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3%% '''Examples need to describe the outfit(s) for [[Administrivia/ZeroContextExample context]] (providing pictures would also help).'''
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5%% Image kept on page per Image Pickin thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=17027652830.21645000
6%% Please don't change or remove without starting a new thread.
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8[[quoteright:274:[[Creator/ShikiDouji https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rsz_yandere_37956_sample_gun_shikidouji.png]]]]
9[[caption-width-right:274:That gun is a great accessory to her [[EverythingsBetterWithSparkles glittery dress]] and [[PrettyInMink fur]] [[PimpedOutCape cape]].[[note]]From the artbook ''Colourful Wind'' by Shiki Douji[[/note]]]]
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11->''"Kim, deciding to be badass, tosses her hat into the air, and proceeds to unrealistically fly around with a series of kicks and punches despite, ''again'', wearing the big, flowing dress."''
12-->-- '''Linkara'''. ''WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall'', reviewing [[http://atopfourthwall.blogspot.com/2012/03/invincible-four-of-kung-fu-ninja-1.html "The Invincible Four of Kung Fu & Ninja #1"]]
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14Who says that being an ass-whupping ActionGirl means you can't wear feminine, pretty, opulent clothes? In some works, the two can go hand-in-awesome-but-elegant-hand.
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16There's hardly any {{Action Dress Rip}}ping either. These are ImpossiblyCoolClothes that don't [[AwesomeButImpractical get in the way]] while this lady is [[OneManArmy mowing down hordes]] of {{mooks}} or [[StuffBlowingUp blowing stuff up]]. Conversely [[HandicappedBadass she is such]] [[IAmNotLeftHanded a good fighter]] that she is both aware of and able to overcome the disadvantages of her clothing. Not that there can't be ClothingDamage, but [[SnapBack expect the clothes to be fine by the next episode]] (barring [[SoLastSeason getting a new outfit next season]]).
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18Note that in spite of appearing impractical at first, a ball gown is actually pretty excellent for this, as ball gowns are designed to afford good freedom of movement (seeing as how they're designed for dancing in) and thus, also good for fighting in, especially in styles that don't require the fighter to be a KickChick.
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20What 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 the more domestic weapons like ParasolOfPain, RollingPinOfDoom, and FryingPanOfDoom. Although with those latter three, she has to be directly attacking with them, not just conking a guy on the head.
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22The clothes could range from a SimpleYetOpulent evening dress and {{jewelry}}, to an ultra frilly PimpedOutDress. It can even count if the dress is cut to move around, like a MiniDressOfPower, but it also has to be otherwise too fancy to fight in. May be the result of the villain trying to ambush the heroine at some sort of formal event that she was going to.
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24A SubTrope of RuleOfCool, RuleOfGlamorous.
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26This trope often overlaps with:
27* ActionFashionista (if this character has several fancy outfits she fights in)
28* BallroomBlitz (she refuses to risk ruining her dress when the party is interrupted by the BigBad and his {{Mooks}}, but if the bad guys [[ActionDressRip ruin said dress, such as by ripping the hem]], all bets are off)
29* BattleBallgown (the frilled dress with armor variant, not the armor with a skirt variant)
30* CombatStilettos (if her high heels do not impede her ability to kick ass)
31* CostumePorn (when the clothes are as flashy as her moves)
32* DanceBattler
33* ElegantGothicLolita
34* ErmineCapeEffect (for any badass royal or noble lady)
35* FemmeFatale
36* FemmeFataleSpy (a lot of spy movies and TV shows have the heroines or villainesses doing action-y things in evening dresses or gowns)
37* GirlyBruiser
38* LadyOfBlackMagic
39* LadyOfWar
40* MagicalGirlWarrior (although they tend to be outright badass most of the time anyway)
41* UsefulNotes/{{Qipao}} (if she's Chinese)
42* PrettyPrincessPowerhouse
43* SilkHidingSteel
44* SheCleansUpNicely (when she gets into a fight just after her makeover)
45
46Compare BadassInANiceSuit, StylishProtectionGear, BlingOfWar, AgentPeacock (the SpearCounterpart), BeautyIsNeverTarnished.
47
48Contrast {{Stripperific}}, RealWomenDontWearDresses.
49
50----
51!!Examples:
52%%
53%% Please keep the examples alphabetized in their sections to make it easy to locate the works.
54%%
55[[foldercontrol]]
56
57[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
58* Matoi of ''Manga/AyakashiTriangle'' is perfectly willing to fight in a pencil skirt, heels, and a fur CoatCape. Even her CombatHandFan is fairly ornate. Her actual combat suit is a BattleBallgown that switches the coat for a fur neck wrap and long, flowing sash.
59* Deconstructed with ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'''s Farnese. She at one point tries to fight apostles while wearing a ballgown and discovers it puts her at a disadvantage by constricting her movement.
60* ''Manga/BlackButler'':
61** Elizabeth Midford is in very nice, prim, and proper underwear when she mows down zombies with [[DualWielding dual swords]].
62** Similarly, her mother, Francis Midford is in a full, floor-length Victorian dress as she protects the passengers of the Campania alongside her husband and son and goes BackToBackBadasses with Sebastian.
63* Shenhua from ''Manga/BlackLagoon'' is a deadly assassin 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 UsefulNotes/{{qipao}}.
64* Kouyou Ozaki from ''Manga/BungoStrayDogs'' doesn't even tarnish her PimpedOutDress when taking out enemies with some help from [[GuardianEntity Golden Demon]]... but is also more than capable of kicking your ass with her own skills.
65* In chapter 3 of ''Manga/ChronoCrusade'' Sister Rose wears a slinky, sleeveless, off-one-shoulder dress and a pair of long opera gloves in order to sneak into a casino for a mission. (She even remarks that she never gets to wear clothes like that (she is a nun, after all).) Of course, she and Chrono end up fighting a monster. The only damage her outfit takes during the fight is self-inflicted- she tears a hip-high slit into her dress, presumably to make her thigh holster easier to reach and make moving around a little easier (and, maybe, a little fan-service in the form of stockings and garters).
66* ''Anime/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 [[HammerSpace was hidden in her parasol]], while Unapuma had a tommy gun [[TrouserSpace tucked under her skirt]]!
67* ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'':
68** When Alphonse is abducted by Greed and his chimera, Al's beloved alchemy master Izumi calmly strolls into the sewers and beats the crap out of anyone who gets in her way. Her chosen attire for the occasion is a slinky black cocktail dress.
69** Then, of course, there is Lust who frequently kicks all kinds off ass in her trademark black dress and occasional [[FurAndLoathing fur rimmed jacket.]]
70* ''Literature/FullMetalPanic'': Melissa Mao rarely wears anything else than her military fatigues or pilot suit, but in ''The Second Raid'', she dons a slinky dress for an undercover operation that not only shows off her figure shamelessly, but doesn't stop her from kicking ass while wearing it.
71* Shiki from ''Literature/TheGardenOfSinners'' usually fights while 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 climactic battle (not to mention that she also brings a katana to it instead of her usual knife).
72* While the Cures of ''Anime/GoPrincessPrettyCure'' might always start out in a MinidressOfPower, using their FinishingMove [[FrillyUpgrade transforms]] it into a full ballroom gown. [[SerialEscalation And they keep getting more and more elaborate.]]
73* In episode 9 of ''Anime/{{K}}: Return of Kings'', Seri and Izumo's BlackTieInfiltration ends with an ElevatorActionSequence, with her still in her fantastic sparkly light blue gown, and magnificent jewelry.
74* Fujiko Mine from ''Franchise/LupinIII'' has spent many a gun battle fighting in an evening dress.
75* The eponymous heroine of ''Anime/{{Madlax}}'' is shown wearing simple but elegant and ''very'' slick cocktail dresses more than once while kicking ass. (And once [[FullFrontalAssault she takes her dress off]] to [[DistractedByTheSexy distract her pursuers]]).
76* ''Manga/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaVivid'' has Olivie Sägebrecht, who in Chapter 52, snapped an airborne crossbow bolt in half with a somersault kick and killed the hidden assassin with a well-aimed rock, showing that being an [[HandicappedBadass armless]] [[LittleMissBadass little girl]] in a formal princess dress didn't stop her from being a deadly fighter.
77* Princess Kougyoku of ''Manga/MagiLabyrinthOfMagic'' is probably the best dressed female fighter in the series, usually seen in her PimpedOutDress (such as when she beat down [[spoiler:Ugo]] without her full djin equip) and [[https://31.media.tumblr.com/51ab3889617cfcd5e523684f8528b7b9/tumblr_inline_nbcw7docMl1s9h6kc.png noted to be particularly powerful]]. She lists fashion as her hobby and sword fighting as her specialty, after all.
78* ''Manga/MakenKi'': Yan-Min dons an elegant full-length qipao for her return appearance in chapter 76. After saving Haruko, she battles Idaten]] over the next two chapters, which showcases her newly [[spoiler:evolved Jingu]] and establishes her as a certified LadyOfWar.
79* ''Manga/MayIAskForOneFinalThing'': Scarlet El Vandimion happened to be wearing a luxurious red dress complete with floor length skirt, puff sleeves, and ribbon accents when her fiancé [[RoyalBrat Prince Kyle von Pallistan]] chose to publicly denounce her over false charges and introduce his new intended bride. Fortunately, all the tucks and folds provided [[BloodKnight Scarlet]] with room to bring her favorite [[PowerFist punching gloves]]. The lucky ones made it out a window.
80* The eponymous heroine of ''Manga/MurderPrincess'' wears a voluminous white gown. This is really an interesting case, as she became a princess through a FreakyFridayFlip, and wasn't this before the flip.
