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The Best Oscars Dresses of All Time

64 Iconic Oscars Looks So Beautiful, They Deserve an Award of Their Own

Mar 25 2022

Sports fanatics have the Olympics, but for fashion-lovers, it's Oscars night we count down to. We build our brackets, rustle up some snacks, and sit back with our friends to weigh in on every stunning dress that comes down the red carpet — or the virtual runway, aka our Instagram feeds. Every year, we wait excitedly for those looks, the ones that take our breath away. The anticipation's been building for months, and we can hardly wait for the big day to arrive. Who will be the standout star of 2022? Only time will tell. So, to tide us over, we've rounded up the iconic Oscars dresses we'll never forget.

— Additional reporting by Haley Lyndes and Sarah Wasilak

Image Source: Getty / John T. Barr

Elizabeth Taylor at the 1953 Academy Awards

Elizabeth Taylor beamed in this cinched strapless gown.

Image Source: Getty / Bettmann

Audrey Hepburn at the 1954 Academy Awards

Audrey's timeless Givenchy dress and belt will forever go down in history.

Image Source: Getty / Bettmann

Grace Kelly at the 1954 Academy Awards

Grace Kelly celebrated her award for best actress for the movie The Country Girl in a stunning cinched dress.

Image Source: Getty / Sunset Boulevard

Sophia Loren at the 1958 Academy Awards

Sophia wore a skintight satin floral dress to the Oscars in 1958.

Image Source: Getty / Bettmann

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Rita Moreno at the 1962 Academy Awards

Rita Moreno wore this shimmery gown in 1962 when she won the award for best supporting actress for her role as Anita in West Side Story, then she wore it again at the Oscars in 2018!

Image Source: Getty / Bettmann

Faye Dunaway at the 1968 Academy Awards

Faye dominated this feathered Theadora Van Runkle gown.

Image Source: Getty / Bettmann

Barbra Streisand at the 1969 Academy Awards

Barbra Streisand took a daring leap with this sheer Arnold Scaasi dress, and we're sure happy she did!

Image Source: Getty / Bettmann

Audrey Hepburn at the 1975 Academy Awards

Sticking with Givenchy, Audrey caught everyone's attention in this beaded number.

Image Source: Getty / Bettmann

Diana Ross at the 1985 Academy Awards

Diana Ross's sparkly gown made her look like a real-life princess as she performed at the 57th annual Academy Awards.

Image Source: Getty / -

Cher at the 1988 Academy Awards

Cher looked as stunning as ever while holding her award for best actress for the movie Moonstruck.

Image Source: Getty / Frank Trapper

Daryl Hannah at the 1988 Academy Awards

Daryl paired her gorgeous gold dress with a pair of elbow-length gloves, and we love what they add to her look.

Image Source: Getty / Frank Trapper

Cindy Crawford at the 1993 Academy Awards

The supermodel graced the 65th annual Academy Awards show in a skintight Herve Leger dress.

Image Source: Getty / KMazur

Whitney Houston at the 1994 Academy Awards

Whitney Houston looked like a true girl boss at the 66th annual Academy Awards wearing an all-white pantsuit.

Image Source: Getty / Steven D Starr

Elizabeth Hurley at the 1995 Academy Awards

The model and actress dazzled at the Oscars in 1995 wearing a sparkly Versace gown.

Image Source: Getty / Frank Trapper

Mira Sorvino at the 1996 Academy Awards

Mira stunned in this strapless Armani gown at the Oscars in 1996.

Image Source: Getty / S. Granitz

Nicole Kidman at the 1997 Academy Awards

Celebs wearing couture on the red carpet wasn't a new concept in 1997, but this dress looked so good on Nicole that it will go down in history as one of the best looks at the Oscars.

Image Source: Getty / Kevin Mazur Archive

Sharon Stone at the 1998 Academy Awards

Sharon stunned fashion observers everywhere when she tucked one of her husband's white Gap shirts into a ball skirt by Vera Wang.

Image Source: Getty / Ke.Mazur

Cate Blanchett at the 1999 Academy Awards

Cate wore a gown by John Galliano.

Image Source: Getty / Andrew Shawaf

Gwyneth Paltrow at the 1999 Academy Awards

This pink Ralph Lauren dress will go down in history as an Oscars classic.

Image Source: Getty / Evan Agostini

Chloë Sevigny at the 2000 Academy Awards

Alber Elbaz designed this timeless black gown while he was still the creative director at Yves Saint Laurent.

