17 Beguiling Ball Gowns
Lindsay MacDonald
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Some of the greatest episodes of TV come from the big events that have characters pulling out their stilettos and ball gowns.
A few of these looks are downright scandalous, while others keep it classy, but they're all endlessly sexy in our opinion! Formal wear is meant to turn heads after all, and these femme fatales could turn them all.
From fantasy adventure stories all the way to the Hamptons, here are some of the best dressed ladies of TV.
1. Emily Thorne (Revenge)
We're sad to see Emily Thorne go as Revenge wraps up its final season, but we're even sadder to see her wardrobe go. This stunning white masquerade dress was just one of the many gorgeous gowns we got to see on Emily over the years.
2. Elena Gilbert (The Vampire Diaries)
With a Salvatore on each arm, who wouldn't look like the belle of the ball? Elena certainly stopped the show in Season 3, when she entered wearing this sexy and sparkling black ball gown.
3. Emma Swan (Once Upon a Time)
You don't usually get to see Emma rocking the formal look, but when she does, she looks absolutely divine! This scene might have only been a dream sequence, but that doesn't mean we didn't LOVE Emma's fairytale incarnation, and the beautiful blue dress she wore.
4. Barbara Kean (Gotham)
Sure, she had a date with The Ogre that ended up turning her a little bonkers, but just LOOK at her. Barbara took sexy to a whole new level with this sleek black number, complete with elbow-length black gloves and flashy jewels. Damn, girl!
5. The Liars (Pretty Little Liars)
We couldn't pick just one liar to highlight when it comes to fashion, so we picked them all! In the Season 2 finale, each girl wore a striking masked costume complete with couture. Which look was your favorite?
6. Hayley Marshall (The Originals)
Has there ever been a more beautiful bride? Hayley is usually too busy running around the bayou in wolf form to slip into a skirt, but for one episode she got to wear a fantasticly flattering wedding dress.
7. Olivia Pope (Scandal)
Glitz and glamour nearly blew the Scandal audience away when Oliva wore this golden masterpiece to a White House Gala. Too bad Fitz didn't get much of a chance to stare before he was nearly assasinated.
8. Caroline Forbes (The Vampire Diaries)
No one does formal wear like Caroline Forbes, but maybe that's because most of her dresses end up coming from Klaus? This prom dress was definitely a heart-stopper, and she certainly looked "Grace Kelly hot."
9. Meredith Grey (Grey's Anatomy)
A nice change from scrubs, Meredith kept it classy at this fundraising gala for the hospital. Who would have thought that a sleep-deprived mother of two/surgeon could clean up so well?
10. Felicity Smoak (Arrow)
Take away the glasses and the pencil skirts and Felicity goes from nerdy-cute to Smoaking-Hot. See what we did there? Honestly, Felicity always draws the eye, but in this hot pink getup, she was beautiful in a totally new way.
11. Daenerys Targaryen (Game of Thrones)
After spending over a year in Dothroaki animal skins, it was refreshing to see Dany dress up a bit in Qarth, even if it made her a little less fierce looking. This stunning blue number truly turned her into a princess. To bad she's no princess, she's a Khaleesi!
12. Serena van der Woodsen (Gossip Girl)
Who could ever forget Serena's staple gold debutante dress from Season 1? The mermaid gown looked mighty hard to dance in, but that didn't stop Dan from giving her a good dip. Ahhhh memories...
13. Kate Beckett (Castle)
It might not be a ball gown, but floor length was never Kate's style anyway. That doesn't make this skin-tight blue number any less formal or any less sexy. Detective Beckett certainly can dress for the occasion!
14. Rayna James (Nashville)
There was nothing country about the white and gold beaded work of art that Rayna James wore to her CMA sweep night. Even her blowout fight with Luke couldn't detract from how amazing she looked receiving all those awards.
15. Regina Mills (Once Upon a Time)
The Evil Queen gets the most amazing wardrobe picks on Once Upon a Time, and this one is a personal favorite. Is it the intricate embellishments? The feathered collar? The puffy sleeves? Who cares, this dress is amazing!
16. Izzie Stevens (Grey's Anatomy)
This pink cupcake ball gown was the prettiest and most heartbreaking "prom dress" in the history of television. No one will ever forget Izzie, all dolled up, laying in bed with a dead Denny, totally numb to the world. "I changed my dress three times." Excuse me, I have to go sob into a pillow now.
17. Claire Beauchamp (Outlander)
Saving the best for last, Claire's wedding dress (bought from a brothel of all places) was a masterpiece all its own. Period fashion always creates some of the best looks on TV, and the famous Outlander wedding was no different. Claire was a beautiful -- and extremely sexy -- bride.
