Worn By: Rita Moreno
Year: 1961
Value: Unknown
The lavender dancing dress that Rita Moreno wore in West Side Story became famous because of her amazing performance in the film, which won her an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. The dress made an appearance in the gym mambo and “America” scenes on the rooftop.
Designed by Irene Sharaff, a Tony- and Oscar-nominated costume designer, the lavender dress was simple and straightforward, just like Moreno’s character. Sharaff, as a whole, didn’t feel like she had to be beholden to current onstage styles of the 1960s, and her design was intended to update the “Romeo and Juliet” vibe to something more befitting of mid-Century New York.