Ingrid Bergman Notorious – Her Classy 1940s Fashion

This post is all about Ingrid Bergman’s 1940’s Fashion in Notorious

Ingrid Bergman Notorious shows us 20 classy examples of 1940s fashion.

Alfred Hitchcock had exquisite taste in women’s fashion which definitely shows in Notorious 1946. 

The classic style, beauty, and poise of his leading ladies is still famous. These ‘Hitchcock Blondes’ or ‘Icy Blondes’ are known for their mystery and subtle sex appeal.

The costume designer for Notorious was Edith Head. She collaborated on many films with Hitchcock, starting with Notorious.

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Ingrid Bergman Style

In discussing designing the wardrobe for Ingrid Bergman in Notorious, Edith Head said:

“…The job was tricky. The clothes couldn’t be smart in the ordinary sense…. They had to be right for her (Bergman). Some women need accessories galore – jewels, furs, feathers, silly hats – to look glamorous – all the things she hates. She looks marvelous in plain things –  a smock, or a blouse and shirt, or a schoolgirl’s tailored dressing gown. Her clothes must have simplicity, skillful design and practically no ornamentation. This is elegance in the subtlest sense.”

Ingrid Bergman’s wardrobe follows the changes her character goes through, from wild party girl to the wife of a wealthy Nazi spy.

From skirt suits to glamorous evening gowns, Notorious showcases the best of 1940’s fashion.  

You’ll notice how finishing touches make her final look perfect, whether these are subtle accessories or statement necklaces. You’ll also see the shorter hemlines famous in the 1940s (compared to the 30s and the 50s), given WWII and the fabric shortage.

Who better to stun us with this memorable decade of Old Hollywood style than an icon of fashion? Aka The One and only Ingrid Bergman. Let’s get started!

Fun fact:
All of Ingrid Bergman’s outfits in Notorious are dresses. She never wears a single pair of pants in the entire movie!

Notorious 1946 Summary

Notorious is a suspenseful Hitchcock spy romance movie.

It centers on the beautiful Alicia Huberman (Ingrid Bergman) who travels to Rio to infiltrate a Nazi ring by re-uniting with an old admirer (Claude Rains).

However, things get complicated as she falls for an American agent (Cary Grant) and her “husband” begins to suspect her true motives.

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Ingrid Bergman 1940’s Fashion In Notorious -Courtroom Dress Suit

In the first scene in Notorious, Ingrid Bergman’s character Alicia Huberman is exiting a Miami courtroom.

Her Nazi father has just been sentenced to twenty years in prison.

Eager newspaper men crowd around Alicia asking if her father got what he deserved.

Ingrid Bergman’s character Alicia Huberman is wearing an elegant dress suit. This has a black jeweled top, sharp white blazer, and black hat with jeweled stud accents. 

The white blazer is the epitome of a classic forties fashion, with it’s loose silhouette and padded shoulders.

Ingrid Bergman’s outfit is businesslike and fitting for the setting, yet still feminine.

Ingrid Bergman Notorious – Sequined Zebra Cocktail Outfit

In the next scene, Ingrid Bergman’s character Alicia Huberman is hosting a cocktail party at her home.

Guests are getting drunk, and she’s right there with them.

This is the first time we meet the the mysterious and handsome T.R. Devlin (Cary Grant).

He definitely catches Alicia’s attention!

Ingrid Bergman is wearing a sequined zebra print top and white floor length skirt with the same sparkly zebra print details at the waist.

This outfit is supposed to establish her as a ‘loose’ party girl.

It is a perfect example of how clothing had a great impact in Alfred Hitchcock’s films. 

Alicia downs her drinks with reckless abandon and then announces drunkenly that she wants to go for a joy ride!

Cary Grant ties a scarf around her waist to make sure she doesn’t get cold.

“Minor accessories are also extremely important in this film: the scarf that Devlin ties around Alicia’s waist to protect her from the cold when she’s wearing her midriff baring ensemble is returned to him later on in the film, proving she had actually fallen in love with him and had kept the scarf.”

— https://irenebrination.typepad.com/irenebrination_notes_on_a/2015/01/notorious-alfred-hitchcock.html

The next morning Cary Grant reveals the purpose for his visit.

He is there to enlist her to be a spy for the US government! She reluctantly agrees.

Ingrid Bergman Notorious Travel Suit

In the next scene, Ingrid Bergman’s character, Alicia, is flying with Devlin (Cary Grant) to Brazil.

She wears a sharp dark travel coat with a contrasting plaid hood. This is convenient to pull up for a quick nap.

Ingrid Bergman’s 1940’s Fashion – Skirt Suit

Alicia and Devlin land in Rio and wait to hear what Alicia’s mission is.

