History Main / ActionDressRip

** ''ComicBook/UncannyXMen #98'': Comicbook/JeanGrey is in an elaborate ankle-length evening dress, not designed for running from Sentinels as they are doing. When Jean tries and fails to tear the dress, [[Franchise/{{Wolverine}} Logan]] [[http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fAQESS8RUPc/Um-pm93O_jI/AAAAAAAAStc/q2xbXbd9GHI/s1600/Image00011.jpg volunteers]] and rips a substantial chunk off, leaving Jean to do battle [[{{Fanservice}} in a ragged]] [[http://web.archive.org/web/20040116020015/http://www.collectortimes.com:80/2001_06/dress.gif micro-mini skirt.]]

* In British comedy-drama series ''Waffle the Wonder Dog'', ([[NonIndicativeName which is actually about more than just the titular dog - it's about a blended family]]), Jess, a mom and owner of the titular dog does this in the pilot episode of the show, ripping off her wedding dress to reveal her vet's scrubs uniform underneath. This being a {{Dramedy}} aimed at kids, the situation was PlayedForLaughs.

* Izzy, in her debut episode on ''Series/PowerRangersDinoFury'', straight-up ''rips'' the skirt off her ranger suit, both establishing her as an absolute badass (not that the episode didn't already do that anyway, introducing her practicing javelin throwing) and addressing the fact that [[ShesAManInJapan her costume in the Sentai footage has no skirt]] due to her counterpart, [[Series/KishiryuSentaiRyusoulger Towa]], being male.

* ''Series/PowerRangersDinoFury'': Upon becoming the Green Dino Fury Ranger, Izzy rips the skirt off her outfit while noting that "skirts aren't really her thing".

* Izzy, in her debut episode on ''Series/PowerRangersDinoFury'' straight-up ''rips'' the skirt off her ranger suit, both establishing her as an absolute badass (not that the episode didn't already do that anyway, introducing her practicing javelin throwing) and addressing the fact that [[ShesAManInJapan her costume in the Sentai footage has no skirt]] due to her counterpart, [[Series/KishiryuSentaiRyusoulger Towa]], being male.

* In ''Manga/HighschoolOfTheDead'', [[ActionGirl Saeko]] does this to the [[{{CloudcuckooLander}} school]] [[GagBoobs doctor]].

* Sometimes happens on ''Series/RupaulsDragRace'' during the "Lipsynch For Your Life" segment. If the queen(s) lipsynching have on an overly-tight or bulky dress, they'll sometimes remove the skirt to give themselves more freedom of movement during the performance. This ''may'' involve ripping the dress if it's not made to come apart; after all, there's $100,000 at stake.

ActionGirl Alice [[SheCleansUpNicely enjoys getting dressed up for the night]], but alas, the one time she puts on the polish, she will find herself in [[BusmansHoliday combat]]. Needless to say, Alice can't fight [[BallroomBlitz while wearing a tight-fitting top and a voluminous skirt that hinders the motion of her legs]], but there's no time to change and modesty restrains her from just taking the whole thing off. So she grabs a knife off the nearest carving station and tears her beautiful clothes (usually by raising the hem or cutting a slit in the side) so that she can move freely. (Don't ask why she doesn't ditch [[CombatStilettos the high heels]] too).

* Azaka does this in the sixth ''LightNovel/KaraNoKyoukai'' movie, since her school uniform is essentially a nun's habit and pretty restrictive.

* Exploited in the notorious ''Manga/RanmaOneHalf'' FanFic ''Fanfic/GirlDays'', the characters find a store which specializes in Fighting Skirts: skirts which, thanks to conveniently placed fabric fasteners and snaps, can open on the sides and give the wearer more freedom of movement without having to rip the clothing. The discovery leads to the following exchange:

* In one story of the ''WesternAnimation/DannyPhantom'' series ''FanFic/FacingTheFutureSeries'', [[OppositeSexClone Danielle]] was brainwashed into a maiden. When she came out of it, she was so angry about the dress she was wearing that it was shredded to ribbons when she transformed.

* The ComicBook/BalckWidow does this in Issue #2 of the Kelly Thompson run before engaging some crooks that have accosted a woman in an alley.

* in ''Anime/SenkiZesshouSymphogear'', Hibiki quickly learns that her CombatStilettos are holding her back from fighting properly. Her solution? Stomping her feet so hard that they break.

* In ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'', Comicbook/LoisLane did it with a ''wedding dress'' while [[BloodstainedGlassWindows shooting up a church]] at her undercover wedding to a drug lord. And then storms into the Daily Planet like that to re-accept Clark's marriage proposal. No-one at the Planet [[SeenItAll really notices,]] because Lois [[IntrepidReporter has a certain reputation]] [[WeirdnessMagnet for pulling this kind of crazy shit twice a month]], and [[CityOfAdventure Metropolis is wild and crazy like that.]] Hell, their high schools' PE classes probably teach the art of the action dress rip regularly, in case Superman and an army of Nazi mecha-ninjas suddenly fall through the ceiling during your black-tie prom and you [[EverybodyWasKungFuFighting find yourself in need of throwing around some kung fu.]] It's just basic common sense.

* PlayedForLaughs in ''Film/JurassicWorld''. Owen Grady tells Claire Dearing she can't come along with him into the jungle as she's hardly dressed for it in her corporate dress suit. Claire puts on a determined look, rolls up her sleeves and ties her shirt in front, just like Dr. Ellie Sattler in the original ''Film/JurassicPark''. As she [[FanService reveals a lot more skin doing so]], Owen just gapes and asks what she's doing. A DeathGlare in response [[DistractedByTheSexy gets his brain working again]].

* ''Literature/ChroniclesOfTheKencyrath''. In "Seeker's Mask", Jame does this while being hunted by Shadow Assassins, and she's hobbled by the skirt that she's been forced to wear as a ProperLady. Unfortunately she doesn't know her clothes once belonged to Aerulan, the [[TheMourningAfter deceased lover of Brenwyr]], who is horrified when Jame rips the dress in front of her (though she accepts the necessity).

* in ''Anime/SenkiZesshouSymphogear'', Hibiki quickly learns that her CombatStilettos are holding her back from fighting properly. Her solution? Stomping her feet so hard that the break.

** Buffy does this in "Hell's Bells", tearing her bridesmaid dress before fighting the demonized Stewart Burns when he attacks Anya.
** In "Flooded" during a fight in the bank, when she has dressed up to get a loan. Buffy's PreAsskickingOneLiner becomes a FailedAttemptAtDrama because she can't kick a rampaging demon. Said demon punches her onto a table, where she borrows a letter opener to fulfill this trope.
** Glory does this in "Tough Love" after a FlechetteStorm tears up her red dress. [[RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver She rips it off to reveal a black nightie]].

* The same variation occurs in ''Film/CharliesAngels2000'', where Dylan strips off the bottom half of her ballgown to reveal more action-friendly [[HellBentForLeather leather pants]].

* The same variation occurs in ''Film/CharliesAngels'', where Dylan strips off the bottom half of her ballgown to reveal more action-friendly [[HellBentForLeather leather pants]].

* Toko Fukawa's school uniform dress is tattered and has one in ''VideoGame/DanganronpaAnotherEpisodeUltraDespairGirls'', which reveals [[spoiler:tally marks on her thigh representing her SplitPersonality SerialKiller Genocide Jack's victims]].

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* Toko Fukawa's school uniform dress is tattered and has one in ''VideoGame/AbsoluteDespairGirls'', which reveals [[spoiler:tally marks on her thigh representing her SplitPersonality SerialKiller Genocide Jack's victims]].