81* ''Franchise/OnePiece''
82** In the tenth film ''[[Anime/OnePieceFilmStrongWorld Strong World]]'', both Nami and Robin dress up in as part of the climax at Shiki's base, as seen [[http://static.zerochan.net/Strong.World.full.759005.jpg here]] along with the men.
83** Nami also does this during the Alabasta War, where she fights against Miss Doublefinger in a dancer's gown that doesn't leave much to the imagination. [[GuestStarPartyMember Vivi]], as well, wears one, but she mostly keeps it concealed under a purple burka and fights while in said attire.
84** [[LadyOfWar Boa Hancock]]'s is as fashionable as she is powerful. During the Marineford arc, [[GracefulLadiesLikePurple she wore an elegant, purple dress]] while dishing out a lot of pain.
85* Most of the dolls in ''Anime/RozenMaiden'' fit this, due to their ultra frilly dresses being still worn in intense battles.
86* In ''Franchise/SailorMoon,'' unleashing her full power will require Usagi to transform into Princess Serenity, whose costume is a long (on a girl who doesn't even break five feet) white party dress.
87* The girls of ''Anime/SandsOfDestruction'' would likely be impeded by their clothing if not for RuleOfCool. Rhi'a wears an ElegantGothicLolita MinidressOfPower, [[CombatStilettos high heels with dainty little straps that would never withstand running around]], and [[StockingFiller thigh-high socks]] with garters that double as gun holsters. Morte wears [[CombatStilettos equally-high heels]] and a short skirt, and her BadassLongcoat is long enough that it drags on the ground behind her, but she never trips on it, and her hair never gets tangled or impedes her sight despite not being tied back. Perhaps most impressive is that the two of them often end up in a DesignatedGirlFight that is [[MagicSkirt utterly devoid of panty shots]], despite the fact that Morte is a practitioner of {{BFS}} WaifFu and [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Rhi'a]] ''flies''.
88* ''Literature/SoICantPlayH'': Lisara is the heiress of the Restall Family, who are high-ranking nobility among the shinigami of Grimwald. At the start of every battle, she transforms into a form-fitting black gown with red pinstripes, black elbow-length gloves, and matching thigh-high stiletto-heeled boots. Then magically summons [[FlamingSword her flaming scythe]]: Calnoon Pradul.
89* In ''Manga/SoulEater'', Maka is able to don a black evening gown through resonance with Soul. The dress is actually practical for battle, as it's formed of Black Blood, which hardens like steel armor when Maka is attacked.
90* In ''Manga/SPYxFamily'', Yor Forger performs her assassin job while wearing a black, halter-top dress with the skirt being about thigh length in front and down to her ankles in the back and a pair of overknee CombatStilettos. It doesn't seem to hinder her, at all, when it comes to her graceful and fast movements while killing.
91* ''Manga/WeddingPeach'' for being a MagicalGirl show about girls in wedding dresses has some moments where they fight in their full wedding dresses. This is deconstructed because these were the early episodes before Momoko learns the magic phrase that turns her [[PimpedOutDress pimped-out wedding dress]] into a MinidressOfPower. The unrealistic aspect of this trope is ''why'' she learned how to do this.
92* ''Anime/VoltesV'': Despite her dainty appearance, Katherine is capable of putting up a fight, and once tried to stab Kenichi with a dagger when she managed to corner him. However she prioritizes strategy during battle, and would rather escape from harm rather than take it head-on.
93[[/folder]]
94
95[[folder:Comic Books]]
96* Subverted in an issue of ''Comicbook/BlackWidow'', which sees Nat and Comicbook/{{X 23}} raiding a hotel and casino, while dressed to the nines. Laura makes a point of ditching her heels and earrings before the shooting starts, though she's still wearing a very nice top and pants that wouldn't be the most practical to fight in.
97* Played with in ''ComicBook/{{Championess}}'' and doubling as TruthInTelevision. The clothes the female boxers fight in aren't opulent in the context of the setting, as they're bascially just everyday working-class outfits, similar to [[https://i.pinimg.com/236x/12/fe/ac/12feac32c461d873f42024a8a12892a9.jpg this.]] But such outfits are still far more ornate and cumbersome than what a modern fighter would wear.
98* ComicBook/JeanGrey can easily do battle in fancy dresses thanks to her MindOverMatter powers (although she will do an ActionDressRip when more physical action is called for).
99* During an early 2019 storyline of ''ComicStrip/ThePhantom'' Heloise Walker, teenage daughter of The Phantom, undergoes several hand-to-hand fights and [[ItMakesSenseInContext forces the small plane she's on to crash-land]] while wearing a black cocktail dress and moderate heels. On one hand, the cut of the dress [[note]] the bodice is sleeveless and fitted, the skirt is flared and just above the knee[[/note]] means that she has as much freedom of movement as you can get in semi-formal wear; on the other hand, Heloise is the daughter of 21 Phantoms, so it's highly possible she and her mother had the dress [[CrazyPrepared made that way on purpose]].
100* ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'' had a villain called [[https://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/spiderman/images/e/e9/Spider-Queen_%28Adriana_Soria%29.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20111031104511 Queen]]. She wore a simple but beautiful LittleBlackDress in her debut issue. She wore a similar dress in later issues, except with less coverage. She demonstrates her deadly skills in her debut issue where she overpowers Spider-Man with her SuperStrength and Sonic Scream, knocks out Captain America with a kick and ends the issue [[spoiler:[[ForcefulKiss forcing a big wet kiss]] on the defeated Spider-Man]].
101* In ''ComicBook/{{WITCH}}'', both of Cornelia's Guardian forms and Hay Lin's second Guardian form wear outfits that wouldn't be out of place at formal events. Their particular skirts (high-slitted ones for Cornelia, a loincloth-style one for Hay Lin) and footwear (flat-heeled boots for Cornelia, mary janes for Hay Lin) also allow for good movement.
102* Franchise/WonderWoman was created partly to embody this. As Diana Prince, she had a lot of occasions to go out to dinner parties thrown by military brass in elegant evening gowns, jewelry, etc. She'd always have elbow-length gloves to cover up her bracelets. Sometime during the night, it was guaranteed she would have to do some kind of ass-kicking while still in her flossy attire. As Wonder Woman, her original outfit included knee-length pleated culottes, which looked like a skirt most of the time unless she was doing something extremely active.
103* In the first ''ComicBook/XFactor'' series, Jean even played with this. After [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/jean_bought_a_fur_2906.jpg she bought]] a [[PrettyInMink white fur coat]] to go with her LittleBlackDress, she started a SnowballFight with Scott [[MundaneUtility using their superpowers]].
104* ComicBook/YokoTsuno once pointed out a rifle at two guys [[spoiler:after one of them freaks out and almost gets her best friend/prospect boyfriend Vic shot to death]] while wearing a very fancy pink ''[[KimonoFanservice kimono]]''. And she managed to get them to back down.
105[[/folder]]
106
107[[folder:Fan Works]]
108* ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm'' has, in the sequel, [[ActionGirl Carol]] idly wonder, while wearing an elegant dress, if she'd be able to do this if she and Harry were randomly attacked at a formal occasion.
109* Twilight Sparkle spends one of her GroundhogDayLoop runs in ''Fanfic/HardResetEakin'' dressed [[http://pixel-prism.deviantart.com/art/Hard-Reset-396553078 in this]]: "absolutely phenomenal amethyst earrings and a hoofband of intertwined platinum and crystal, wearing a slinky black cocktail dress I thought would make my flank look good. I was wrong about that last bit, though. This dress makes my flank look ''spectacular''." After a skirmish, she thinks that "[[TheFashionista Rarity]] probably wouldn't approve of accessorizing a dress like this with a baseball bat, but even if she didn't she'd have to agree that I am pulling it off."
110-->'''Twilight Sparkle:''' Eww, I got changeling splattered all over my new dress!
111* While Roboco doesn't usually invoke this trope in ''WebAnimation/HoloChronicles'', when she goes into her Bionic Bride form, she dons -- as the name of the form implies -- a beautiful wedding dress adorned with rose ornaments. She can also fight [[WorldsStrongestWoman Sora Tokino]] to a standstill in this form. So by all means, she kicks the ''most'' ass in her finery.
112* In ''Fanfic/TheRoadNotTaken'', Jem'Hadar attack Deep Space 9 and Morgaiah t'Thavrau and Captain Kurland are forced to fight their way to an escape shuttle in their dress uniforms, which in t'Thavrau's case consists of formal robes. She actually uses them as a weapon at one point, throwing them up to blind an opponent in melee while she swings her sword with the other hand.
113* Most of the women present when Jadeite attacked Kyouya and Shinobu's wedding in ''Fanfic/WhiteDevilOfTheMoon''.[[note]]The only known exceptions were Nanoha, Fate, Minako, Shinobu, Momoko, and Suzuka (the former three were in their Magical Girl outfits and the latter were non-combatants).[[/note]] Justified, since the last Takamachi family get-together was attacked by terrorists, so almost all the guests were armed.
114* Several examples in ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/27736435 Zero Context: Taking Out the Trash]]'':
115** When Circe's wedding was attacked, she retaliates while still garbed in her wedding dress and everything that entails.
116** Likewise Ellen, one of the saboteurs, gets involved in a pitched fight while attired in a very sharp-looking pale purple dress and amethyst earrings. It's implied that the dress' durability is enhanced somehow, as Ellen was struck by a giant clawed hand without it sustaining any damage.
117** Another saboteur, Claire de Loon, wears a turquoise dress while stalling a giant crab mecha with a rocket launcher.
