The 1950 film Father of the Bride prominently showcased a ball gown silhouette for Elizabeth Taylor’s character.
The dress worn by Kay Banks used a fitted upper body and a generously expanded skirt, the defining proportions of a traditional ball gown. That shape gave the screen wedding a grand, formal appearance and matched the film’s emphasis on a large society celebration.
Ball gown bridalwear became especially visible in mid-century wedding imagery, when full skirts and petticoats were common. The silhouette remains distinct from an A-line gown: both widen toward the hem, but a ball gown usually has a much fuller skirt and a more dramatic waist-to-hem contrast.
Helen Rose designed Taylor’s costume for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The film’s gown should not be confused with Taylor’s real wedding dress from her 1950 marriage to Conrad Hilton, which was a separate garment and event.