19 of the Most Expensive Dresses of All Time

And blow up your bank account. Because there are millions of dresses in this world, some of which cost that much.
/fashion/photos/most-expensive-dresses-of-all-time/ 17976

CP Images

1 / 19

Marilyn Monroe’s dress from The Seven Year Itch

Costume designer William Travilla came up with what's known as the "subway dress" for the 1954 film The Seven Year Itch, and Monroe wore it in the iconic scene. When it was put up for auction, it fetched $4.6 million, making it one of the priciest fashion items ever sold at auction. Ka-ching!

Getty Images

2 / 19

Kate Middleton’s Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen

The duchess' custom-made wedding dress was one of Kate Middleton's top 10 style-defining looks. It featured lace made by the Royal School of Needlework. Really. $415,000 is the price you pay for a look as iconic as this.

CP Images

3 / 19

Princess Diana’s Victor Edelstein

Lady Di wore the dress during a visit to the White House, where she danced with actor John Travolta. Ever the savvy and charitable businesswoman, she auctioned it off for £100,000, making it the most expensive dress ever sold at auction at the time. It was later sold again in 2011 for £240,000. Totally worth the initial investment.

CP Images

4 / 19

Amal Clooney’s Oscar de la Renta

The price tag of the custom wedding gown: $380,000. Chump change, considering she and George flew their guests in to Venice for the weekend.

CP Images

5 / 19

Audrey Hepburn’s Givenchy

It's what every other little black dress strives to be. The frock, which she wore in the 1961 movie Breakfast at Tiffany's, gave the actress her most iconic look and fetched $900,000 when Christie's put it up for auction for charity.

CP Images

6 / 19

Charlize Theron’s Christian Dior

The couture gown Theron wore for the 2013 Academy Awards cost $100,000. Throw in the Harry Winston diamond cuffs (notably some of the most expensive jewellery ever worn to the Oscars) and her entire outfit came up to over $4 mill.

CP Images

7 / 19

Julie Andrews’ dress from The Sound of Music

The pinafore the actress wore when she played Maria Von Trapp sold for $1.56 million at auction. Now that's something to sing about.

Getty Images

8 / 19

Nicole Kidman’s John Galliano for Christian Dior

Remember when Kidman wore this haute couture gown at the 1997 Academy Awards? Not sure how much it actually cost but the actress was paid $2 million to wear it at the ceremony. Nice gig if you can get it.

Also remember when she was married to Tom Cruise?! Revisit their relationship and other Hollywood stars who broke up with their partners and totally traded up.

CP Images

9 / 19

Lupita Nyong’o’s Calvin Klein

At $160,000, Lupita's custom dress — which she wore at the 2015 Oscars — was made with over 6,000 pearls. In fact, we've learned many fashion lessons from Lupita.

CP Images

10 / 19

Cate Blanchett’s Armani Privé (2007)

The gunmetal gown she wore to the 2007 Oscars was fully embellished with Swarovski crystals. So of course it ran for $200,000.

CP Images

11 / 19

Cate Blanchett’s Armani Privé (2014)

Seven years later, Blanchett chose another Armani Privé dress, also embellished with Swarovski crystals. The dress was $100,000 but once the shoes and jewelry were added in, it came closer to $18.1 mill. Here's hoping she had security all night.

CP Images

12 / 19

Jessica Biel’s Chanel

The simple beaded creation she wore in 2014 cost $100,000. And it was so, so stunning.

CP Images

13 / 19

Kate Winslet’s Valentino

The mint-green creation Winslet wore to the 2007 Oscars was picked out by her daughter, Mia. And turns out Mia has expensive taste as it cost nearly $100,000.

Speaking of the Oscars, we'll never forget when Leonardo DiCaprio finally won his first Oscar, and Kate looked on with tears. Those two are just one of the most adorable platonic relationships in Hollywood.

CP Images

14 / 19

Anne Hathaway’s Valentino

The year was 2011. Hathaway and James Franco were hosting the Academy Awards. The only thing we didn't cringe at? Anne's red gown, which she wore for her walk up the red carpet. It was $80,000 but that was nothing compared to the $10-million necklace with which she accessorized it.

CP Images

15 / 19

Sandra Bullock’s Alexander McQueen

Bullock wore this midnight-blue gown to the Oscars the year she was nominated for Gravity (2014, FYI). It cost $40,000 and was worth every penny.

Something we can't put a price tag on? The fact that Bullock dated Ryan Gosling back in the early 2000s! Check out 20 celebrity couples you won't believe were once together.

Getty Images

16 / 19

Grace Kelly’s Edith Head

The aquamarine silk column dress she wore to accept her Best Actress statue at the 1955 Academy Awards ceremony set the bar for what would become a night of pricey gowns. Designed by Edith Head, it was a steal at $6,500. And proved you didn't have to spend a lot to have one of the most beloved Oscar looks ever.

The actress didn't go so low-budget for her wedding the following year, however. When she married Prince Rainier III of Monaco, it was one of the world's most extravagant royal weddings ever.

Getty Images

17 / 19

Mary Joe Connolly’s Imperial Pearl Syndicate

The photographer modelled this wedding gown that, today, is worth half a million dollars. What makes it so special? The 100,000 cultured pearls all over it. And it was basically a dollar a pearl since it cost $100K in the '50s.

CP Images

18 / 19

Keira Knightley’s Vera Wang

In 2006, the actress wore this custom-made beauty. The cost? $39,000. Expensive but one of the least bananas on the list. Knightley later donated her Oscar dress to Oxfam, and they auctioned it for £4,300, making it all the more valuable. That Bulgari necklace though ...

Getty Images

19 / 19

Debbie Wingham Red Diamond Abaya

If you happen to have $17 million lying around, the world's most expensive dress might be for you. British designer Debbie Wingham, who also gave the world the priciest shoes, created the simple, loose red diamond-encrusted black gown that was inspired by a visit to Dubai. Naturally.