Elizabeth Taylor’s Life In Dresses (And Diamonds)
Elizabeth Taylor remains one of Hollywood’s most enduring style icons. While her acting skills earned her some of the industry’s greatest honours, her penchant for piles of diamonds and diaphanous gowns are just as much a part of her legacy.
Born in London to American parents in 1932, Taylor became a child of the Hollywood studio system that defined the mid-century, and made her screen debut aged 10. As an adult, her personal life became as much a source of fascination as her film roles – she married eight times in total.
As her career progressed, Taylor’s fashion moved with the times: the ’50s New Look silhouette was eventually replaced by a perma-tan and natty shift dresses in the ’60s, and later bold-shouldered taffeta gowns in the ’80s. That said, Taylor was never preoccupied by the opinions of fashion commentators, and revelled in her own “more is more” take on how a true Hollywood star should dress.
When she finally swapped acting for philanthropy, and even as she struggled with illness in her latter years, the star’s commitment to glamour never wavered. Plunging necklines and sweeping gowns were replaced with embellished tailoring and sparkling kaftans, but the suites of jewellery and dramatic make-up remained.
Almost a decade after her death in 2011 and in what would have been her 90th year, the memory of Elizabeth Taylor’s outré approach to life and style lives on. Here, British Vogue revisits some of her most memorable style moments.
Rex Features1/1101940
During the early days of her Hollywood career, Elizabeth was photographed wearing a smock dress for a studio portrait.
Rex Features2/1101946
In the year Elizabeth starred in The Courage of Lassie, aged 14, she was photographed wearing a floral summer dress.
Gene Lester3/1101947
Elizabeth was photographed mounting a horse wearing a grey suit with pronounced lapels and a white shirt.
Michael Ochs Archives4/1101947
The actor was photographed for a promotional portrait for her film, Cynthia, wearing a fluid floor-length gown with subtle cape details.
Silver Screen Collection5/1103 February 1947
The actor was photographed with actor Mickey Rooney wearing a deep violet dress and slingback pumps.
Luis Lemus6/110April 1948
Photographed for Vogue, 16-year-old Elizabeth wore a yellow blouse with a full grey skirt.
George Konig7/11029 November 1948
At the Savoy Hotel, Elizabeth is helped into a dress by her mother, Sara Sothern, ahead of performing at the Empire cinema in Leicester Square.
Keystone Features8/110November 1948
On Westminster Bridge wearing a collared swing coat and black heeled pumps.
