Ava Gardner in Barefoot Contessa 1954 – Her Glamorous Role and Fashion

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The Barefoot Contessa storyline and Ava Gardner Barefoot Contessa 1950s fashion.

This post is all about Ava Gardner in the Barefoot Contessa

The Barefoot Contessa Plot

The movie centers around the cinderella story of Maria Vargas (Ava Gardner) a dancer from Spain who becomes a huge movie star after Harry Dawes (Humphrey Bogart) discovers her and convinces her to do a screen test.

The movie is told through a series of flashbacks, starting from Maria’s funeral.

The story starts from Harry’s point of view, and evolves to others that worked with Maria.

They tell the story of how Maria rose from being a poor dancer in Spain to becoming an international star.

She falls in love with a Count, marries the Count to become a Countess, and then her story ends in a violent death when her marriage takes an unexpected twist.

Ava Gardner fashion in the Barefoot Contessa

Rosi Gori and the fontana sisters are credited with designing Ava Gardner’s wardrobe in the Barefoot Contessa.

As her character evolves from a barefoot dancer to a major Hollywood movie star, her wardrobe evolves with her.

From cardigan to glitzy evening gowns, The Barefoot Contessa gives us a stunning variety of 1950s fashion in lovely technicolor.

From the beginning to the end, here are all the costumes Ava Gardner wears in the Barefoot Contessa.

Ava Gardner The Barefoot Contessa: Dress #1

The first glimpse of Ava Gardner’s character Maria Vargas shows us where she got the “barefoot” part of her nickname.

A script writer and director Harry Dawes, (Humphrey Bogart) wanna-be movie producer Kirk Edwards (Warren Stevens) and publicist Oscar Muldoon (Edmund O’Brien) came to Spain to see Maria dance.

They are on the hunt for a “new face,” Kirk had decided to produce a movie, and Harry and Oscar are along to help it happen.

Unfortunately they arrive at the night club too late. Maria has finished dancing for the night and has a hard rule against mingling with the guests—any guests.

Humphrey Bogart’s character Harry is given the task to bring her out so that everyone can meet her.

Ava Gardner’s character Maria Vargas wear a Spanish-style dress with a white off-the-shoulder top.

She accessorizes it with a large red beaded necklace and gold hoop earrings.

Ava Gardner The Barefoot Contessa: Yellow Blouse and Cardigan

Harry was successful in getting Maria to come out to the table to meet Kirk and the others, but she is spooked by the publicist and leaves ubruptly.

Harry is again given the task to find her and bring her to Rome to do a screen test.

He’s somehow able to track down where she lives in a dingy flat with her father, mother, and brother.

Ava Gardner’s character Maria wears a yellow blouse combined with a dark skirt and cardigan for her “off time.”

She’s still wearing the same pair of gold hoop earring from earlier in the evening, but no red necklace.

Ava Gardner The Barefoot Contessa: Evening dress

Maria’s screen test is an instant success, followed by an equally successful movie, turning Maria into an international star practically overnight.

For the movie premiere Ava Gardner’s character Maria arrives with Harry and his wife, wearing a strapless green evening gown with beading across the chest.

She tops off the outfit with a white fur fur, white gloves, and accessorizes with statement green jewelry and a green clutch.

Full on Old Hollywood glamour!

Ava Gardner The Barefoot Contessa: Black dress

While Maria is in the US filming her movie, there is trouble back at her home, and her father ends up killing her mother.

Maria flies back to Spain against the wishes of the publicist and insists on being at the trial to help defend her father.

She gives an impassioned plea in her father’s defense, detailing how terrible their mother was and how she abused the family and the poverty in which they lived.

Ava Gardner’s character wears a black suit with a lavender scarf tied around the neck to appear in court for her father’s trial.

Simple gold earrings and some bracelets complete the look.

Ava Gardner The Barefoot Contessa: Pant Suit

A short time later, Maria has made three movies in a row, all of them successful.

She’s wealthy and successful, but far from happy.

She lets Kirk throw a fancy party at her house to entertain a guest he’s trying to impress.

Among the guests, of course, is Harry (Humphrey Bogart) with his wife.

Bored during the party, Maria finally takes Harry outside to talk to him.

She’s frustrated and talks about going back to Spain.

She doesn’t feel like she’s at home in the US and is restless.

Harry tells her she needs to appreciate what she has and that it’s time to find her prince.

Ava Gardner’s character Maria wears a fancy black pantsuit with gold detailing for a party thrown at her house.

