Ava Gardner Mogambo | Grace Kelly Mogambo - 14 Epic Safari Outfits
This post may contain affiliate links
Ava Gardner Mogamo and Grace Kelly Mogambo show us how chic 1950’s safari fashion can be in the 1953 movie Mogambo.
This post is all about Ava Gardner Mogambo and Grace Kelly Mogambo
Mogambo Movie Synopsis
The Mogambo cast consists of the old hollywood stars Clark Gable, (Victor Marswell) Ava Gardner, (Eloise Kelly) and Grace Kelly. (Linda Nordley).
The movie centers around Victor Marswell, a tough safari guide who is fought over by two women—you guessed it—Ava Gardner and Grace Kelly.
The two women have very different personalities which is reflected in their clothing.
Ava Gardner is the showgirl who is stranded in Mogambo after being stood up by a maharaja whom she was supposed to go on Safari with, while Grace Kelly plays the more ‘proper’ married woman who decides that she prefers Clark Gable to her husband.
The Mogambo movie is a remake of the 1932 movie Red Dust.
Red Dust also starred Clark Gable playing the same role, but with Jean Harlow in the ‘showgirl’ role, and Mary Astor in the ‘proper’ role.
Grace Kelly and Ava Gardner Mogambo 1953 fashion
The fashion in the film was designed by Helen Rose, who actually later designed Grace Kelly’s wedding gown when she married her real-life Prince in 1956.
Grace Kelly Fashion
Grace Kelly’s fashion in Mogambo are understated and conservative.
They consist mostly of button up tops, slacks or skirts, safari jackets, and one evening gown.
Ava Gardner Fashion
Ava Gardner’s Fashion in Mogambo is flashier than Grace Kelly’s.
Her clothing consists of form-fitting tops, off the shoulder tops, along with some slacks and also one evening gown.
Ava Gardner Mogambo Style #1
Ava Gardner’s first outfit in the movie is actually nothing. Literally.
She’s taking a shower in some sort of outside showers and has Clark Gable toss her a robe.
He tosses her this yellow robe which he had conveniently picked up and was carrying with him.
Ava Gardner Mogambo Style #2
After she gets fully dressed, Ava Gardner puts on a green off-the-shoulder top with a full skirt and a belt that emphasizes the waist.
She accessorizes it with a necklace, bracelets, and heels.
Ava Gardner Mogambo Style #3
For bedtime, she comes out in a negligee with a robe on the top.
Of course it wouldn’t be complete without some high-heeled slippers to go along with it.
Seeing a snake gives her the perfect opportunity to jump into Clark Gable’s arms.
Ava Gardner Mogambo Style #4
All seems hunky dory for a short period of time between Eloise and Victor.
She’s playing the piano and singing in this classic outfit of loafers, slacks, and a short sleeved button up blouse that’s tucked in at the waist.
Ava Gardner Mogambo Style #5
The spell gets broken when Victor informs her that her boat has arrived and she better hurry up to get on it.
Angry, she nonetheless decides to leave in style, and wears this gorgeous white skirt suit accessorized with a wide bracelet, a single strand of pearls, and yellow parasol.
Grace Kelly Mogambo Style #1
The same boat that Eloise is leaving on, conveniently brings in Linda (Grace Kelly) and her husband Donald.
Donald is an anthropologist that wants to study the monkeys, and his wife Linda is along to keep him company.
Grace Kelly wears a conservative tan suit.
Her husband, Donald, has a severe reaction to the shots they were given earlier in the day and collapses onto the bed with a fever.
Grace Kelly Mogambo Style #2
Linda (Grace Kelly) conveniently runs into Victor wearing her nightgown.
Ava Gardner Mogambo
After Linda and her husband get settled in for the night, guess who shows back up, but Eloise? Her boat somehow got wrecked and so she hiked back in her white suit.
Victor informs her the Linda and her husband are in her room so she’ll have to find another one.
Grace Kelly Mogambo Style and Ava Gardner Mogambo Style
The next morning Grace Kelly is daintily drinking her tea (don’t you love how she’s using fancy china!) when Eloise comes over to introduce herself. She’s wearing a simple short sleeved button up top tucked into a skirt.
Ava Gardner is wearing a sweater tee and slacks, accented with a scarf and jewelry.
Eloise offends Linda pretty quickly into their conversation, so Linda takes off in a huff to go for a walk.
Ava Gardner Mogambo Style #5
Ava Gardner changes into an off-the-shoulder blouse with pearls and a skirt when she casually tells Victor that Linda has gone off by herself.
Victor runs out after Linda with a gun and shoots a black panther just in time as it was about to attack Linda.
Ava Gardner Mogambo Style #6
Linda’s husband is feeling better at this point, so they all dress up for dinner.
Ava Gardner wears a strapless white evening gown, this time accented with a double-strand of pearls.
Grace Kelly Mogambo Style #4
Grace Kelly wears a purple evening gown with sheer sleeves and full skirt.
Ava Gardner Mogambo Style #7
Now for the actual safari to go find the monkey’s for Linda’s husband.
Eloise has to tag along as she doesn’t want to spend several weeks alone.
For the safari, she’s wearing slacks, a blue and white button up blouse, complete with a yellow scarf and cardigan.
Grace Kelly Mogambo Style #5
Grace Kelly looks very safari-like in her tan hat and white blouse.
She also seems to be wearing a red necktie?
During the safari, Linda believes she’s now in love with Victor and no longer in love with her husband.
Victor thinks that maybe the reason he never got married was because he hadn’t met Linda yet.
It’s actually Eloise that talks some sense into Victor.
Linda walks in on Victor and Eloise getting cozy with some alcohol and turns away in tears.
And so, the triangle ends, just like that.
Eloise ends up staying with Victor, and Linda leaves with her husband.
This post was all about Ava Gardner Mogambo and Grace Kelly Mogambo
Who’s fashion did you like better in Mogambo? Ava Gardner’s or Grace Kelly’s?
Other posts you might like:
3 Insanely Chic Ways to Copy Grace Kelly Rear Window Jeans Outfit
Ava Gardner in The Barefoot Contessa 1954 - Her Glamorous Role and Fashion
In a Lonely Place - Gloria Grahame’s Stunning Femme Fatale Style
