I just read about a survey conducted in 2008, that placed Keira Knightley’s green silk gown in Atonement  as the best film costume EVER. I’m not sure that I agree with that, but I did adore that gown and have been thinking about buying a reproduction.

From the Press Association: ‘The emerald green dress worn by Keira Knightley in Atonement has been voted the best film costume of all time. The bias-cut, backless silk gown had fashion editors raving when it first appeared on screen last year.
Knightley’s character, Cecilia Tallis, wore it during a pivotal scene in Joe Wright’s period drama, which is tipped for Oscar nominations. The survey was done for Sky Movies and British InStyle. Following Knightley’s dress were:

• white dress worn by Marilyn Monroe, in The Seven Year Itch;
• little black dress worn by Audrey Hepburn, in Breakfast at Tiffany’s;
• skin-tight pants worn by Olivia Newton-John, in Grease;
• blue gown worn by Kate Winslet, in Titanic;
• tie and waistcoat combination worn by Diane Keaton, in Annie Hall;
• satin corset worn by Nicole Kidman, in Moulin Rouge;
• stockings and bowler hat worn by Liza Minnelli, in Cabaret;
• gown worn by Cate Blanchett, in Elizabeth;
• dresses worn by Vivien Leigh, in Gone with the Wind.

Ian Lewis, director of Sky Movies, said, ‘There’s no doubt that Keira Knightley’s dress in Atonement created a massive stir this year, so it will be interesting to see whether it attains this stand-along iconic status in years to come.”

Read the whole article here.

You can buy a reproduction of the gown from eDressIt.com for about US $150.00, in whatever color you want:

Long slender lines, bias cutting, clinging silk and velvet, huge blouson sleeves, oh god I love the 1930s silhouette!