Ava Gardner The Barefoot Contessa: Black Swimsuit

Maria decides to accept an invitation from Kirk’s guest to go yachting to Europe.

For her boat trip, Ava Gardner’s character Maria wears a black one-piece swimsuit, with a white coverup.

Of course she doesn’t forget a great pair of earrings, some retro style sunglasses, and red lipstick.

Other 1950s swimsuit style inspiration you might like:

Grace Kelly High Society – Her Insanely Feminine 1950s Fashion

Ava Gardner The Barefoot Contessa: Pink Evening Gown

The trip to Europe seems to be full of an endless round of fancy parties.

…another event, another strapless evening gown, but pink this time.

Ava Gardner’s character Maria wears a strapless pink evening gown, again with intricate detailing across the chest for an evening out with her friends.

Again, more statement jewelry completes the glamorous look.

It is here that Maria officially meets the Count Vincenzo Torlato-Favrini (Rossano Brazzi). After getting in an argument with the person she came with, she leaves with the Count.

Ava Gardner The Barefoot Contessa: Yellow Blouse and Skirt

Maria officially met the count at the party, but now we get a flashback from Count Vincenzo’s point of view, when he first saw Maria dancing earlier that day.

While on a road-trip, he pulled off the side of the road near a gypsy camp. Hearing music, he wanders over to the camp.

Of course he sees Maria dancing and is mesmerized. She sees him as well, but ignores him.

Stealing the show is Ava Gardner’s stunning 1950s fashion.

Ava Gardner’s character Maria wears a yellow sweater tee paired with a black skirt to dance in a gypsy camp.

She accents the waist with a brown belt and wears a brightly colored scarf and hoop earrings as accessories.

This outfit feels much more like your typical Ava Gardner 1950s fashion, and is similar to the outfits she wore in Mogambo, opposite Grace Kelly.

Ava Gardner The Barefoot Contessa: 1950s Style Coat

A fast romance develops between Maria and the Count, and next we see Maria visiting the Count’s palace.

Ava Gardner’s character Maria wears a fitted gray wool coat to meet the Count’s sister and to see the family home.

Ava Gardner The Barefoot Contessa: Pink Cocktail Dress

Ava Gardner’s character Maria wears a very feminine pink dress for her tour of the Count’s house, including a long hall with the family portraits.

Her dress is very 1950’s style, with an emphasis on the waist, and a full circle skirt.

The only accessories she’s wearing with the dress are a pair of earrings. She seems to have toned down the glamour a bit since meeting her new boyfriend.

Ava Gardner The Barefoot Contessa: Pink Blouse and Shorts

Another day another boating adventure, this time with the Count and his sister, instead of her group of friends.

To lounge in the sun, Ava Gardner’s character Maria wears a pink button-up blouse that is tucked into pink shorts.

Ava Gardner The Barefoot Contessa: Polkadot Dress

Maria goes to meet Harry, and tells him about her upcoming marriage to the Count.

Ava Gardner’s character Maria wears a 1950s style polka-dot dress to meet Humphrey Bogart’s character.

Again, not as much jewelry as earlier, just simple earring and some gloves that match her outfit.

Ava Gardner The Barefoot Contessa: Wedding Dress

To marry the count, Ava Gardner’s character Maria wears a long sleeved white satin gown with a high neck.

Again, a very 1950s style dress, with the fitted waist and full skirt.

Ava Gardner The Barefoot Contessa: Purple Coat

Shortly after her marriage to the Count, Ava Gardner’s character Maria comes to visit Humphrey Bogart’s character Harry wearing a bright purple coat.

She pulls off the coat to reveal a fitted gray 1950s style dress with purple buttons.

Maria tells Harry about all that has happened in the few short weeks since she was married.

The story flashes back to her wedding night where she finds out that the Count was injured in the war and is unable to be with her.

She tells Harry that she found a way to make the Count happy after all, by having an affair and getting pregnant so that the Count will have an heir.

Ava Gardner The Barefoot Contessa: 1950s Negligee

Harry, watching her leave from the window, sees a car following her and, thinking she might be in danger, follows her home.

Unfortunately, he’s too late as the Count just shot Maria and her lover, never knowing about the child.

Thus, the story wraps up the story where it started, back at Maria’s funeral with Harry telling the story.

This post was all about Ava Gardner and her glam role in The Barefoot Contessa

What did you think of Ava Gardner’s style in The Barefoot Contessa?

Did you prefer her glamorous evening gowns or her more casual outfits better?

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Originally published Sep 2021, updated Apr 2024