118** Callista plays this straight for the first half of the assault, taking on a four-armed powerhouse while attired in a sapphire-blue dress and diamond earrings. After the dress is obliterated by one of Marc's attacks, it comes to light that she was actively warping reality to hide any evidence of the T-shirt and jeans she was wearing underneath.
119[[/folder]]
120
121[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
122* ''WesternAnimation/{{Anastasia}}'': At the climax of the film, Anya defeats [[BigBad Rasputin]] wearing a fine ballroom dress.
123* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Epic|2013}}'', Queen Tara runs through the forest in a leaf dress while commanding the forest to smack her pursuers around.
124* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen|2013}}'', Queen Elsa fights and defeats the Duke of Weselton's bodyguards while wearing her [[AnIcePerson conjured]] gown of ice. {{Downplayed|Trope}} since she only needs to wave her arms around to fight -- her one attempt at dodging an attack sees her trip and knock herself out.
125* ''WesternAnimation/{{Mulan}}'': The titular character dresses like a courtesan (along with [[DisguisedInDrag three of her fellow soldiers]]) to infiltrate the invaded palace in the climax, and together they curbstomp Shan-Yu's lieutenants.
126* In ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirls'', the human counterparts of the [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Mane Six]] fight against Sunset Shimmer while wearing school dance dresses.
127* ''WesternAnimation/Shrek1'': 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.
128[[/folder]]
129
130[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
131* In ''Film/AtomicBlonde'' Lorraine takes down entire squads of police officers and assassins while wearing some very high class 80s fashion. The trope is played with in that she fights in fashionable clothes only when she's ambushed, and she wears more practical clothes when she knows she's entering a situation where she'll have to fight. She even laments in her interrogation about having to get into brutal fights while wearing rather impractical clothes.
132 -->'''Lorraine:''' If I knew he was going to call the police I would have worn a different outfit.
133* ''Film/{{Ava}}'' has the title character (Creator/JessicaChastain) executing her assassination mission - that is extended to a shootout with security - while wearing a very flattering red dress.
134* In ''Film/BlackPanther2018'', Okoye infiltrates a casino in South Korea. After one of the goons spots her, she takes off her wig but fights on in her flowing red evening gown.
135* ''Film/JamesBond'':
136** ''Film/LicenceToKill'': Pam Bouvier (Creator/CareyLowell) wears a slinky, rhinestone blue dress - but enough to have a [[UnorthodoxHolstering nice little pistol in her garter]].
137** ''Film/NoTimeToDie'': Paloma (Creator/AnaDeArmas) goes GunsAkimbo in a shootout and ''fly-kicks'' a mook, all while wearing a party dress (a SexyBacklessOutfit with a NavelDeepNeckline, no less).
138* ''Film/JurassicWorld'' has Claire having a terrible day in white business clothes that fit perfectly the meeting she had before a bloodthirsty dinosaur went on a rampage. She slightly adapts it first ([[ActionDressRip rolling back her sleeves and tying up the front of her shirt]]), before suffering continuous ClothingDamage - only the [[CombatStilettos high heels]] never change.
139* ''Literature/KamikazeGirls'':
140** In the climax, Momoko crashes a yanki gang fight in a delicate white [[ElegantGothicLolita sweet lolita]] dress by real-life brand Baby, The Stars Shine Bright. It gets thoroughly trashed by the end of the scene.
141** The yankis themselves count too, to some degree, given their bright purple, satiny, heavily embroidered 'kamikaze coats' which give the film its ([[MarketBasedTitle English-language]]) title.
142* Lady Flavia Geste, all dolled up in a slinky [[TheEdwardianEra Edwardian evening gown]] punches out Boldini with a tremendous roundhouse swing in ''Film/TheLastRemakeOfBeauGeste''.
143* ''Film/MissMeadows'': Miss M is never seen in anything except a frilly, old-fashioned dress but it doesn't stop her from being a deadly vigilante, blowing away any criminals she comes across.
144* ''Film/TheMummyTombOfTheDragonEmperor'': Evy spends a while fighting The Emperor and Choi while wearing a fancy pink evening gown. She displays some good martial arts moves and pulls a knife from her garter belt at the start.
145* In the 1940 film ''Film/MyLittleChickadee'' , Creator/MaeWest's gorgeous, [[CostumePorn fancily-dressed]] character, Flower Belle, is on a train when Indians attack. An arrow lands two feet from her, and she nonchalantly pulls it out of the wall, goes back to filing her nails... and when a second arrow hits, she responds by mowing them down with [[RevolversAreJustBetter revolvers]] [[GunsAkimbo akimbo]] taken from a passenger [[RedShirt who wasn't so lucky]] and a shotgun borrowed from the only other person defending the train... all while uttering one-liners in her signature alluring, devil-may-care voice.
146-->'''Flower Belle:''' There he goes, [[LudicrousGibs in a shower of feathers!]]\
147'''Gunman:''' Nice shootin'!\
148'''Flower Belle:''' [[IBrokeANail I almost broke one of my fingernails.]]
149* Lampshaded by Creator/SigourneyWeaver’s character “the Big Guy” in ''Film/{{Paul}}'' who appears to have come from a Presidential reception in her single appearance and is wearing an appropriately fancy dress. She holds the heroes at gunpoint, and is capable of shrugging off punches and bites to the arm while decking several of her opponents. Then she is [[spoiler: abruptly killed by the access ramp of the alien spacecraft...]]
150* ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean'' zig-zags this with Elizabeth. In the [[Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl first movie]], she stabs Barbossa and smacks one of his cursed pirates with the ship's wheel while she's still in the red dress they've forced her to wear, then puts on a spare Navy uniform for her next fight scene. The [[Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanDeadMansChest second movie]] sees her in her wedding dress holding Cutler Beckett at gunpoint, but again she spends most of the movie in [[WholesomeCrossdresser men's clothing.]] The [[Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanAtWorldsEnd third movie]] plays it straight; she spends most of it in practical, gorgeous, and very femme Chinese pirate gear.
151* The climax of the ''Film/PoliteSociety'' takes place during a wedding within a South Asian community, so ''everyone'' is dressed for the occasion in pimped out traditional clothes. It's also an all-out brawl full of WireFu, while the main character is a teenage girl that trains martial arts as her hobby and dreams about being a stuntwoman. Roundhouse kicks never involved so many floating skirts. Even the poster has the Khan sisters taking fighting stances in their {{Pimped Out Dress}}es.
152* The Bennet sisters, wearing their best gowns (though they wear practical combat boots underneath), drive off a zombie attack on the ball where Elizabeth meets Darcy for the first time in ''Film/PrideAndPrejudiceAndZombies''.
153* ''Film/TheRocketeer'': Jenny spends nearly half of the movie wearing a fancy white evening gown. During that time, she whacks two villains over the head, nearly escapes from Sinclair's mansion, and knocks a Nazi out of the zeppelin to his death after a struggle.
154* In ''Film/TheSchoolForGoodAndEvil2022'', all the times Agatha is handling a sword she is doing it while wearing a beautiful, pimped-out gown.
155* Princess Vespa spends the entire ''Film/{{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 [[BerserkButton mows down the bad guys]].
156* ''Film/SpecialFemaleForce'': The protagonists have to wear {{Pimped Out Dress}}es in a mission infiltrate a nightclub the BigBad is in. When a fight inevitably breaks out, they fight off a bunch of {{Mooks}} in their fancy attire. Notably, the TankTopTomboy member of the team is the only one not wearing an evening dress, opting for a [[BadassInANiceSuit suit instead]].
157* ''Franchise/StarWars'':
158** Padme Amidala doesn't fight in her {{Impractically Fancy Outfit}}s, but her "battle gear" is still very fine-looking and stylish. And her decoy fights in a fancy royal outfit-and uses it to fool the Viceroy at a vital moment.
159** Her daughter Leia continues the tradition by spending the entire [[Film/ANewHope first movie]] in a simple but elegant white dress. Even when she was shooting stormtroopers and leading a prison escape.
160* Milady de Winter, wearing a dress in the height of 17th-century fashion, battles numerous guards during the palace-infiltration scene in ''Film/TheThreeMusketeers2011''.
161* Anna Valerious fights vampires and werewolves in a corset and high heeled thigh-high boots in ''Film/VanHelsing''
162* In ''Film/{{Wonder Woman|2017}}'', Diana infiltrates a military ball after "borrowing" a stunning blue evening gown. She believes [[BigBad Ares]] will be there, so she hides her sword in the back of her dress. While she doesn't actually fight in this scene, the image was so memorable that #[=WWgotyourback=] began trending on social media, [[http://booksandquillsmag.com/articles/wwgotyourback/ with young women taking photos in their best dresses with a sword sheathed in the back]]. Turns out it ''is'' doable, but it works best if the sword has a small blade and a broad hilt, and the dress has straps or sleeves to hold the weight.
163* Carrie White in the [[Film/Carrie2013 2013 adaptation]] of ''Literature/{{Carrie}}''. While she wasn't portrayed as particularly physically active during her RoaringRampageOfRevenge in the other adaptations, mostly standing and walking in a creepy trance-like state while her [[MindOverMatter telekinetic powers]] did the talking, here she [[BlastingTime raises up her hands and gestures wildly]] as she tears up the HighSchoolDance, literally [[PowerFloats flies her way out]] of the burning gymnasium, and [[ShockwaveStomp stomps her foot on the ground]] to open up a sinkhole to block Billy and Chris' escape. All in a fancy, blood-stained prom dress.
164* ''Film/TheSuicideSquad''. Harley Quinn spends most of the film fighting in a beautiful (if progressively damaged) [[GoGoEnslavement flamenco dress]]. Subverted in that she grabs a pair of combat boots the first chance she gets, averting the usual CombatStilettos (they come in handy for kicking down doors and slamming them into mooks' faces).