They cozy up at a delightful outdoor cafe, do some site-seeing, and start to fall for each other.

Ingrid Bergman wears a ladylike tweed blazer with a matching skirt. Her blazer is accessorized with a large silk bow at the neck. She is also wearing long black gloves and a simple gold bracelet.

Need some classic Casablanca style inspiration?
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Ingrid Bergman’s 1940’s Fashion: Practical Attire – Blouse and Skirt

While Devlin is discovering Alicia’s mission, she prepares a romantic chicken dinner for them.

She is wearing a white blouse, black skirt, simple apron, and low slingback pumps. 

Once Alicia takes off her apron, you can see the jeweled waist detailing on her skirt.

Once Devlin tells her the nature of her assignment (land an ex-admirer who is now a Nazi), the romantic evening instantly cools.

Ingrid Bergman Notorious: Siren Suits: – 1940s Riding Outfit

Devlin arranges for them to bump into Alicia’s target at the riding stables. He is the rich Nazi, Alexander Sebastian (Claude Rains).

Ingrid Bergman wears a fitted blazer accessorized with a pocket scarf, button-up shirt, tie, riding pants, and sharp riding hat.

Once Sebastian recognizes Alicia, he’s immediately smitten.

P.S. Notice how many different variations of grey suits that Cary Grant wears!

Ingrid Bergman Notorious Dress

Sebastian (Claude Rains) invites Alicia to dinner to renew their acquaintance.

As they sip on their martinis, he says that he knew that if he saw her again, he’d feel what he used to feel for her.

Ingrid Bergman is wearing a black dress with sequined detailing across the bodice, and a matching sequined accessory in her hair, and simple elegant flats. 

Ingrid Bergman’s character Alicia wears flats a lot in this movie, since she was so much taller than Claude Rains!

To read more about how Hitchcock worked with their different heights:
Notorious Claude Rains – A Nazi Villian Like No Other?

Ingrid Bergman Notorious Dress and Fur

In the next scene, Ingrid Bergman’s character Alicia is dressing for a formal dinner party.

She is wearing a white fitted blouse and matching elegant floor-length skirt, and flat shoes. She adds a white fur coat and white gloves.

The diamond necklace the American government agent loans for the occasion is an exquisite piece from Harry Winston that matches her diamond earrings.

Alicia attends dinner at Sebastian’s house and memorizes the names of the guests.

She notices the strange and dramatic reaction one guest, Emil, has to a particular bottle of wine…

Ingrid Bergman’s 1940’s Fashion In Notorious: Siren Suits: – Racetrack Outfit

Alicia attends a horse race with Sebastian and his mother.

This is the perfect place to accidentally “bump into” Devlin (Cary Grant) so that she can give him an update.

Her jealous new boyfriend Sebastian watches her through his binoculars, until he can’t stand the suspense any longer, and sets out to see what she’s up to.

Ingrid Bergman’s character Alicia is wearing a striking skirt suit, with a black skirt and blazer with micro-checkered contrast details and white blouse.

This is accessorized with a smart hat with netting and long black gloves.

Ingrid Bergman Notorious – Skirt Suit

Alicia visits Devlin and her government handlers at the agency.

She announces that Sebastian has proposed, and asks for advice.

The tension is palpable as she looks at Devlin (Cary Grant) who remains silent.

The answer? The government agency believes her marriage to the Nazi would be useful to the mission. 

Ingrid Bergman wears a tailored skirt suit, with a striped blouse that ties at the neck. She pairs this with a black purse, hat, and gloves (of course!). Her jewelry is simple gold hoop earrings. She’s also wearing her favorite pair of slingback flats!

Ingrid Bergman’s 1940’s Fashion – Skirt Suit with Fur

Alicia returns with Sebastian (Claude Rains) from their quick honeymoon to Sebastian’s cold and unwelcoming mansion.

His mother had sent the staff to bed instead of having them prepare dinner. 

She did not approve of her Sebastian marrying Alicia, as she wanted to be the only woman in her son’s life.

Ingrid Bergman wears a beautiful tailored travel coat, cinched in with a belt.

She has a fur stole draped across her shoulders, and is wearing a traveling hat and long gloves.

Ingrid Bergman Notorious Dress

Alicia unpacks from her honeymoon and uses this opportunity to search the rooms and closets in the mansion.

What exactly are the Nazi working on?

She quickly finds the one room in the house that she is not given a key for is… the wine cellar.

Ingrid Bergman wears a fitted long-sleeve blouse with padded shoulders and classy A-line skirt. Talk about classic 1940s style!

She completes the outfit with simple flats and earrings.

Ingrid Bergman’s 1940’s Fashion -Tailored Skirt Suit

Alicia secretly meets Devlin (Cary Grant) to update him on her house search.

