History Main / KickingAssInallHerFinery

[[caption-width-right:280:That submachine gun goes quite nicely with her [[EverythingsBetterWithSparkles glittery dress]] and [[PrettyInMink fur]] [[PimpedOutCape cape]].[[hottip:*:From the artbook ''Colourful Wind'' by Shiki Douji]]]]

And no {{Action Dress Rip}}ping either. These are ImpossiblyCoolClothes, that don't get in the way while this lady is [[OneManArmy mowing down hordes]] of {{mooks}} or [[StuffBlowingUp blowing stuff up]]. Not that there can't be ClothingDamage, but [[SnapBack expect the clothes to be fine next episode]] (barring [[SoLastSeason getting a new outfit next season]]). Nevermind that one historical aspect of fancy clothes was to demonstrate how rich you were by making it difficult for you to do things.

And no {{Action Dress Rip}}ping either. These are ImpossiblyCoolClothes, that don't get in the way while this lady is [[OneManArmy mowing down hordes]] of {{mooks}} or [[StuffBlowingUp blowing stuff up]]. Not that there can't be ClothingDamage, but [[SnapBack expect the clothes to be fine next episode]] (barring [[SoLastSeason getting a new outfit next season]]).

* ''{{Tangled}}'': Rapunzel kicks ass frequently with her long hair while dressed in her signature purple princess gown.
* At the end of the movie ''{{Anastasia}}'' beats Rapunzel while wearing her beautiful yellow ball gown (which suffers much ClothingDamage).

This trope often overlaps with LadyOfWar, BadassPrincess, ErmineCapeEffect, BattleBallgown (the frilled dress with armor variant, not the armor with a skirt variant), SilkHidingSteel, ActionFashionista (if this character has several fancy outfits she fights in), and MagicalGirlWarrior (although they tend to not be outright badass most of the time). If she's Chinese, a {{Qipao}} ''will'' be involved.

This trope often overlaps with LadyOfWar, BadassPrincess, ErmineCapeEffect, BattleBallgown (the frilled dress with armor variant, not the armor with a skirt variant), SilkHidingSteel, ActionFashionista (if this character has several fancy outfits she fights in), and MagicalGirlWarrior (although they tend to not be outright badass most of the time).

* Many MMO s, especially free ones have wedding dresses and other finery for sale or craftable. Some examples are FinalFantasy XI's Wedding Dress Set or StarWarsGalaxies Grand Ball Gown which can be worn anytime anywhere even when fighting. Some games like EdenEternal this is largely the way they make cash selling fashion items like [[NinjaMaid Maid Outfits]] and [[PimpedOutDress Fairy Dresses]] that even have stat boosts to help in combat.

* Elizabeth Middleford of ''Manga/BlackButler'' is in very nice, prim and proper underwear when she mows down zombies with [[DualWielding dual swords]].
* Shenhua from ''Anime/BlackLagoon'' is a deadly assassin [[KnifeNut who's very talented with kukris and kunai]]. The difference between her and [[WorldOfBadass every other woman in the show]] is that she kicks ass while wearing an elegant red Chinese dress.

* Sabre of the ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' series likes wearing fine dresses, even if they are armored.

What weapons she uses can vary, from martial arts (even if a skirt would be too narrow or poofy to kick someone), to conventional weapons, to even the more "feminine" weapons like ParasolOfPain, RollingPinOfDoom, and FryingPanOfDoom can work, although with those, she has to be directly attacking with them, not just conking a guy on the head.

[[caption-width-right:280:That assault rifle goes quite nicely with her [[EverythingsBetterWithSparkles glittery dress]] and [[PrettyInMink fur]] [[PimpedOutCape cape]].]]

* ''{{Shrek}}'' - Princess Fiona takes out Robin Hood and a squad of merry men single-handedly while wearing her signature green princess dress. She's quite put out when a single lock of hair is out of place after the dust settles.

Contrast {{Stripperific}}, RealWomenNeverWearDresses.

!!Examples best describe the outfit and/or provide pictures.

[[folder:Film]]

* {{Disney/Mulan}} at the end of um, ''Mulan''.

* There are levels in some ''TombRaider'' games where Lara wears formalwear. One particularly good example being a [[BallroomBlitz party]] in Legend (which also averts CombatStilettos; She removes them and goes barefoot).

* Shiki from ''Literature/KaraNoKyoukai'' usually fights wearing a simple kimono and a red jacket for warmth. However, in part five, she instead goes for a borderline Pimped Out Kimono during the climatic battle (not to mention that she also brings a katana to it instead of her usual knife).
* DominionTankPolice has a scene where the Puma Twins engage the [[EliteMooks Red Commandos]] in a shoot out, in an upscale museum, while decked out in fancy dresses. Annapuma's AK-47 was [[HammerSpace hidden in her parasol]], while Unapuma had a tommygun [[TrouserSpace tucked under her skirt]]!
* Elizabeth Middleford of ''Manga/BlackButler'' is in very nice, prim and proper underwear when she mows down zombies with [[DualWielding dual swords]].

* Princess Vespa spends the entire {{Spaceballs}} movie wearing a FairytaleWeddingDress. She's handed a gun to fight with, and refuses until [[TraumaticHaircut a laser blast singes the side of her hair]]. Then she mows down the bad guys.