165* ''Film/MyYoungAuntie'' have the heroine fighting a bunch of hooligans while dressed in a qipao in the streets of Shanghai. The movie does avert HighHeelPower though, with her ditching her heels before the fight.
166[[/folder]]
167
168[[folder:Literature]]
169* ''Literature/AngiesFirstCase'': In the climax, Kit knocks two burly criminals unconscious while wearing a sundress and high heels.
170* The ''Literature/GreenRider'' series deconstructs this to double subvert it. After a GentlemanThief escapes her because she ''couldn't'' fight while in a dress and corset (and renders her a laughingstock as a result), Karigan makes her swordmaster teach her how to fight in finery.
171* Kvothe in "Wise Man's Fear" likes cloaks so much, he learns how to fight in one. (Without spilling anything from all of his little pockets)
172* The author of''Literature/DaggerEyes'' makes a point to simultaneously describe Princess Alanitora's illustrious dresses and her repeated abilities in combat while wearing said dresses.
173* Both Kokoa Shirakawa and Kadiri Miyamoto in ''Literature/ShoshanYLaDamaOscura''. The first is a fashion victim that managed to almost kill an experienced assassin and the second one a Shinto priestess who can exorcise demons properly dressed in a kimono.
174* Creator/MercedesLackey's works:
175** At one point in ''Literature/JinxHigh'', Diana Tregarde takes on a much larger jock, who happens to be high on [=PCP=], while wearing a silk formal dress. As the dress was specifically designed with a full enough skirt to allow karate kicks, and she was combining the karate with her PsychicPowers, the dress survived undamaged.
176** In the ''Literature/HeraldsOfValdemar'' series, Talia Sensdotter's formal uniform--including her hairdo--is designed so that she can fight to protect the Queen and Crown Princess if she has to and still be perfectly proper afterwards. (Skirt ankle-length rather than floor-length and no train, hidden slit in side-seam providing access to long dagger strapped to the thigh, throwing-knives concealed in cuffs, etc.)
177* Played with in ''Literature/MistbornTheOriginalTrilogy''. Heroine Vin finds herself getting in [[{{Whatevermancy}} Allomantic]] fights in her fancy ballgowns more than once, although it tends to go more in the LosingAShoeInTheStruggle direction as she shamelessly tears off any part of the dress that's in the way. In the second book, though, she visits a dressmaker who is accustomed to having female allomancers as customers and knows how to modify his wares to make them somewhat more practical to fight in without sacrificing elegance.
178* Played with in ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire''. Brienne of Tarth, who's usually accustomed to fighting in full armour, is forced into a dress as a form of humiliation and dis-empowerment, and then thrown into a bear pit by the band of mercenaries who are holding her hostage. She's able to fend off the bear until rescue arrives, but had things played out differently she would definitely have died because a dress is not armour and she was fighting ''[[BearsAreBadNews a damn bear]]''.
179* ''Literature/TheExilesViolin'': Defied. When Jacquie goes undercover as a socialite she picks a dress that is simple and has a knee-length skirt so this trope won't be an issue.
180* Cleverly averted in ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'', the Seanchan Empress has a wardrobe of magnificent, extravagant dresses to put any wedding gown to shame... and under them, she wears black combat pants and a tunic.
181** Played straight with just about every Aes Sedai.
182* Queen Cinder plays it straight in ''Literature/ChroniclesOfMagic'', shooting and hacking at her enemies with a sword while clad in an elaborate black gown. Averted when the gown (realistically) ends up slowing her down.
183* ''Literature/JourneyToChaos'': Despite her distaste for finery, Tiza ends up having to do this a lot.
184** In ''[[Literature/AMagesPower A Mage's Power]]'' she has to wear a long pink skirt, necklace, and hairpins because they are required for a formal duel. She wins with guile.
185** ''Literature/LoomingShadow'': Due to circumstances, she has to march into a Chaotic Zone and rescue her teammate while wearing a silk dress with gold cords and its accessories, HighClassGloves, stockings, and a hairbow.
186* ''Literature/TheImmortals'' has Queen Thayet, who once rode off to chase bandits in a fine silk dress studded with pearls. The only reason she was wearing it and not more sensible clothes was because she had to leave in the middle of a dinner party, and it was utterly ruined when the chase went through a swamp.
187* Played with in "Literature/NoNeedForACore?". Said finery has been prepared to be quite battle ready if needed, but has not yet been called upon to fulfill that duty.
188* Creator/{{Ouida}} had male versions of this in many stories. The stronger and more heroic her men are, the more likely they are to be TheDandy and RealMenWearPink. Lots of HoYay ensues as well, or at least Romantic Two-Guy Friendships (normal for her era). Ouida was writing in the Aesthetic genre; this was a period in the Victorian era where many people explored alternative sexuality and gender roles. Her friend Creator/OscarWilde is probably the most famous example.
189* In ''Literature/ShadowOfTheConqueror,'' due to [[WorldInTheSky Tellos]] being a WorldOfBadass, a lot of higher class women wear dresses specially made to hold swords and not impede their agility in a duel, and others carry their swords in sheaths that double as parasols.
190* The girls at Mademoiselle Geraldine's [[Literature/TheFinishingSchoolSeries Finishing School]] learn how to fight in full Victorian ball gowns, using ribbons and fans (with hidden blades) as highly effective weapons.
191* ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'': the titular SuperheroSchool has a class called 'Exemplar Grace' which is mostly LessonsInSophistication for Exemplars[[note]]those mutants whose power enhances normal human physical and mental abilities - and appearance - to superhuman levels[[/note]]. However, the instructor, Ms. Dennon, is also the martial arts instructor for {{Flying Brick}}s, and so expects the students to also be able to fight in formal wear, gracefully. She is particularly demanding of the female students:
192--> [The] final exercise was to do an entire combat in high-heels and a skirt while holding a full cup of hot tea! Even worse, I was only allowed to hold onto the saucer! You have to disable your opponent without breaking a heel, marring your makeup, spilling the tea, or being immodest with your skirt.
193[[/folder]]
194
195[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
196* ''Series/WordOfHonor'': After [[spoiler: Cao Weining]]'s death, Gu Xiang goes on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge while wearing her wedding dress.
197* ''Series/LoveAndDestiny'': The Heaven contingent never seem to change out of their gigantic-sleeved robes even when marching into battle.
198* ''Series/GeneralAndI'': Lady Thirteen fights a group of soldiers while wearing a long dress.
199* ''Series/LostLoveInTimes'': Qing Chen fights off Yuan Zhan's soldiers while unarmed and in her wedding dress.
200%%* Ambassador Delenn in ''Series/Babylon 5
201* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'':
202** In the season 1 finale, Buffy goes to fight [[BigBad The Master]] in her prom dress. Almost everyone (including the Master) likes it.
203** Averted in the HalloweenEpisode where Buffy's princess gown turns her into a DamselInDistress. Although technically played straight at the end when the spell wears off.
204* ''Series/GameOfThrones'':
205** Deconstructed when Brienne is forced to fight a bear in just an ugly pink dress, which offers no protection. She holds her own as well as anyone but is obviously fighting a losing battle, especially being armed with only a wooden sword.
206** For most of the series, Arya kicks ass while dressing like a boy but before her escape from King's Landing, she was also able to hold her own in fights while being dressed like a lady. The two key examples are when she beats (the older and larger) Joffrey in a fight and when she beats Bran at archery.
207* In ''Series/TheVampireDiaries'', Katherine is always dressed to kill... and the body count is most impressive. In Season Two, she attends a costume ball in a ''very'' slinky evening dress, complete with high heels, elaborately coiffed hair, and a lovely jeweled mask. Over the course of the evening she faced down witches, bodily dragged a fledgling vampire around, fought two more vampires to a standstill, and ripped out some poor girl's ''spine'' right in the middle of the dance floor. All without so much as tearing her dress or smudging her makeup.
208* In ''Series/PowerRangersRPM'' Summer ends up kicking ass in her wedding dress after Tenaya 7 and an army of Grinders attack her wedding. Unusually for this trope, Tenaya 7 stands on her skirt to try and stop her but Summer resorts to using the veil as a weapon too. She also did it again in the same episode in a flashback sequence - Venjix attack bots ambush her while she's still in her party dress.
209* In the season two opener of ''{{Series/Arrow}}'' Laurel Lance disarms a bad guy and throws him down the stairs - all while wearing a gorgeous full-length pink dress.
210** This is a given when [[AlternateHistoryNaziVictory Nazis]] [[Series/CrisisOnEarthX crash a wedding.]]
211* While usually preferring practical-if-geeky clothes on the set of ''Series/{{Mythbusters}}'', [[http://obamapacman.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Mythbusters-Kari-Byron-testing-James-Bond-movie-myths.jpg Kari demonstrates]] that she is quite capable of this to good effect.
212* In an episode of ''Series/{{Castle|2009}}'', Beckett is on a date in a fancy restaurant and wearing a stunning red dress when she gets interrupted to go make a bust. Outside the scene, she then hilariously pulls her gun from her purse (which is so small that it couldn't have held much else) and asks Castle to hold it for her while she goes inside to kick ass.
213* Basically in every single episode of ''Series/AgentCarter'' Peggy is kicking ass left and right in the finest '40s fashion, with the only notable aversion being the episode "The Iron Ceiling" when she dons combat gear for a mission to Russia. The first episode is the straightest example, where she takes out a couple of Mooks while wearing a splendid gold dress.
214* Downplayed in ''{{Series/Angel}}'' "Waiting In The Wings". The Fang Gang have all gone to the ballet in formal wear. When the Mooks attack, Fred is able to subdue a couple of them by whacking them with a bucket - in that glittery red dress of hers. Cordelia is able to hold some Mooks off as well in her own gown, though she laments she won't be able to return it afterwards.
