The Academy Awards are one of the most widely broadcast red carpet spectacles globally, drawing in millions of viewers (along with the Met Gala). The 94th Academy Awards, which will take place on March 27, will undoubtedly feature many great fashion moments. Because stylists frequently save their greatest dresses and outfits for last, it is assumed that Hollywood's top stars will walk the literal red carpet in their most spectacular appearances.
This comprehensive list of our best Oscar fashion moments, compiled by our editors (past and present), includes several memorable ensembles that have been revisited.
Nicole Kidman's surprising Balenciaga halter dress with a dramatic bow embellishment, which she wore to the 2007 Cannes Film Festival, was another highlight. And who could forget Charlize Theron's glistening Gucci gown from 2004 when she won the Best Actress award for Monster while appearing as the glamorous Hollywood diva she truly was?
Zendaya in Valentino, 2021
Zendaya seldom fails to perform the step and repeat it flawlessly, but her Oscars gown from 2021 is one of her all-time favourites. The striking yellow colour on its own makes a statement, but I also appreciate that she chose a modern touch on the classic floor-length gown by including a modest cutaway. The design was youthful and playful, and it struck the right mix between beauty and comfort.
Janelle Monáe in Ralph Lauren, 2020
She is one of those celebrities who can pull off any silhouette or colour on the red carpet, and who better wear this sequined (and cape-adorned!) Ralph Lauren gown than Janelle Monáe? I adore that it's so out of the ordinary—and even a touch futuristic—yet manages to read as quite gorgeous at the same time.
Audrey Hepburn in Givenchy, 1975
In addition to her gamine style from the 1950s (think Funny Face and Roman Holiday), Audrey Hepburn's style from the 1960s and 1970 has a permanent spot on my mood board because of its whimsical sophistication. This gown is stunning, and it was designed by Givenchy. You wouldn't think that midriff cuts and Audrey would go together, yet the result is very lovely in person.
Cameron Diaz
It took some deliberation, in part because of the Fred Leighton necklace/belt and, more importantly, because it's refreshing to see glamour with a boho edge rather than a glitzy edge—not to mention that the easy beauty of this look jives with who I understand the actress to be.
Jessica Alba in Versace, 2006
I remember seeing this garment when I was younger and being taken aback. Looking back on it today, I'm still of the same opinion. Her shape is tastefully accentuated by this timeless dress, which perfectly fits her. The decorations on the bottom half of the dress are delicate and exquisite. The dress is available in two sizes. I like how she matched it with simple jewellery (I'm a big fan of earring combinations!) and a sophisticated updo. Because of the hue, she appears to be glistening, like a ray of sunshine. I adore items that allow me to move freely while yet being form-fitting without being overly restrictive at the same time and vice versa. This dress appears to be one of such outfits. I hope to have an occasion to wear a dress like this in the future!
Charlize Theron in Gucci, 2004
A perfect example of this is Charlize Theron's glistening silver Gucci gown, demonstrating that less is frequently more on the red carpet. Although it has a basic form, it is one of the most memorable costumes in the Academy Awards history; this can be attributed to its impeccable fit. She looked every inch the part of a real Hollywood movie star when she received her Best Actress award for Monster later that year.
Lupita Nyong'o in Prada, 2014
the Prada gown Lupita Nyong'o wore to the Oscars in 2014 had something special. First and foremost, the soft sky blue hue was a perfect complement for the actress and a tone that isn't commonly seen in the entertainment industry. I had been pulling for her throughout the season, and the fact that she appeared calm and at ease in the dress added to the specialness of the occasion—the tiara was a great finishing touch, too. That particular ensemble was just appropriate for such an important occasion.
Marion Cotillard in Jean Paul Gaultier, 2008
To this day, Marion Cotillard's appearance at the 2008 Academy Awards in Jean Paul Gaultier Couture remains one of my favourite fashion moments of all time. It was her big moment—winning the Best Actress award for her depiction of Edith Piaf in La Vie en Rose—and her gown couldn't have been more perfectly suited to the occasion. At the same time, the form-fitting fishtail design was sensual and modest, and the exquisite scallop pattern was just stunning
Cate Blanchett in Givenchy Couture, 2011
I remember the first time I saw the Givenchy Spring 2011 Haute Couture collection, which was shown inside the gilded Place Vendôme and evoked the terrifying beauty of angels with its juxtaposition of soft texture and armour-like tailoring. It was only fitting that Cate Blanchett reinforced that notion with this lilac and chartreuse ensemble.
Elsie Fisher in Thom Browne, 2019
My favourite Oscars clothes make me think about how happy—or unhappy—I'd be if I were the one walking down the red carpet on Hollywood's biggest night. I adore Elsie Fisher's Thom Browne suit from 2019; it's polished and elegant while making her look like a mini Margot Tenenbaum, thanks to her barrette and clutch. Most importantly, she appears to be at ease, which I would have wanted to convey if I had been the one attending the Academy Awards when I was 15 years old (perish the thought).