Image Source: Getty / SGranitz

Charlize Theron at the 2000 Academy Awards

Charlize exuded confidence and sex appeal in this orange Vera Wang dress.

Image Source: Getty / Jeffrey Mayer

Winona Ryder at the 2000 Academy Awards

This strapless number caught everyone's attention at the Oscars in 2000.

Image Source: Getty / Jeff Kravitz

Uma Thurman at the 2000 Academy Awards

Though it was nearly the same colour as the red carpet, this Alberta Ferretti gown stood out at the 2000 Oscars.

Image Source: Getty / Jim Smeal

Renée Zellweger at the 2001 Academy Awards

Renée chose a very happy vintage dress by French designer Jean Dessès.

Image Source: Getty / Steve Granitz

Julia Roberts at the 2001 Academy Awards

Julia Roberts's simple yet stunning Valentino gown carried her from the red carpet to the winners' room.

Image Source: Getty / Terry McGinnis

Halle Berry at the 2002 Academy Awards

Halle wore an Elie Saab gown with a sheer bodice and a full skirt to the awards in 2002, where she became the first black woman to win an Oscar for best actress in a leading role.

Image Source: Getty / Steve Granitz

Kate Hudson at the 2003 Academy Awards

Wearing a champagne-coloured Versace gown, Kate Hudson looked like a classic Hollywood star.

Image Source: Getty / SGranitz

Sofia Coppola at the 2004 Academy Awards

The filmmaker supported her longtime friend Marc Jacobs when she chose one of his dresses for the red carpet.

Image Source: Getty / Carlo Allegri

Vanessa Paradis at the 2004 Academy Awards

The actress, with then-boyfriend Johnny Depp, wore a vintage Chanel gown on the red carpet.

Image Source: Getty / Steve Granitz

Cate Blanchett at the 2005 Academy Awards

The Valentino gown Cate wore in 2005 channeled old-school Hollywood glamour.

Image Source: Film Magic

Beyoncé at the 2005 Academy Awards

A vintage Versace dress accentuated Beyoncé's curves.

Image Source: Getty / ROBYN BECK

Hilary Swank at the 2005 Academy Awards

This backless navy blue Guy Laroche dress gave Hilary an element of polish and elegance.

Image Source: Getty / Kevin Mazur

Natalie Portman at the 2005 Academy Awards

This Lanvin gown made Natalie look like a Greek goddess.

Image Source: Getty / Steve Granitz

Michelle Williams at the 2006 Academy Awards

Vera Wang designed the sunny yellow dress Michelle chose for the red carpet in 2006.

Image Source: Getty / KMazur

Nicole Kidman at the 2007 Academy Awards

The actress wore a red gown by Balenciaga's former designer Nicolas Ghesquière on the red carpet.

Image Source: Getty / Kevin Mazur

Reese Witherspoon at the 2007 Academy Awards

The actress wore a tiered Nina Ricci gown dyed varying degrees of purple to the awards in 2007.

Image Source: Getty / Kevin Mazur

Zoe Saldana at the 2010 Academy Awards

Zoe Saldana wore a purple confectionary creation by Givenchy couturier Riccardo Tisci.

Image Source: WireImage

Diane Kruger at the 2010 Academy Awards

Diane chose a cream and black dress by Chanel for the big show in 2010.

Image Source: Getty / Kevin Mazur

Sandra Bullock at the 2010 Academy Awards

Sandra looked like a winner — and become one later that evening — in this silver gown by Marchesa.

Image Source: Getty / Steve Granitz

Cate Blanchett at the 2011 Academy Awards

Cate's lavender gown, created by Givenchy, looked like couture armour on the red carpet.

Image Source: Getty / Jason Merritt

Michelle Williams at the 2012 Academy Awards

The actress chose a strapless red lace gown by Louis Vuitton.

Image Source: Getty / Jason Merritt

Natalie Portman at the 2012 Academy Awards

The actress wore a strapless vintage gown by Christian Dior.

Image Source: Getty / Kevork Djansezian

Angelina Jolie at the 2012 Academy Awards

Angelina showed off plenty of leg in this strapless black velvet Versace gown in 2012.

Image Source: Getty / Ethan Miller

Gwyneth Paltrow at the 2012 Academy Awards

This caped Tom Ford gown helped Gwyneth look like a superhero.

