A fitting pretty gown for a Queen of France.
Pimped Out Dresses in Real Life.
Examples
- Indie clothing designer Skin.Graft has copious amounts of fancy (and Goth) as one of its hooks. Just check out their wedding gowns
. - In Britain, even the peers and peeresses are required to wear ermine-trimmed robes and dresses for the coronation. One of the more notable of these is worn◊ by Consuelo Vanderbilt◊. Notable due to her being part of that famous Gilded Age family.
- Also, courts such as Versailles, and the British court until recently, required such dresses just to hang around the palaces.
- Speaking of the Gilded Age, this trope probably accounted for a third of the reason it's called that.
- Marie-Antoinette usually followed this trope, since her position required she wear the best dresses, but she once caused an uproar for wearing a dress in a painting that was actually simple◊. It's essentially like seeing Queen Elizabeth II wearing only her underwear for a royal photo.
- This comparison is made more serious when you know that muslin really was used for underwear. Another problem is that muslin was, while not cheap, a less expensive and luxurious fabric than the heavy silks and brocades she usually wore, and French Royals of this period were definitely known for conspicuous consumption. Additionally, unlike silks, which were woven in France, muslin fabric was imported from India, and Marie Antoinette was therefore seen as not supporting French industry.
- The previous queen, Marie Leszczynska (Louis XV's wife) also had several dresses that can be seen in her portraits. One of her simpler ones was a blue dress with lace trimmings and a laced stomacher and an ermine petticoat. Her most common dress decorations were fur, lace, embroidery, and brocade.
- Queen Elizabeth I. reputedly owned over 2,000 dresses, lavishly embroidered with gold, jewels, and silken embroidery, besides the double sleeves, three kinds of ruffs, farthingales and petticoats, veils, ermine trimmings, and crowns and tiaras. 'Tis goode to be Ye Queene.
- One of her most famous dresses, depicted in the Rainbow Portrait◊, is crammed not only with gorgeous details but gorgeous symbolism. Highlights include both Ancient Greek and Biblical references, as well as a motif of eyes and ears conveying how no part of the kingdom was hidden from her.
- Her older sister, Mary, wore some very fancy dresses as well, particularly a black velvet dress◊ with puff sleeves, frilled collar and cuffs, Gem-Encrusted belt, decorated underdress, and the overdress is trimmed with white ermine.
- One of her most famous dresses, depicted in the Rainbow Portrait
- Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton shows off a number of outfits of the day (OOTD's) during race weekends. This is fitting that Hamilton is known for his love of style and his daring fashion choices.
- The Pope's vestments throughout history are often this, as are some Cardinal robes.
- Dresses in competitive ballroom dance are almost always this, especially Sparkles and Fluffy Fashion Feathers.
- For a few centuries, it used to be the fashion for boys up to around five to wear dresses like their sisters, and some could still be quite elaborate. Take this portrait◊ of a prince of France in the mid 18th century, wearing a blue dress trimmed with black sable fur, and matching hat with blue feathers. It's like a miniature version of a dress worn by his mother◊ and also his aunt◊.
- Diane Kruger has worn a number of dresses by Karl Lagerfeld.
- Tsarist Russia actually had a Dress Code to help make their dresses distinct from the rest of Europe's aristocracy. This included the distinctive hanging sleeves, an overskirt with a long train, and the Russian-style tiara.
- Eve Torres, at awards ceremonies, and once won a match in an evening dress.
- Marion Davies wore several dresses for her movies and for publicity. Some include:
- A dress with a sequined belt and top that is trimmed with sable.
- A heavily flounced dress that is loaded with lace, ruffles, bows, and the sleeves and skirt are several layers of gauze.
- A dress of mostly lace that has layers of it.
- A grand dress with a bodice trimmed with beading and pearls, and the hat, skirt, and Giant Poofy Sleeves are all of white feathers.
- A sequined dress with a hat and trimming of white feathers.
- A dress with a sequined belt and top
- 20th century fashions like:
- The balloon-sleeved, S-bent dresses of La Belle Epoque;
- The loose, low waisted, bare-kneed apparel of the flappers;
- The sirenlike, bias-cut sexy backless outfits during The '30s;
- The puff-shouldered, economically designed dresses of World War II era;
- The Dior-and-Baleciaga-inspired long, wide or pencil hemlined costumes of The '50s;
- The hippie-styled and rule-free robes of The '70s; and
- The glamorous, broad-shouldered, business-minded suits of The '80s.
- Most "red-carpet" events, but especially the Academy Awards. Halle Berry's 2002 dress (featuring a velve skirt and elaborately embroidered flower pattern on the bodice) is a prime example. Several times a year, "Best Dressed" (and often, Worst Dressed) lists appear, with galleries of pimped-out dresses.
- It almost goes without saying most examples of pimped-out dresses fall squarely into the Awesome, but Impractical category, as the wearer is/was practically sewn into one and/or both putting and removing it require(d) up to hours and the assistance of several people, especially those with elements as skirt hoops or crinolines. Not to mention them being uncomfortable after several hours (hot, restricting movements, etc).
