima Ryoko in the quadilogy game, being Subaru's pallette swap. Ditto Kaochin.

** ''Anime/FateExtraLastEncore'', and by extension ''VideoGame/FateExtra'' which it is based on, features Nero Claudius Caesar, 5th Emperor of Rome, who also wears a ballgown as her armor complete with roman-esque golden grieves and Epaullettes to signify her devotion to the arts as much as war.

* Chris Lightfellow of ''VideoGame/SuikodenIII'' wears armor with a skirt.
* Creator/{{Vanillaware}} often uses this design for female fighters, especially those with heavy armor.
** The eponymous heroine of ''VideoGame/PrincessCrown''.
** Homaged with Princess Eclair in ''VideoGame/LaPucelle''.
** Gwendolyn, from ''VideoGame/OdinSphere''. Her supposed battle dress is fabulous, having loads of FluffyFashionFeathers and ruffles.
** Appears in ''VideoGame/GrandKnightsHistory''.
* ''VideoGame/SoulCalibur IV'', [[http://soulcalibur.wikia.com/wiki/Ashlotte Ashlotte's outfit.]]
** ''Soul Calibur III'' offered this as an option for female-created fighters, whether mix-and-match or complete armoured outfit.
* ''VideoGame/WildArmsXF'' has [[http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100623051909/wildarms/images/7/7f/Untitled.jpg Alexia,]] who wears a PimpedOutDress accessorized with plate mail into battle.
* ''VideoGame/SamuraiShodown''[='s=] Charlotte goes tank on top, skirt on bottom.
* ''Franchise/TouhouProject'' has Yukari Yakumo. While her battle dress ''looks'' normal, Hong Meiling's victory quote against her implies that Yukari has some sort of armor underneath her gown, saying "I felt some odd resistance. What are you wearing underneath your clothes?" Being both a supernatural being and a RealityWarper, it could very well be that Yukari's skin and/or bones are incredibly tough, so much so that it feels as hard as armor.
* Most of the armor sets for the female avatars in the ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter'' games are either this or {{Stripperiffic}}(a few have managed to be ''both''). One of the most famous examples is the Rathian (Blademaster) set.

* ''VideoGame/SengokuRance'' has [[GenderFlip Uesugi Kenshin]], who wore her ''kacchu'' styled Japanese armor over her hakama/gii and a hat.
* ''VideoGame/CastlevaniaOrderOfEcclesia'' gives the heroine Shanoa the option of wearing either heavy armor or dresses into battle. The armor usually has the higher defense, but the dresses tend to increase other stats in addition to defense. Her standard outfit is a high-slit SexyBacklessOutfit, a sturdy breastplate, and plated thigh-high boots.

* Some of Refia's outfits in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyIII'', like the [[http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110115113800/finalfantasy/images/f/f5/Refia-Knight.png Knight]] and [[http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110115113758/finalfantasy/images/c/cc/Refia-Dragoon.png Dragoon,]] have a short skirt attached to the armor, perhaps to set her apart from her male companions.
* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyTactics'', some of the generic female job classes have this look, particularly heavily armored classes like the [[http://img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20111202162738/finalfantasy/images/8/86/FFTKnightFemale.png Knight]] and [[http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20111202171531/finalfantasy/images/e/ed/FFTDragoonFemale.png Dragoon.]]
* ''VideoGame/FateGrandOrder'' has too many examples to list, from those appearing in other works like Mordred and Artoria, to newcomers like [[spoiler: Tomoe Gozen]].

* ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' DLC 'Dead Money' introduces Vera's dress. An armour rating of 2 is nothing to boast about when you have access to 18 to 25 later on, but it's still an armoured LittleBlackDress. With the right build (and accessories), you can have a very satisfying time assaulting Caesar's Legion wearing this thing.
* ''VideoGame/Fallout4'' allows ballistic weave to be applied to some clothing including various sequined dresses. The weave makes the dress much more effective than most of the armor in the game and puts the wearer into high heels in a post-apocalyptic wasteland.
* Some of the higher level [[AnAdventurerIsYou tank armor sets]] in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' qualify as unisex Battle Ballgowns - such as the [[http://img2.finalfantasyxiv.com/accimg2/0e/96/0e96c72f546ab0440126f9327aa41d55690a3463.png Valerian Terror Knight's set,]] or the [[http://img2.finalfantasyxiv.com/accimg2/5e/fe/5efe826f3d1094c8fc017dbb0a86388b8d181786.jpg Orthodox Fending set,]] combining heavy armor plating with long, flowing skirts.
* Phoebe from ''VideoGame/{{Battleborn}}'' a high-tech yet fashionable gown into battle that both aids her and makes her look fabulous.
* Princess Zelda in ''VideoGame/HyruleWarriors'' is an active playable character and as such an active combatant. As such, augments her usual elegant princess dress with plate gauntlets and greaves. [[http://www.zeldadungeon.net/wiki/images/b/b9/Hyrule_Warriors_Artwork_Zelda_Baton.png See for yourself.]]
* The Taken Shape is the best armor available in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'', although it's only found in the ''Trespasser'' DLC. It's probably not intended to be this since it can be worn by literally any character regardless of gender or race, but the nature of the design gives it a distinctly dress-like appearance.
* ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'' has a variant of this trope. Many [=NPCs=] wear unarmored pants in their leg armor slot, even if their other slots are occupied by actual armored pieces of equipment. On female characters, those pants are rendered as a long skirt, making them look exactly like women wearing an armor including a gown.