They both conclude that she needs to get access to the wine cellar.

Cary Grant tells her to have her husband throw a huge party to introduce her to Rio society and invite him, so that he can help her search the wine cellar.

It’s obvious they are both still in love with each other, although they are trying to keep their meeting strictly business. 

Ingrid Bergman wears a black dress with a contrasting colored bodice that ties at the waist. She pairs this with black gloves, a black purse and her favorite slingback flats.

Forties fashion loved tailored skirt suits for ladies… and it’s no wonder!

Also a-line skirts (vs pencil skirts) were the “in” style in the 40s! And Ingrid Bergman pulls these off flawlessly.

Ingrid Bergman Notorious Dress

Sebastian hosts a huge house party to introduce his beautiful new bride to Rio society.

Alicia has to figure out how to steal the wine cellar key off his keyring.

Cary Grant arrives and they sneak off to the wine cellar to search it. They discover a suspicious substance in the wine bottles.

A bottle is accidentally broken and they try to quickly hide it and rush out of the cellar since they see Sebastian approaching.

They passionately kiss simply as “cover” so that Sebastian isn’t suspicious the they are spying.

Ingrid Bergman’s dress is a black long-sleeved floor-length dress that is cut in a deep V at the front and back. A beautiful representation of 1940s style.

It is gathered with a gold notched belt. Her earrings are an elegant string of diamonds and she is wearing a huge diamond ring. 

Her sculpted curls are pulled into a classy 1940s updo, with two victory roll curls in front. Her hair clip matches the pattern in her gold notched belt.

Ingrid Bergman’s 1940’s Style Lounging Dress

Sebastian (Claude Rains) discovers the broken bottle in the cellar and figures out that Alicia is an American spy.

He and his mother decide to slowly poison her via her coffee.

Meanwhile, so as not to raise suspicion among his Nazi friends, Sebastian continues to play the charming and thoughtful husband.

Ingrid Bergman’s character Alicia is wearing a black skirt and white long-sleeved fitted blouse as she drinks the poisoned coffee.

Ingrid Bergman Notorious – Wool Coat

Alicia visits a US government officer to update him on her mission.

While there, she asks him to close the blinds. She has a headache, but doesn’t know why.

Alicia has no idea she’s being poisoned.

Ingrid Bergman’s character Alicia is wearing a long fitted coat over a white blouse, with a jeweled accessory at the collar… paired with gloves, of course! 

What’s a 1940s outfit without gloves?

Ingrid Bergman’s 1940’s Fashion In Notorious – Blouse and Skirt

Alicia is walks outside to meet up with her husband and almost faints.

Her ever helpful husband offers his assistance as the Nazi doctor inquires with concern. 

She is slowly getting weaker and weaker from the poison.

Ingrid Bergman wears a long–sleeved blouse with padded shoulders and a black skirt with a large belt.

Ingrid Bergman Notorious Coat

Alicia meets with Devlin (Cary Grant), but is having a hard time staying awake and conversing since she is very sick.

Cary Grant wonders what’s going on and she jokes that she simply has a hangover. 

She wears a long coat with a scarf tied around her neck, simple flats, and gloves.

Ingrid Bergman Notorious Dress

Piecing together comments from the chatty Nazi doctor along with her husband’s weird behavior, Alicia makes some discoveries.

She figures out where the ore for the atomic bomb is being mined.

Ingrid Bergman wears a beautiful floor length black dress. This simple elegant 1940s dress is accented with a dramatic diamond leaf necklace and earrings.

Ingrid Bergman’s style for this delightful afternoon tête-à-tête is classy and elegant. She’s really dressed up for afternoon tea at the mansion.

After realizing she’s being poisoned by her ‘loving’ husband and mother-in-law, Alicia collapses and is confined to her bedroom.

Ingrid Bergman Notorious Fur Coat

Now Alicia is bedridden and Sebastian disconnects the phone and makes sure Alicia is guarded. 

He also ups her diet to include sleeping pills in addition to the poison.

Ingrid Bergman wears a white nightgown tied at the neck with a bow. She is too weak to get out of bed on her own. 

In the nick of time, Devlin bursts into her room to rescue her.

He helps Alicia put on her black overcoat and fur coat, and whisks her out of the house in front of all of the Nazis, brilliantly tricking Sebastian into helping.

It is a very stylish and suspenseful escape… and yes, it has a happy ending for Alicia and Devlin, although it’s a rather sudden ending.

This post was all about Ingrid Bergman’s 1940’s Fashion in Notorious and her beautiful 1940s outfits.

What were your favorite 1940’s outfits in Notorious 1946?

Did you prefer the Golden Age furs and evening gowns or the elegant house dresses? 

Bonus points! Did you notice how many different variations of grey and dark suits that Cary Grant wore?

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