The 8 Iconic Wedding Dresses Of Elizabeth Taylor: From $1,500 Satin To A $188K Auction Gown

Elizabeth Taylor remains one of Hollywood's most enduring style icons, and no aspect of her life captured the public's imagination quite like her eight trips down the aisle. As of today, December 11, 2025, the stories and details of her spectacular, and often unconventional, wedding gowns continue to be a source of fascination for fashion historians and fans alike.

The dresses she chose—only one of which was a traditional white bridal gown—chart a fascinating course through 20th-century fashion and reflect the star’s evolving personal life, from a naive 18-year-old studio bride to an independent, confident movie legend. Each gown is a bespoke piece of history, with her first dress alone fetching a staggering sum at a recent auction, cementing its status as an invaluable piece of pop culture memorabilia.

Elizabeth Taylor: A Brief Biographical Profile

The woman behind the legendary wedding looks was a global superstar whose life was as dazzling and dramatic as her on-screen roles. Understanding her background provides context for the bold fashion choices she made throughout her eight marriages to seven different men.

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• Full Name: Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor
• Born: February 27, 1932, in London, United Kingdom
• Died: March 23, 2011, in Los Angeles, California, U.S.
• Noted For: Two-time Academy Award-winning actress, style icon, humanitarian, and one of the last stars of Hollywood's Golden Age.
• Career Debut: She began her career as a child actor in the early 1940s, rising to fame with films like National Velvet (1944) and Father of the Bride (1950).
• Spouses (8 Weddings to 7 Men): Conrad "Nicky" Hilton Jr., Michael Wilding, Mike Todd, Eddie Fisher, Richard Burton (twice), John Warner, and Larry Fortensky.

The One and Only White Dress: The $188,000 Studio Masterpiece

For her first wedding on May 6, 1950, to hotel heir Conrad "Nicky" Hilton Jr., Elizabeth Taylor was still an 18-year-old contract player under the powerful gaze of MGM. Her dress for this occasion is the most famous and the only one that adhered to traditional bridal standards.

The gown was a masterclass in 1950s Hollywood design, created by legendary MGM costume designer Helen Rose. Rose was also responsible for Grace Kelly's iconic wedding dress, establishing her as the go-to designer for cinematic romance.

Key Details of the Hilton Wedding Gown

• Designer: Helen Rose (MGM Costume Designer).
• Color & Material: Cream-colored oyster satin.
• Style: A voluminous, full-skirted gown with a nipped-in waist, a true hourglass silhouette of the era.
• Embellishments: The satin was heavily detailed with intricate seed pearls and delicate lace embroidery.
• The Waist: The dress famously featured an impossibly tiny 22-inch waist, emphasizing her youthful figure.
• The Cost & Legacy: The original cost was reported to be $1,500, but its historical value soared. In 2013, the dress was sold at a Christie's auction in London for a remarkable £121,875 (approximately $187,931), proving its enduring place in fashion history.

The wedding itself was a massive studio event, designed to look like a scene from a movie, a promotional spectacle that set the stage for Taylor’s public life. Ironically, the marriage lasted less than a year, but the dress became immortalized.

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A Kaleidoscope of Color: The Seven Unconventional Bridal Looks

After her first divorce, Elizabeth Taylor abandoned the traditional white gown forever. Her subsequent seven wedding outfits were a vibrant reflection of her growing confidence, her passion for color, and the unique circumstances of each marriage. These non-traditional choices established her as a pioneer of celebrity bridal fashion.

The Mid-Century Modern Looks (1952–1959)

For her second marriage to British actor Michael Wilding in 1952, Taylor again turned to Helen Rose, but this time for a much more subtle, non-traditional look. She wore a chic, tea-length suit-dress, a sophisticated choice for a second-time bride.

When she married producer Mike Todd in 1957, Taylor opted for a dramatic, voluminous blue hooded gown. The wedding in Acapulco, Mexico, was a lavish, festive affair, perfectly suited to the colorful, relaxed style of the dress.

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Her fourth wedding, to singer Eddie Fisher in 1959, saw her choose an emerald-green silk hooded dress. The ceremony was intimate, held at a synagogue after Taylor converted to Judaism, and the rich color and hooded style made a bold, memorable statement.

The Burton Era and the Hippie Chic (1964–1975)

The two weddings to the great love of her life, Richard Burton, produced two of her most iconic and unconventional bridal looks.

First Marriage (1964): The Canary Yellow Babydoll

For their first ceremony in Montreal, Taylor wore a vibrant canary yellow chiffon babydoll dress. The dress was designed by Irene Sharaff, the costume designer for Cleopatra, the film where the couple first met and began their scandalous affair. Taylor famously accentuated the look with flowers woven into her elaborate braided hairstyle.

Second Marriage (1975): The Ombre Caftan

After a decade of marriage, a divorce, and a swift remarriage, their second wedding in Botswana was a more intimate, bohemian affair. Taylor wore a stunning, multi-colored ombre chiffon caftan designed by Gina Fratini. The dress, often described as a tie-dye or rainbow caftan, perfectly captured the free-spirited fashion of the 1970s.

The Final Chapters (1976–1991)

Her sixth husband, politician John Warner, married Taylor in 1976 at his farm in Virginia. For this winter wedding, Taylor chose a practical yet elegant purple cashmere dress and topped it with a warm tweed and fur coat, a look far removed from the glamour of Hollywood.

Her eighth and final marriage, to construction worker Larry Fortensky in 1991, was another star-studded event, held at Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch. For this occasion, Taylor chose a pale-yellow lace gown designed by the legendary Valentino. The bespoke dress featured a plunging sweetheart neckline and a full-tiered skirt, a fittingly glamorous look for her final walk down the aisle.

Elizabeth Taylor’s collection of wedding dresses is more than just a fashion timeline; it is a visual biography of a woman who lived her life on her own terms. From the traditional white fantasy created by MGM to the bold, colorful statements of her later years, each gown encapsulates a unique chapter in the life of one of the world's most captivating celebrities. The continued high value of her first gown at auction ensures that her bridal legacy will be studied and admired for decades to come.