215** Darla and Drusilla go a murder spree in "Reunion" but takes the time to go clothes shopping while doing it (and killing the shopping assistant). They arrive at Holland's wine-tasting party all dolled up in their new clothes in time for a massacre.
216* The final episode of ''Series/TheMentalist'' takes place at [[spoiler:Jane and Lisbon]]'s wedding, during the course of which the bride and her fellow [=FBI=] agents take down the final BigBad before the ceremony - but after she's changed into her wedding dress.
217* In the ''Series/AgentsOfSHIELD'' episode [[Recap/AgentsOfSHIELDS2E4FaceMyEnemy "Face My Enemy"]], [[ActionGirl May]] kicks ass wearing a [[{{Fanservice}} slinky party dress]] after the mission begins to go south. Later, [[DarkActionGirl Agent 33]], disguised as May using a [[LatexPerfection hi-tech mask]], fights May while wearing the same dress.
218* Happens a lot in ''Series/BlakesSeven'' given the tendency of women to wear an ImpracticallyFancyOutfit even when engaging in running battles with mooks in a BBCQuarry.
219* ''Series/HimitsuNoHanazono2007'' has the ShowWithAShow, the {{shojo}} manga ''Ninpo Arabesque''. The main character wears frilly dresses and practices ballet, and is also a kunoichi. The manga is well-loved amongst readers and made it's mangaka, Yuriko Hanazono, a hit in Japan.
220* In ''{{Series/NCIS}}'' season 8 episode 7 ("Broken Arrow") Special Agent Ziva David speedily defeats an attacker while wearing a [[SimpleYetOpulent full-length dress]], one which demonstrates that she's got legs.
221* On ''Series/NCISLosAngeles,'' Kensi ends up violently kicking out [[WeddingSmashers uninvited, criminal guests]] from her bridal suite in her ''wedding gown''.
222* ''[[Series/WonderWoman1975 Wonder Woman]]'': In the later episodes of the series, wardrobe made effective use of the fact that [[Creator/LyndaCarter their star]] was an actual [[BeautyContest beauty pageant winner]]. She was dressed in the latest fashions, and occasionally fought the [[{{Mooks}} thugs]] as [[SecretIdentity Diana Prince]], such as in "Skateboard Wiz".
223* ''Series/BrooklynNineNine'': Amy is in the middle of trying on wedding dresses when they get a report of a perp fleeing, and charges out of the shop still wearing one to take him down. Even Rosa is impressed.
224* ''Series/{{Nikita}}'': Happens a number of times throughout the show. Likely most notably when the titular character kicks ass in a silver evening gown during a hostage situation in episode 1x13.
225* ''Series/{{CSINY}}'':
226** In 'Risk,' Mac and Lindsay are called to a crime scene that Danny is already working. Mac shows up in a tux, having been at a benefit for the mayor. Lindsay arrives wearing a formal dress since she was at the opera. Danny makes a comment about being underdressed.
227** In another episode, Stella is in a revealing LittleBlackDress when the deputy mayor is found dead at the fundraiser she's attending with a date. She starts processing the scene immediately & doesn't change until Mac brings her something else to wear from the Lab.
228* ''Series/RelicHunter:'' Sydney and Nigel get into more than one fight while dressed up for formal parties. The villain of "Nothing But the Truth" also gets into a martial arts fight with Sydney while wearing yellow high-heels, a halter top, and a short skirt, and is winning until Nigel helps out in a CombatPragmatist fashion.
229* In ''Series/{{Absentia}}'' Emily wears a glamorous very low-cut dress for most of "Cover" with stiletto heels, beating up a man trying to rape her in that outfit, as well as riding a motorbike, although she does add a biker jacket and helmet in the latter case.
230* ''Series/OhsamaSentaiKingOhger'': Hymeno Ran/Kamakiri Ohger, stands out in the group with an impressive wardrobe, each outfit exuding extravagance and opulence. It's remarkable how often she engages in battles ''outside'' her transformation, donning high heels with the same frequency as her transformed moments, showcasing a distinctive style that's both diverse and captivating.
231[[/folder]]
232
233[[folder:Music]]
234* In Music/TriciaBrock's "Good to Be a Girl", the singer was "fighting off the bad guys in heels and a dress."
235[[/folder]]
236
237[[folder:Pro Wrestling]]
238* The "Cholitas" in Bolivia's pro wrestling circuit (New Xtreme Order, etc). They wrestle in traditional dress of the Aymara Indians, along with British bowler hats. Cross-promotional events through the World Wrestling League have confirmed Bolivian wrestlers are capable of holding their own with the fiercest competitors the Americas and Caribbean have to offer, Cholitas included.
239* Before she became Wrestling/MollyHolly in the Wrestling/WorldWrestlingFederation, she was Miss Madness in Wrestling/{{WCW}} and regularly accompanied Wrestling/RandySavage to the ring wearing an evening gown, heels, tiara and sash, but never let that from getting in the way of interfering in matches. She also did this as Lady Ophelia, her gimmick in ''Memphis Championship Wrestling'' though the dress at least had a slit to help her fighting.
240* Any woman who ever competed in an Evening Gown Match. These matches are technically subversions - as the goal is to strip the opposing woman out of her gown to win.
241** Wrestling/SherriMartel was always dressed to kill. She never wrestled an EGM, but often the goal of the babyfaces was to strip her clothes off.
242** WWE does have one or two instances of this trope being played straight - a battle royal where the Divas had to compete in evening gowns. Surprisingly enough some like Wrestling/GailKim and Wrestling/KellyKelly were able to pull off their normal moves just fine.
243* ''{{Wrestling/Wrestlicious}}'' has Charlotte, a literal SouthernBelle. Her costume consists of a parasol, frilly sleeves, pantaloons and one of the poofiest skirts in existence. Yes, she wrestles in it.
244[[/folder]]
245
246[[folder:Religion]]
247* Before battle, the Semitic war goddess Anath anoints herself with expensive perfumes and dresses in purple and golden clothing, the colors of royalty. She then proceeds to [[OneManArmy cut a bloody swathe through her enemies]], wading up to her thighs in gore, wearing the severed heads and hands of her fallen foes as ornaments, and [[BloodKnight enjoying herself immensely]]. She ground up the death god and sowed him like grain in revenge for his attack on her brother Ba'al (presumably putting his sartorial choices to shame in the process), and went right ahead and threatened to kill the king of the gods himself if he didn't treat Ba'al fairly.
248* ''Myth/NorseMythology'': Thor once had to disguise himself as the goddess Freyja to get his hammer back from the ice giants (their king demanded Freyja as his bride, Freyja making her refusal clear, Thor had to go to Loki for help), including a bridal veil. Thanks to Loki intercepting awkward questions like how the bride could eat an entire ox or down several barrels of mead or had a ''beard'', Thor went undetected up until the moment the hammer was brought out to bless the couple. Thor grabbed his hammer and immediately started beating down the giants, still wearing the wedding dress.
249[[/folder]]
250
251[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
252* While many female characters in ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'' can dress up and kick ass in an undeniably stylish manner, there are several martial arts that work extra well with finery. In fact, many of the higher-level styles do not work in armor, and one - Dreaming Pearl Courtesan Style - specifically uses fans, sashes, shawls, and the like as its style weapons.
253** Crane Style is based on beauty and grace, and one of its moves specifically indicates that a warrior wearing 'tall, flowing' garments (think robes or long-sleeved dresses) may add an extra point to their Defense, and such clothes will never be stained or torn while Crane Style is in effect.
254* In ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' 3.5, the "glamered" enchantment allows armor to appear as normal or fancy clothing, which can be used to achieve this effect without the downsides.
255* The armorer subclass for artificers describes itself as a Tony Stark style suit of power armor, nothing’s stopping you from flavoring your armor as, say, a nanotech infused ball gown.
256* In ''TabletopGame/D20Modern'' a platonic is a powerful entity of Shadow devoted [[AnthropomorphicPersonification to a particular cause or abstract concept]], and to any who would violate or endanger such a concept, they show absolutely no mercy. Sraosha is an example one who uses this Trope; the Platonic of Contract Enforcement, she hunts down and punishes anyone who breaks contracts and usually takes the form of a beautiful woman dressed for a fancy dinner party. Seeing as she keeps a magical sword and an assault rifle concealed in {{Hammerspace}}, her victim is almost always taken by complete surprise.
257* ''TabletopGame/ArkhamHorror'': Jenny Barnes is a rich {{Socialite}} who starts investigating the mysteries of the Franchise/CthulhuMythos to [[IWillFindYou find her lost sister]], and who goes GunsAkimbo in fine dresses and jewellery. The 2018 re-release even gives her an optional "Dressed to the Nines" ability that boosts the effects of her HeroicWillpower.
258* In ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'', this is the domain of Falayna, an [[CelestialParagonsAndArchangels Empyreal Lord]] who intersects martial discipline with feminine beauty. She's described as being very beautiful and wearing silk robes over silver armor, as well as a large collection of jeweled rings on her fingers.
259* ''TabletopGame/PrincessTheHopeful:'' Many of the titular Hopeful wear ImpossiblyCoolClothes in their Transformed state, but [[AWizardDidIt as a magical manifestation of her Inner Light, a Princess's Transformed apparel will never impede her motion or inconvenience her in battle]].
260[[/folder]]
261
262[[folder:Theater]]
263* In ''{{Theatre/Wicked}}'', Glinda tries to do this. She's wearing a CoolCrown and [[TrueBlueFemininity fancy blue dress]] (or a dress with [[FluffyFashionFeathers a white feather skirt]] in the Danish production), and she tries flipping her wand around like a kung fu staff. But it just comes across as WhatTheFuAreYouDoing.
