The 58 Best Oscars Red Carpet Dresses of All Time
I loved Gwyneth Paltrow!
Celine Dion was wild!
Lupita Nyong in a beautiful blue
Nicole Kidman in red
Audrey Hepburn always a classic!
Angelina Jolie in relaxed elegance” – Joyce Rey
Full Article Here: Vogue
The Oscars are one of the most-watched red carpet events in the world (along with the Met Gala, of course) and the 96th annual Academy Awards on March 10 will surely deliver plenty of memorable fashion moments. Hollywood’s brightest stars are expected to hit a physical red carpet in their most dramatic looks, since stylists often keep their best gowns and suits for last. In honor of the grand upcoming event, Vogue is looking back at some of the very best Oscar dresses of all time.
Selected by our editors (past and present), this definitive list of our top Oscar fashion moments revisits many iconic looks. A crowd favorite was Rihanna in her baby bump-bearing Alaïa number last year, complete with leather accents, as well as Lupita Nyong’o’s sky-blue Prada gown from 2014, when the actress was nominated for 12 Years a Slave. Another standout was Nicole Kidman’s unexpected Balenciaga halter dress with a dramatic bow detail, which she wore in 2007. And who could forget Charlize Theron’s glittering Gucci gown from 2004, when she accepted Best Actress for Monster looking the part of a true Hollywood star?
Many picks are some of the Oscars’s more unexpected style moments, too: Céline Dion’s backwards Christian Dior tuxedo, Björk’s Marjan Pejoski swan dress, and Cameron Diaz’s slightly boho dress by Emanuel Ungaro Couture, among others. As for throwback hits, Barbra Streisand’s sheer jumpsuit by Arnold Scaasi, worn in 1969, is proof that having fun on the carpet always wins, as does Salma Hayek’s Armani look in 1997, complete with a tiara.
See these and more of Vogue’s votes for the best Oscars dresses below.
Gwyneth Paltrow in Tom Ford, 2012
Gwyneth Paltrow in Tom Ford at the 2012 Academy Awards: immaculate and uncluttered, and straight from Marge Sherwood’s steamer trunk.
—Jane Chun, Vogue Copy Chief
I love the pre-stylist, who-gives-an-eff-about-the-worst-dressed-list era of the Oscars—before everyone wore boring, perfect, off-the-shoulder mermaid dresses. In this sphere, nothing beats Björk’s swan dress, or Céline Dion’s backward tuxedo and top hat. But in more sane choices that still felt iconic and daring, Nicole Kidman’s Galliano for Dior in 1997: The color, the neckline, and the way she towered over Tom Cruise cannot be beat.
—Michelle Ruiz, Vogue Contributing Editor
I’m not the kind who subscribes to the notion of Disney princess red carpet moments, but there was something truly magical about the Prada dress that Lupita Nyong’o wore to the Oscars in 2014. First off, the pale sky blue color was such a great match for the actress, and a shade you don’t see too often in Hollywood. The silhouette was pretty special, too; seeing Nyong’o climb the steps to receive her award with a trail of pleated silk chiffon behind her was amazing. I had been rooting for her all season long, and the fact that she seemed to be poised and at ease in the dress made the moment extra special—the tiara was a nice finishing touch as well. It was just the right look for such a historic moment.
—Chioma Nnadi, Vogue Fashion News Director
Nicole Kidman’s cherry red Balenciaga gown from 2007! It still looks so modern and elegant. Someone could wear it this year and you’d never guess it was 11 years old. And I love anything with a bow!
—Emily Farra, Vogue Fashion News Writer
While Audrey Hepburn is best known for her gamine style through the 1950s (think: Funny Face and Roman Holiday) her ’60s and ’70s style has a permanent place on my mood board for its playful sophistication. This gown is just beautiful, and by her longtime collaborator Givenchy. You wouldn’t think midriff cutouts and Audrey Hepburn would go together, but the effect is just stunning. — Sarah Spellings, Vogue Fashion News Editor
Angelina Jolie can do no wrong in my book. Her leg-baring moment in Atelier Versace in 2012 was one of her most buzz-worthy red carpet looks, while her 2014 Elie Saab Couture dress was a lesson in mildly sheer elegance, but her best look of all time has to be the Marc Bouwer in 2004. In the most unforgiving combination of satin and white, it hugged her curves in all the right places with the right amount of décolletage revealed—Hollywood glam at its best.
—Christina Liao, Vogue Contributor
Browse our latest news and updates below
