Whether tragedy, comedy or history, a Shakespeare play is damn likely to offer some good wardrobe opportunities. Here are 15 of our favourite cinema style moments in Shakespeare adaptations (and we do listen to the words as well as staring at the corsets).

1. Claire Danes as Juliet in Romeo + Juliet, 1996

All adolescents obsess over Romeo and Juliet, with its romantic themes of passion, young love and conflict – but none more so than our generation, which grew up swooning over Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. Danes is divine in a wardobe of white dresses – in this party scene, she's literally angelic.

2. Jessica Lange as Tamora in Titus, 1999

In this adaptation of Titus Andronicus, revenge is a dish best served by Jessica Lange wearing a LOT of gold. She wears variations on this theme throughout and is fabulously fierce. A critic at the Rolling Stone described her as 'seething with sexuality'.  

3. Helen Mirren as Prospera in The Tempest, 2010

There are definite Gareth Pugh vibes to Helen Mirren's fantastically tough, sculptural wardrobe. However we can't vouch for the film – it co-stars Russell Brand.

4. Elizabeth Taylor as Katharina in The Taming of the Shrew, 1967

No matter who Elizabeth Taylor played, she always managed to look so fantastically... Elizabeth Taylor-y. Cleavage: check. Big hair: check. Heavy brows: check and check again. 

5. Gwyneth Paltrow as Viola in Shakespeare in Love, 1998

OK, this is not technically a Shakespeare play – but on the basis that Gwyneth Paltrow's character is suggested to be the inspiration for Twelfth Night's Viola, we'll allow it. The costumes are gorgeous, especially this heavily embroidered and beaded dress.

6. Julia Stiles as Desi in O, 2001

O was a 2001 reimagining of Othello, and Julia Stiles' preppy high-school wardrobe as 'Desi' underlines the innocence of the original character.

7. Judi Dench as Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream, 1967

You don't know Judi Dench until you've seen her as a wild, semi-naked Titania. Don't be put off by the skimpiness (or indeed, by the terrible donkey head worn by Bottom) – Dench's performance is excellent as ever.

8. Imogen Stubbs as Viola in Twelfth Night, 1996

Yes, that's Imogen Stubbs playing a woman who's playing a man. Keep up. If you must play a character in drag, this pin-sharp 19th century military uniform is a pretty great solution.

9. Irene Jacob as Desdemona in Othello, 1995

Jacob's Desdemona reminds us faintly of Maid Marian in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves – she's what can only be described as 'a damsel', with hair that can only be described as 'tumbling'.

10. Emily Mortimer, Carmen Ejogo, Alicia Silverstone and Natascha McElhone as Katherine, Maria, The Princess and Rosaline in Love's Labour's Lost, 2000

Mortimer, Ejogo, Silverstone and McElhone play the four temptresses of Love's Labour's Lost, distracting the heroes as they swear off women. Kenneth Branagh's film adaptation is set in the 1930s, and there's a series of co-ordinating dresses, netted hats and fishnets, all of which we'd like to borrow.

11. Kristin Scott Thomas as Lady Anne in Richard III, 1995

To be fair, Kristin Scott Thomas looks glorious in everything – but this is another 1930s adaptation with an enviable wardrobe, full of vintage furs and pin curls.

12. Amy Acker as Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, 2012

Feisty Beatrice is all tea-dresses and undone hair in Joss Whedon's modern adaptation – a Buffy for the Shakespeare world.

13. Dakota Johnson as Imogen in Cymbeline, 2014

2014 will apparently see a new adaptation of the tragedy Cymbeline, though there's no release date yet. Dakota Johnson plays the innocent, virtuous Imogen, and the production looks like a stylish one.

14. Michelle Pfeiffer as Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream, 1999

Another Titania, but this one is a lot more Hollywood than Judi Dench's – note the size of that fantastic crown. 

15. Annette Bening as Queen Elizabeth in Richard III, 1995

We must never forget about Annette Bening, who is brilliant in everything. Here we see her in 1930s bonnets, showstopping evening gowns and red lipstick. Her life is tragic but her wardrobe is triumphant.

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