264[[/folder]]
265
266[[folder:Video Games]]
267* ''VideoGame/AHatInTime'': With the Seal the deal DLC, completing the "Snatcher coins in Subcon forest" challenge unlocks queen Vanessa's dress as an outfit for Hat Kid.
268* Cecille of ''VideoGame/ArcRiseFantasia'' punched her way through enemies, while wearing a frilly blue dress. The sisters Paula and Luna use weapons, but still fancy clothes. Luna uses a [[ParasolOfPrettiness very pretty]] ParasolOfPain.
269* Rachel Alucard in ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'' wears a frilled up ElegantGothicLolita dress, in a FightingGame.
270* ''VideoGame/DangerGirl'': One level starts with Abbey infiltrating a gala while clad in a fine, skimpy silk gown, before uncovering the Hammer Empire's underground base and subsequently taking down scores and scores of enemies (at one point even picking up a rocket launcher!) while wearing that gown.
271* ''VideoGame/DeadOrAlive'': Due to the sheer number of unlockable costumes that are available either in-game and as DLC, several of the characters exemplify the trope. Such as:
272** Lei-fang, whose default attire is her signature [[http://safebooru.org/index.php?page=post&s=view&id=885251 red]] UsefulNotes/{{Qipao}}, which is embroidered with a gold phoenix.
273** Pai Chan is her ''VideoGame/VirtuaFighter'' [[AlternateCompanyEquivalent counterpart]], whose ''VF 5'' attire is [[http://deadoralive.wikia.com/wiki/File:02_doa5dlc07.jpg an elegant red Chinese robe]] with detached sleeves, black shorts with gold inlays, and comes complete with [[http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130124163826/deadoralive/images/b/b3/Pai_-_DLC_02.jpg a gold pair of sandals.]]
274** As heiress of the DOATEC Corporation, Helena Douglas is fabulously wealthy which shows in several of her costumes - ranging from business suits, [[http://deadoralive.wikia.com/wiki/File:DOA5_Helena_China.jpg to evening gowns.]]
275** [[{{Geisha}} Koko]][[YamatoNadeshiko ro]] as well with her default elegant kimono that she fights in.
276* Lady Waltaquin Redditch of ''VideoGame/TheDioFieldChronicle'' has snow-white robes with plenty of gold accents and buckles to accentuate her elegance and prestige as the daughter of one of the most powerful noble houses on in the kingdom. This is, however, combat-ready armor, and she's just as capable of dealing tremendous amounts of damage and death to the enemies you encounter.
277* ''Franchise/{{Disgaea}}'':
278** Princess Rozalin of ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 2|CursedMemories}}'' 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.]]
279** Sapphire of ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 3|AbsenceOfJustice}}'' has an outfit that's basically pants and a jacket (to help make it easy to fight), but still elegant and fancy enough to count.
280* Entirely viable in much of ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'' series. Find or buy a PimpedOutDress, pump it full of enchantments, and go to town. In games that let you enchant an item with an increase to the wearer's armor rating, the dress can even be made to function almost exactly like armor.
281* The Prince class in ''VideoGame/EtrianOdysseyIIITheDrownedCity'' 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.
282* Peach from the ''[[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario]]'' franchise. On those occasions when she does kick ass, like the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' instance below, she is usually doing so in her iconic pink dress.
283* The heroine of ''VideoGame/PrincessCrown'' wears an armored, but fancy, gown.
284* [[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. And despite wearing high heels, she has no problem running at a full sprint for endless amounts of time
285* The ladies of the ''VideoGame/SoulSeries'' 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]].
286* Rose from ''Franchise/StreetFighter''. Her standard outfit is an evening dress with [[CombatStilettos pumps]] and a ScarfOfAsskicking. It doesn't deter her in the slightest. (and in some ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIV'' ports, you can [[DownloadableContent download]] ''even prettier dresses'' for her.) To Rose's credit, her dress is slit up to the waist, allowing her legs free motion. As for the heels, her psychic powers allow her to fly, so it's not a stretch if she uses them to assist her balance.
287* In the ''Franchise/{{Tekken}}'' series, Anna Williams fights wearing, in most of her appearances, a striking red Chinese-inspired dress. This is in contrast to her sister Nina, who wears more utilitarian clothing (although her default costume in ''Tekken 7'' is a lightly distressed wedding dress). There's also Lilli from, who kicks ass wearing a fine white dress.
288* In the ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'' games, [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Peach, Daisy]], [[VideoGame/SuperMarioGalaxy Rosalina]] and [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda Princess Zelda]] qualify for this trope, if rarely in their series proper. They battle in their standard series royal dresses.
289* Lady Jane of the ''VideoGame/TimeSplitters'' games runs around shooting at bad guys, [[http://timesplitters-world.de/ru/downloads,artworks,timesplitters_2,46.html while wearing an evening dress and fur-trimmed coat]].
290* There are levels in some ''Franchise/TombRaider'' games where Lara wears formalwear. One particularly good example when she's at a [[BallroomBlitz party]] in ''[[VideoGame/TombRaiderLegend Legend]]'' (which also averts CombatStilettos; She removes them and goes barefoot).
291* With ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'', the Consular's (especially the Sage sub-class) outfits look like they came from Queen Amidala's garage sale, and you're crossing every kind of landscape and warzone laying waste to Sith in what amounts to a ballgown.
292* In ''VideoGame/FearEffect2RetroHelix'', Hana has to infiltrate a high-class party in order to find some information for her current mission. She eventually ends up in a gunfight while wearing her evening gown. Before she goes into the party though, her partner Rain questions her [[VaporWear choice in attire]], sarcastically asking why she doesn't just walk in naked. Hana responds by saying that she'd only have room to hide one gun if she did that. Let that sink in for a moment...
293* A staple of the ''VideoGame/TalesSeries'', and not just for the ladies. Games with alternate costumes will often include fancy high-class outfits that the character(s) will not only walk around in but continue to wear while kicking ass in battle. Examples include ''[[VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia Symphonia]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/TalesOfLegendia Legendia]]'', both of which provide this option for almost every playable character (the latter only has the outfits in battle though; they wear their normal outfits on the field for some reason).
294** Special mention goes to [[VideoGame/TalesOfDestiny Philia]]; the GoodShepherd [[TheSmartGirl Smart Girl]] who wears a giant poofy dress and who [[HyperspaceArsenal can throw out hundreds of]] [[StuffBlowingUp home-made bombs]] and wields a {{BFS}} that can summon [[BoltOfDivineRetribution bolts of divine retribution]] the moment it hits a foe... and that's not even ''beginning'' to get into [[BlackMagicianGirl her arsenal of magic]].
295* When in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'' you get [[spoiler:Edea]] into your party, she'll be in her PimpedOutDress you know and love. [[DownplayedTrope This is downplayed]] in that her standard attack weapon is some kind of weak telekinetic punch and her main weapon is magic.
296* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2'', changing clothes gains new powers for the main characters. Two of these outfits fall under this trope. First is [[http://www.freewebs.com/ffx2_yuna3/Ladyluck.jpg Lady Luck]] which veers more towards {{Stripperiffic}} but still qualifies - though the weapons of choice are cards and dice. Second is [[http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20090923051328/finalfantasy/images/4/4f/Ffx2ifm-feastivalgoer.jpg Festival Goer]] where the girls do battle in kimonos.
297* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXI'' has the Wedding Dress Set for sale.
298* In ''VideoGame/LightningReturnsFinalFantasyXIII'', several of the garbs count as this. Particular mention goes to the Planetary/Color Titled garbs (Japanese and English version respectively) where Lightning battles in ankle-length ballroom gowns with wide, flaring skirts and elegant gloves. [[http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20131027125622/finalfantasy/images/e/e4/LRFFXIII_Purple_Moon.png Crescent Moon/Midnight Mauve]] is ''mandatory'' to wear during one scene in the game and some garbs, like [[http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20131227111052/finalfantasy/images/f/ff/LRFFXIII_Rising_Venus.png Rising Venus/Champagne Gold]] couple the dress with [[PrettyInMink fur-collars]].
299* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' has a wedding dress available as well, and, unlike XI's, which features a miniskirt, has a long, trailing skirt.
300* Karma's /joke emote in ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends''. "This dress may have been impractical."
301* In some of the ''VideoGame/RuneFactory'' games, though not restricted to just women. The player eventually gains access to the dresser, where they can choose to have their protagonist (an available female option being in [=RF2=] and [=RF4=]) decide to fight monsters while wearing their (or their parents') wedding attire.
302* ''Franchise/FireEmblem'':
303** In ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening Awakening]]'', the DLC Bride class is usable by all of the females in the game and lets them head to the battlefield in an all-white elegant FairytaleWeddingDress. They can either support with a staff or demonstrate the trope to the fullest by fighting with a lance or a bow.
304** ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemFates Fates]]'' has the also DLC Witch Class, also usable by all the female characters in the game. It not only gives them access to [[LadyOfBlackMagic Dark magic]], {{Teleportation}} and other skills, but it gives the reclassed lady a hat plus a ''lovely'' black dress with nice cleavage, [[OfCorsetsSexy a corset]] and a deep slit that shows off one of the wearer's legs.
305** ''[[VideoGame/FireEmblemEchoesShadowsOfValentia Echoes]]'', the remake of ''VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden'', has ''several'' [[LadyOfBlackMagic magic-based female classes]] following this: [[http://fireemblem.wikia.com/wiki/Saint Saints]], [[http://fireemblem.wikia.com/wiki/Priestess_(Gaiden) Priestesses]], the original [[http://fireemblem.wikia.com/wiki/Witch Witches]], the DLC [[http://fireemblem.wikia.com/wiki/Exemplar Exemplar]] and [[http://fireemblem.wikia.com/wiki/Enchantress Enchantress]] classes, etc.