* Sabre of the ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' series likes wearing fine dresses, even if they are armored.
* The ladies of the ''SoulCalibur'' series often have elegant outfits. Special mention goes to [[http://soulcalibur.wikia.com/wiki/File:Concept14.jpg Cassandra]] and [[http://soulcalibur.wikia.com/wiki/File:AmySC4cg2.jpg Amy]].
* In the ''SuperSmashBros'' games, [[SuperMarioBros Peach]] and {{Zelda}} qualify for this trope, if rarely in their series proper. They battle in their standard series royal dresses.

* Lady Jane of the ''{{TimeSplitters}}'' games runs around shooting at bad guys, [[http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/0/1007/445851-jane_concept_large.jpg while wearing an evening dress and fur-trimmed coat]].
* There are levels in some ''TombRaider'' games where Lara wears formalwear. One particularly good example being a [[BallroomBlitz party]] in Legend (which also averts CombatStilettos; She removes them and goes barefoot).

* Cecille of ''ArcRiseFantasia'' punched her way through enemies, while wearing a fancy blue dress. The sisters Paula and Luna use weapons, but still fancy clothes. Luna uses a [[ParasolOfPrettiness very pretty]] ParasolOfPain.
* Rachel Alucard in ''{{BlazBlue}}'' wears a frilled up ElegantGothicLolita dress, in a FightingGame.

* Helena of ''VideoGame/DeadOrAlive'' has a few dresses made a very fancy materials, including silk and lace.

* Nina Long of ''VideoGame/DeadOrAlive'' has a few dresses made a very fancy materials, including silk and lace.

Compare DressedToKill, BadassInANiceSuit, HotChickInABadassSuit, StylishProtectionGear, BlingOfWar, AgentPeacock (the SpearCounterpart), BeautyIsNeverTarnished.

* Sapphire of ''{{Disgaea 3}}'' has an outfit that's basically pants and a jacket (to help make it easy to fight as a BadassPrincess), but still elegant and fancy enough to count.

* Princess Rozalin of ''{{Disgaea 2}}'' starts out as a PrincessClassic, and always has her frilly dress with large bows, but as she learns to fight, she becomes deadly with firearms. [[spoiler:And that's not even getting to the SuperpoweredEvilSide of her past life.]]
* Sabre of the ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' series likes wearing fine dresses, even if they are armored.
* The ladies of the ''SoulCalibur'' series often have elegant outfits. Special mention goes to [[http://soulcalibur.wikia.com/wiki/File:Concept14.jpg Cassandra]] and [[http://soulcalibur.wikia.com/wiki/File:AmySC4cg2.jpg Amy]].

* In the ''SuperSmashBros'' games, [[SuperMarioBros Peach]] and {{Zelda}} qualify for this trope, if rarely in their series proper. They battle in their standard series royal dresses.
* The Prince class in ''EtrianOdyssey III'' has a [[http://www.nekomagic.com/figure_news/201011/gift_plush_princess05.jpg princess option]], and they tend to be strong fighters as well as opulently dressed.
* The heroine of ''PrincessCrown'' wears an armored, but fancy, gown.

* Lady Jane of the ''{{TimeSplitters}}'' games runs around shooting at bad guys, [[http://media.giantbomb.com/uploads/0/1007/445851-jane_concept_large.jpg while wearing an evening dress and fur-trimmed coat]].

* There are levels in some ''TombRaider'' games where Lara wears formalwear. One particularly good example being a [[BallroomBlitz party]] in Legend (which also averts CombatStilettos; She removes them and goes barefoot).

* Shenhua from ''BlackLagoon'' is a deadly assassin [[KnifeNut who's very talented with kukris and kunai]]. The difference between her and [[WorldOfBadass every other woman in the show]] is that she kicks ass while wearing an elegant red Chinese dress.
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada_Wong Ada Wong]] in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4'' wears an elegant cheongsam dress, that has butterflies embroidered with gold thread, while kicking butt.
* Elizabeth Middleford of ''[[Manga/BlackButler Black Butler]]'' is in very nice, prim and proper underwear when she mows down zombies with [[DualWielding dual swords]].

* Most of the dolls in ''Anime/RozenMaiden'' fit this, due to their ultra frilly dresses being still worn in intense battles.

Who says that being an ActionGirl means you can't wear feminine, pretty, opulent clothes? In some works, the two go hand-in-awesome-but-elegant-hand.

What weapons she uses can vary, from martial arts (even if a skirt would be too narrow or poofy to kick someone), to conventional weapons, to even the more "feminine" weapons like ParasolOfPain, RollingPinOfDoom, and FryingPanOfDoom can work, although she has to be whupping ass with those, not just conking a guy on the head.

* Nina Long of ''DeadOrAlive'' has a few dresses made a very fancy materials, including silk and lace.

Shenhua from BlackLagoon, a deadly assassin [[KnifeNut who's very talented with kukris and kunai.]] The difference between her and [[WorldOfBadass every other woman in the show]] is that she kicks ass while wearing an elegant red Chinese dress.

Compare DressedToKill, BadassInANiceSuit, HotChickInABadassSuit, StylishProtectionGear, BlingOfWar, AgentPeacock (the SpearCounterpart).