Image Source: Getty / Jason Merritt

Rooney Mara at the 2012 Academy Awards

Rooney's elegant white Givenchy gown still had plenty of bite — just like her character in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Image Source: Getty / Michael Buckner

Kerry Washington at the 2013 Academy Awards

Kerry's sparkly Miu Miu dress added a jolt of energy at the Oscars last year.

Image Source: Getty / Dan MacMedan

Jennifer Lawrence at the 2013 Academy Awards

Jennifer's pale Dior couture gown made her look like a princess — that is, until she fell in it while accepting her award.

Image Source: Getty / FREDERIC J. BROWN

Charlize Theron at the 2013 Academy Awards

The simplicity of this Dior gown didn't stop it from being one of the most stunning dresses on the red carpet in 2013.

Image Source: Getty / Dan MacMedan

Lupita Nyong'o at the 2014 Academy Awards

Lupita was the belle of the ball in this ethereal blue Prada gown.

Image Source: Getty / Jason Merritt

Zendaya at the 2015 Academy Awards

Zendaya looked like a goddess on the 2015 Oscars red carpet in this silky white Vivienne Westwood gown.

Image Source: Getty / Jason Merritt/TERM

Jennifer Lopez at the 2015 Academy Awards

The singer and actress turned heads in a blush-coloured tulle dress from Elie Saab.

Image Source: Getty / Jason Merritt/TERM

Lupita Nyong'o at the 2015 Academy Awards

Lupita showed up on the red carpet wearing a custom Calvin Klein Collection gown adorned with 6,000 pearls.

Image Source: Getty / Kevin Mazur

Emma Stone at the 2015 Academy Awards

In an unexpected move, Emma opted for a chartreuse custom Elie Saab gown in 2015.

Image Source: Getty / Jason Merritt/TERM

Charlize Theron at the 2016 Academy Awards

Charlize Theron wore a red-hot Dior Haute Couture dress in 2016.

Image Source: Getty / Jeffrey Mayer

Alicia Vikander at the 2016 Academy Awards

Alicia Vikander wore a pastel yellow custom Louis Vuitton dress with sparkly details at the Oscars in 2016.

Image Source: Getty / Jason Merritt/TERM

Janelle Monae at the 2017 Academy Awards

Janelle wore an Elie Saab Haute Couture dress, Jennifer Behr crown, Forevermark jewels, and Brian Atwood shoes.

Image Source: Getty / Steve Granitz

Taraji P. Henson at the 2018 Academy Awards

Taraji kept it simple and let the cutouts be the centre of attention on this Vera Wang dress.

Image Source: Getty / Kevin Mazur

Gina Rodriguez at the 2018 Academy Awards

Gina looked like an actual princess in this Zuhair Murad Couture dress.

Image Source: Getty / Kevin Mazur

Jennifer Garner at the 2018 Academy Awards

Jennifer made a statement in this electric blue Atelier Versace draped gown.

Image Source: Getty / Kevin Mazur

Margot Robbie at the 2018 Academy Awards

Margot looked angelic in this custom Chanel Haute Couture dress.

Image Source: Getty / Steve Granitz

Billy Porter at the 2019 Academy Awards

Billy Porter made a dramatic entrance in a custom Christian Siriano velvet tuxedo gown in 2019.

Image Source: Getty / Frazer Harrison

Gemma Chan at the 2019 Academy Awards

Crazy Rich Asians star Gemma Chan turned heads at the Oscars in 2019 when she graced the red carpet in a ruffled pink Valentino gown.

Image Source: Getty / Frazer Harrison

Lady Gaga at the 2019 Academy Awards

The A Star Is Born actress attended the 2019 Oscars wearing a black strapless Alexander McQueen gown, complete with glam gloves.

Image Source: Getty / Frazer Harrison

Charlize Theron at the 2019 Academy Awards

The actress showed off a sexy back cutout in a Dior Haute Couture gown that hugged each and every single one of her curves.

Image Source: Getty / Frazer Harrison

Janelle Monáe at the 2020 Academy Awards

Janelle wore this incredible hooded Ralph Lauren gown to the ceremony, complemented with diamond rings and a matching choker.

Image Source: Getty / Barcroft Media

Beanie Feldstein at the 2020 Academy Awards

The shimmer on Beanie Feldstein's Miu Miu dress is undeniable when you zoom in close on those sequins!

Image Source: Getty / Kevin Mazur

Billie Eilish at the 2020 Academy Awards

Billie showed up in head-to-toe Chanel to perform "Yesterday" by The Beatles at the award show.

Image Source: Getty / Barcroft Media

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