306* In the FightingGame ''VideoGame/Persona4Arena'', Mitsuru wears a long, white fur coat, so overlapping with PrettyInMink and BadassLongcoat.
307* In ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'', you can give [[CuteBruiser Veronica]] a pretty dress. She [[{{Squee}} is overjoyed]] and teaches you a special unarmed move in return. In the ''Dead Money'' DLC, you can obtain a slinky leg-showing cocktail dress(similar to a UsefulNotes/{{qipao}}) from Vera's suite.
308* Aya Brea of ''VideoGame/ParasiteEve'' starts the game in a little black dress, platforms, and ... well, first playthrough, a police-issue sidearm. Second? She could be packing a rifle. Justified since she's on a date and intending to have a nice night at the opera, not kick ass. Afterwards, she changes into a more appropriate outfit.
309* Ana and Paula in the ''VideoGame/{{Mother}}'' franchise, coupled with their pretty pink dresses.
310* Solely for her appearance in ''VideoGame/PlayStationAllStarsBattleRoyale'', VideoGame/FatPrincess.
311* Inevitable in ''Franchise/TouhouProject'', due to the ImprobablyFemaleCast. Nearly all characters wear Lolita style frilly dresses. And they can all kick ass.
312* ''Franchise/MassEffect'':
313** ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'': In Samara's loyalty mission one of the options for attracting her SerialKiller daughter's attention is to stop an incipient sexual assault by a drunken turian. [[http://youtu.be/qRST6c41N3Q Naturally this involves Shepard beating the living daylights out of him.]] What makes it this trope is if you're playing a female Shepard, and wearing the outfit you got in Kasumi's loyalty mission. Yes, you did just thrash somebody in a BarBrawl while wearing a LittleBlackDress and three-plus-inch heels.
314** ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'' has a similar LittleBlackDress (with red piping and a gray panel down the middle) available as an off-duty outfit for [=FemShep=]. In the opening of the "Citadel" DLC's main plot, mercenaries come after you while you're at dinner, and you end up in a [[EscapeSequence running firefight]] with them in whatever off-duty outfit you happen to be wearing at the time. 2 + 2 = This Trope.
315* In the ''[[VisualNovel/UminekoWhenTheyCry Umineko]]'' fighting game, the witches. Especially Beatrice, who's handing out FullContactMagic in a fancy, full-length ballgown.
316* In ''VideoGame/PerfectDark'', Joanna wears a qipao during the Carrington Institute Defense mission.
317* Aveline in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedIIILiberation'' wears a very fancy green dress and hat when in her "lady" mode. She isn't as skilled a fighter as in her "slave" and "assassin" modes, but she is still formidable and can hide a fair number of weapons in her frills (including the series's favorite sleeve daggers).
318* The Franchise/{{Pokemon}} Gardevoir has a sleek and feminine form, with what resembles a long dress. Its [[SuperMode Mega Evolution]] turns that 'dress' into a full-blown poofy ballgown; despite this, it ''gains'' speed as well as attack power.
319** Champions [[VideoGame/PokemonBlack2andWhite2 Iris]] and [[VideoGame/PokemonXandY Diantha]] both fight while wearing very expensive dresses. Iris was given hers by Drayden upon becoming Champion because he thought it would suit her new position better than the outfit she wore in the previous games.
320** Diancie normally looks like a cute girl with a rock for a lower body. Upon mega evolving, it now looks like a proper pink princess with huge gaudy dress made of crystals.
321* ''VideoGame/{{Skullgirls}}'':
322** Squigly fights in the clothes [[TheUndead she was buried in]], including an ankle-length hobble dress and a corset. Given the dress, she generally leaves "kicks" to Leviathan, her [[TheSymbiote parasite]], who uses his tail and fire breath, but can somehow manage a bicycle kick.
323** Black Dahlia is an elder lady wearing a beautiful black dress along with a doilie-shaped half-cape and a hat. She is also a cold-blooded assassin working for the powerful Medici mafia and has a ''shotgun'' in place of her arm.
324* In ''VideoGame/TearsToTiara2'', of the two from Qart Hadast, Elissa wears a BattleBallgown while Daphnis wears a [[{{Meido}} maid uniform]] into battle. Doesn't slow them down in the slightest.
325* ''VideoGame/FantasyLife'' lets the player recruit other characters as combat companions, including a couple of women whose lifestyle can be summed up as "Standing around in a PimpedOutDress by day, ActionGirl by night.". Ask them to join you during the daytime part of the InUniverseGameClock, and you get this trope.
326* Elphelt Valentine from ''VideoGame/GuiltyGear X-rd Sign'' is a sweet and kinda ditzy GirlyBruiser [[http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/guilty-gear/images/2/29/Elphelt_GGXRD_artwork.png who fights in this outfit.]]
327* Vivienne from ''VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition'' often wears courtly clothing into battle, as befits her court enchanter title for the Orlesian Empire. She is also a [[MagicKnight Knight-Enchanter]], who wields a giant LaserBlade and can regularly take on high dragons and win.
328* Some games like ''VideoGame/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.
329* In ''VideoGame/XenobladeChroniclesX'', you can equip your characters in special costume sets called, "fashion armor". For your female party members, that includes evening wear and accessories. You can see samples of it in WebVideo/GameXplain[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ab-uRDnwILo 's 3-hour livestream]], where Hope and Alexa are both fancied up in evening gowns and jewelry - while outfitted with melee weapons and heavy artillery.
330* The girls of ''VideoGame/SandsOfDestruction'' would likely be impeded by their clothing if not for RuleOfCool. Rhi'a wears an ElegantGothicLolita MinidressOfPower, [[CombatStilettos high heels with dainty little straps that would never withstand running around]], and [[StockingFiller thigh-high socks]] with garters that double as gun holsters. Morte wears [[CombatStilettos equally-high heels]] and a short skirt, and her BadassLongcoat is long enough that it drags on the ground behind her, but she never trips on it, and her hair never gets tangled or impedes her sight despite not being tied back. Perhaps most impressive is that the two of them [[MagicSkirt never flash their male cohorts]], despite the fact that Morte is a practitioner of {{BFS}} WaifFu and [[OurDragonsAreDifferent Rhi'a]] ''flies''. You can also buy a Party Dress and even a Wedding Dress for your female team members; they do basically nothing against physical damage but are apparently enchanted to repel magical damage (and are among the few items which do). Both girls also get [[AndYourRewardIsClothes gifts of clothing]] as part of their personal armor quests, and the clothes they receive match their personal styles.
331* ''VideoGame/{{Bayonetta}}''
332** In the Wii U ''{{VideoGame/Bayonetta}}'' games there are over-the-top outfits based on [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Princess Peach and Princess Daisy]]. In ''VideoGame/Bayonetta2'' there's also the 'Dress' outfit, two costumes based on fancy dresses Bayonetta wears during the Prologue and Ending of the game ([[SecretCharacter Jeanne]] also has her own version for the fancy leather dress she wore in the ending) Notably, Bayonetta would rather ''avert'' this trope, never leaving her mink on longer than she has to.
333--->'''Bayo:''' ''(Prologue)'' You know, I try to avoid doing this in my Sunday best.
334--->'''Bayo:''' ''(Epilogue)'' That's the second dress in a month!
335** ''VideoGame/Bayonetta3'' introduces a new demon summon, Baal Zebul, who is a huge CuteMonsterGirl in an opulent PimpedOutDress complete with ParasolOfPrettiness who fights using [[SuperScream her powerful soprano]] alone.
336* Annie from ''VideoGame/WildGuns'' seems to have no problem shooting up bad guys while wearing a frilly, fancy, ankle-length dress with a bustle.
337* ''VideoGame/Fallout4:'' If you have a high Armorer skill and some spare Ballistic Fiber, then the [[http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/fallout/images/d/d9/Fo4Sequin_Dress.png/revision/latest?cb=20151120045532 Sequin Dress]] can be made as protective as any regular armour, while still being a glittery dress with a Charisma bonus.
338* Phoebe from ''VideoGame/{{Battleborn}}'' battles whilst wearing a lavish and refined [[BattleBallgown high-tech dress ensemble]]. Furthermore, her formal wear can be augmented to substantially increase her survivability.
339* Miis from the Princess class in ''VideoGame/{{Miitopia}}'' wear elegant gowns and tiaras and use fancy fans during the battles.
340* The ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'' series allows you to invoke this by simultaneously wielding a gigantic sword and wearing one of many ornate dresses, depending on the game. ''VideoGame/{{Bloodborne}}', ''VideoGame/DemonsSouls'' and ''VideoGame/EldenRing'' also allow this, making this a recurring theme in modern Creator/FromSoftware titles.
341* ''VideoGame/TokyoMirageSessionsFE'': Due to [[ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve the nature of their powers]], Mirage Masters typically wear elaborate costumes that wouldn't be out of place in their chosen performance art - in one case a character's Mirage Master outfit was directly used as the model for their first outfit because footage from their first boss fight was co-opted into their debut music video. The practicality of this is HandWaved in an optional conversation, where one Mirage mentions that the Master's defences are magically provided by their partner, so really they can wear what they like (which justifies the option of putting characters in tracksuits and sneakers instead).
342* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'':
343** In ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'', Zelda ([[spoiler:or rather, her body being puppeted by Ganondorf]]) serves as the first phase of the final boss battle, still wearing her long gown and jewelry from the player's previous meetings with her. Justified; the outfit is implied to be ceremonial wear for her coronation as Hyrule's queen, which was interrupted by Zant's invasion. In addition, most of her attacks rely on magic, negating any disadvantage the impractical clothing would impose in a physical fight.
344** Downplayed in ''VideoGame/HyruleWarriors''. Zelda wears what's implied to be her everyday royal garb, complete with jewelry and crown, into battle, and her outfit leaves some areas exposed for the sake of {{Fanservice}}. Overall, however, the dress is a BattleBallgown with a split skirt that ends at her knees and functional pieces of armor as accessories. Averted by her alter ego Sheik, who wears a lightly armored bodysuit and keeps their hair braided back.
345** Zig-zagged in ''[[VideoGame/HyruleWarriorsAgeOfCalamity Age of Calamity]]''; in her earliest playable levels, Zelda wears her travelling outfit, consisting of a practical shirt, trousers, and boots. Later levels, however, have her fighting in her prayer dress, which was designed for meditating in springs, not running across a battlefield. The game's files also contain data for the long, formal gown she wears inside of Hyrule Castle, though that outfit is only accessible via hacking. Neither of the latter two outfits impact her ability to fight in any way.
346** Subverted in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSpiritTracks Spirit Tracks]]''; Zelda is controllable and will assist Link in battle, but she does so by possessing hulking suits of armor, not by fighting in the long dress she wears the rest of the time. Even [[spoiler:during the fight against [[DemonicPossession her possessed physical body]], Malladus just stands there and shoots beams of magic while Link and Zelda slowly make their way toward him. After Zelda gets her body back, she stands back and snipes Malladus with arrows while Link does the up-close fighting]].
347* ''VideoGame/AzurLane'''s skins system allows the shipgirls to go to war in, among others, ballgowns, kimono and wedding dresses.
348* ''VideoGame/{{Sdorica}}'' has several women who fight in opulent dresses, such as Sione SP who wears a ballroom dress, Fredrica SP who wears a wedding dress, and Yamitsuki SP with her gorgeous kimono.
349* In ''VideoGame/Reverse1999'', Druvis III wears an elaborate evening gown that hugs her figure and her legs, even if she's hanging out on the upper eaves of a burnt-out Rowan tree or fighting enemies in combat. None of this impedes her ability to fight in any way, though this may be because she lagely uses her GreenThumb incanations to grow roots, trees, and other plants to attack her enemies wherever she may be standing.
350[[/folder]]
351
352[[folder:Visual Novels]]
353* Saber of the ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' series likes wearing fine dresses, even if they are armored.
354* Stella and Meryl [[spoiler:as well as Rapunzel]] in ''VisualNovel/RoseGunsDays'' don't need to wear ergonomic clothing to kick ass when needed.
355* While Arcueid from ''VisualNovel/{{Tsukihime}}'' simply wears a sweater and a long skirt in present day, she used to wear a more elaborate dress in the past. She's also an exceptionally powerful ArtificialHuman LivingWeapon made by [[OurVampiresAreDifferent the True Ancestors]]. This is especially noticeable in ''VideoGame/MeltyBlood Current Code'', where [[spoiler:her SuperpoweredEvilSide Archetype: Earth takes the form of past Arcueid complete with the classy dress, and is easily one of the most powerful being ''on the planet''.]]
356[[/folder]]
357
358[[folder:Web Animation]]
359* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': Weiss's combat clothing tends to be styled on evening wear themes. In Volumes 1-3, her clothing includes intricate lace, droplets and a bolero jacket. While trapped in Schnee Manor during Volume 4, she dresses very smartly as befits a wealthy heiress and is wearing these clothes when she flees; for the next two volumes she therefore travels and fights in extremely elegant clothing compared to her peers. In Volume 7, her outfit evolves into what is effectively a "battle ballgown", complete with puff shoulders, opera-style gloves, droplets on her skirt, and frilled knee-high boots.
360[[/folder]]
361
362[[folder:Webcomics]]
363* ''Webcomic/KnightsOfBuenaVista'' when Mary points out that her player character's coronation dress[[note]]This is a CampaignComic for the Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon, and when playing ''WesternAnimation/Frozen2013'', Mary is playing Anna.[[/note]] [[JustifiedTrope has lots of pleats in the skirt]] so as not to impede a RoundhouseKick.
364* ''Webcomic/VampireCheerleaders'': Seen in vol.4, when Stephanie uses her newfound power as [[spoiler:[[TheHighQueen the Moth Queen]]]] [[http://www.vampirecheerleaders.net/strips-vc/mothy_transformation to magically treansform]] into [[http://www.vampirecheerleaders.net/strips-vc/costume_change her battle regalia.]] Then leads the [[spoiler:mothmen]] against the Reptilians, [[http://www.vampirecheerleaders.net/strips-vc/age_is_a_number to avenge their fallen.]]
365* ''Webcomic/FarOutThere'': Astrid showed up in a flowing, low cut silver party dress and never changed out of it, so she ends up [[http://faroutthere.smackjeeves.com/comics/2082520/page-703-unforseen-twist/ doing]] [[http://faroutthere.smackjeeves.com/comics/2084634/page-704-yes-yes-moving-on/ plenty]] [[http://faroutthere.smackjeeves.com/comics/2086381/page-705-dont-interupt-its-rude/ of]] [[http://faroutthere.smackjeeves.com/comics/2087939/page-706-the-perfect-alibi/ this]].
366* ''Webcomic/{{Darken}}'':
367** [[TheBaroness the Duchess]] Jill d'Avron fights in opulent gowns with a CombatHandFan when her usual BlackWidow approach doesn't work. Justified in that it's StylishProtectionGear with hidden armour; her [[http://darkencomic.com/?webcomic_post=20051128 visit]] to Miss Fifi's Boutique and Armoury suggests a market of like-minded society ladies.
368** Ari, too, always has good taste in fashion, even in combat.
369* ''Webcomic/YourThrone'': Lady Medea (in [[FreakyFridayFlip Psyche's body]]) fights five knights while wearing a gorgeous ball gown after being ambushed in the garden at prince Eros' birthday banquet.
370[[/folder]]
371
372[[folder:Web Original]]
373* In ''Literature/{{Worm}}'', the supervillain Accord and his Ambassadors dress in formal wear and masks rather than [[StandardSuperheroSuits the traditional sort of superhero garb]]. The men fall under BadassInANiceSuit; the women under this.
374[[/folder]]
375
376[[folder:Western Animation]]
377* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'':
378** The [[LadyOfWar Kyoshi]] [[AmazonBrigade Warriors]] wear [[BattleBallgown long green dresses]], gold headdresses, and feminine face-paint as part of their [[http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110128042227/avatar/images/archive/4/4f/20110128050110!Kyoshi_Warriors.png typical uniform]].
379** As their inspiration, Avatar Kyoshi herself fits.
380** [[http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BKiw_VYtxes/T3W2OCiBfKI/AAAAAAAAAaM/1oaiv8CqeZM/s1600/Mai1.jpg Mai]] interstitially appears a long, elegant dress while throwing knives at people, but the trope is subverted in [[https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ECKz1JwU8AAQMq7?format=jpg&name=large some scenes]] that seem to show the "skirt" of the dress is actually wide-legged pants.
381** Inverted by [[Characters/AvatarTheLastAirbenderPrincessAzula Princess Azula]]; while she always fights in what doubles as her formal attire (not counting while impersonating the above Kiyoshi Warriors), her "formal attire" is less PimpedOutDress and more standard Fire Nation army attire with a bit more style.
382* [[Characters/StarVsTheForcesOfEvilStarButterfly Star Butterfly]] of ''WesternAnimation/StarVsTheForcesOfEvil'' is [[EstablishingCharacterMoment introduced]] in the first episode "Star Comes To Earth" beating up monsters and taming unicorns while wearing a frilly, turquoise PrincessClassic dress.
383** [[Characters/StarVsTheForcesOfEvilTheMagicHighCommission Hekapoo]] has [[LimitedWardrobe one outfit]], [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hekapoo.png a strapless, yellow number]] that may or [[HartmanHips may not]] be a hoopskirt.
384* In the second DTV movie for ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible '', the title heroine has not one but two battles with her arch-nemesis, Shego, in two different elegant dresses. The first is because she was undercover, the second because the fight interrupted her prom night.
385** In one episode when infiltrating a dog show with Ron, she wears a nice black dress that can convert into a stealth suit. She ends up converting back into the dress to use as a parachute for an escape.
386* ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfVoxMachina'' has the titular heroes attend a banquet in full formal attire, which soon evolves into a knock-down brawl with Percy's old enemies, the Briarwoods. Vex, Pike and Keyleth manage the fight in ankle-length gowns, while Percy, Vax and Scanlan wear coat-and-waistcoat ensembles. ([[WalkingShirtlessScene Grog]]...has a sash.) Most of them even escape with minimal ClothingDamage, though Vax's suit is shredded by broken glass and vampire claws, while Scanlan's ends up [[ItMakesSenseInContext covered in cream]].
387* ''WesternAnimation/SofiaTheFirst'': While normally rough-and-tumble, in the climax of "Undercover Fairies", Chrysta chases down the main antagonist while wearing a fancy dress and HighClassGloves from her makeover earlier in the episode.
388* [[Characters/StevenUniverseRoseQuartz Rose Quartz]] from ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' wore a floor-length pink and white dress and her hair is in RegalRinglets. With a matching OneHandedZweihander and shield. It does little to hide her build, though -- quartzes are warriors by design; put on a Disney princess dress and it just makes you [[StatuesqueStunner eight feet]] of [[StoutStrength pleasantly plump Amazonian tank]] ''in pink.''
389[[/folder]]

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