Jane Fonda, 1972
In 1972, Jane Fonda won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Klute. Yves Saint Laurent couture tunic and pants, complete with shag hairdo, she wore when she worked at Roger Vadim Paris in the role of Bree in the film. Modern prom mermaids appear like them because of their immaculate and ever-present elegance. As a Jane Fonda fanatic, my mother decided to style my sister and I's hair in the same way she did.
Halle Berry in Elie Saab, 2002
In 2002, Halle Berry wore this Elie Saab gown at the Academy Awards, which sparked my love of Academy Awards fashion. Something about the garment is instantly recognisable and powerful—from the form to the intricate embroidering, it has remained my absolute favourite over the years. In addition, the fact that she wore it while winning the award for Best Actress, becoming her the first Black woman to do so, only adds to its historical significance.
Michelle Williams in Vera Wang, 2006
Michelle Williams is dressed in a canary yellow gown. In my opinion, Vera Wang's appearance during the 2006 event was the finest dressed. The dress's colour and draping and the intricate draping should have looked terrible on paper, but Williams pulled it off like a pro, selecting the exact shade of deep red lipstick to suit her garment. I also have to mention Scarlett Johansson, who finished off her modest black Roland Mouret gown with a tiara at the 2005 Academy Awards. She looked stunning. These two outfits lean toward the editorial end of the spectrum, so I like them to the conventional Oscar fodder you see. I remember growing up and seeing both Williams and Johansson on the red carpet and thought they looked like they had walked out of the pages of Vogue (particularly, the February 2004 edition with Natalie Portman on the cover sporting her new '20s hairstyle).
Angelina Jolie in Marc Bouwer, 2004
In my opinion, Angelina Jolie is incapable of making a mistake. She made headlines in 2012 for her leg-baring Atelier Versace gown, and her Elie Saab Couture gown in 2014 was a lesson in somewhat sheer elegance. However, her favourite red carpet style has to be the Marc Bouwer gown she wore that year. It fitted her curves in all the right places and showed just the perfect amount of décolletage in the most uncompromising mix of satin and white—Hollywood glam at its finest.
Hilary Swank in Guy Laroche, 2005
The front of the building is for business, while the back is for partying! That was the message sent by the Guy Laroche gown Hilary Swank wore in 2005 in honour of her birthday. The dark blue colour was a refreshing change to black, and the backless shape skimmed the derriere, making a bold statement from every aspect. Swank, nominated for her performance in Million Dollar Baby (for which she was later awarded the Best Actress Oscar that night), demonstrated that cleavage isn't the only way to show some flesh on Oscar's red carpet with a wonderfully sculpted figure.
Tilda Swinton in Lanvin, 2009
I like and respect those who take fashion risks, especially when they do it on a platform as important as the Oscars. Tilda Swinton tends to break the rules on the red carpet, and one of my favourite looks of hers was her Lanvin gown from 2009. I felt Swinton's appearance to be royal, magnificent, and statuesque, even though others branded it a "worst dressed" choice.
Cher in Bob Mackie, 1974
Cher has worn several famous Oscars outfits during her career. From the gold-bejewelled Bob Mackie two-piece set she wore to the 1973 ceremony to the opulent black gown she wore to the 1986 ceremony (also a Mackie creation), which seemed to be more of an excuse for her to don that matching, she's always walked the red carpet in something truly memorable. However, I believe the 1974 Mackie-designed style has received less attention than it deserves. It has a watercolour-esque print of pastel hues on a flattering tube top, paired with a flowing skirt in the same colour scheme. Adding matching makeup, a glittery floral neckpiece, and a tiara completed Cher's ensemble.
Céline Dion in Christian Dior, 1999
My favourite period of the Oscars is the pre-stylist, who gives a f*ck about the worst dressed list age—before everyone wore boring, beautiful, off-the-shoulder mermaid gowns to the ceremony. Nothing tops Björk's swan dress or Céline Dion's reverse tuxedo and top hat when it comes to this category. However, in terms of more sensible choices that were nonetheless memorable and daring, Nicole Kidman's Galliano for Dior gown from 1997 is unbeatable: the colour, the neckline, and the way she towered over Tom Cruise cannot be topped.
Anjelica Huston in Halston, 1975
Halston and the Academy Awards in 1975 made for an interesting pairing. In a fish scale–patterned iridescent piece by the designer, Anjelica Huston looked like a modern-day mermaid, while Lauren Hutton teamed a pastel-hued gown with a fur teddy and exposed, bronzed skin—two outfits that demonstrated that glamour and ease could go hand in hand.
Barbra Streisand in Arnold, 1969
While walking the red carpet in a transparent sequined suit may seem like a bold move amid a sea of princess dresses and Grecian flour, it's difficult to imagine anything more gorgeous. Even though Barbra Streisand's winning Academy Awards ensemble (for which she won Best Actress for Funny Girl in 1969) drew some criticism at the time, the ensemble now appears to be proof that having fun with fashion—and standing out in a crowd—is always the best choice in the long run, as evidenced by her performance in Funny Girl.
Alicia Vikander in Louis Vuitton, 2016
Her first Oscar was received in a soft yellow Louis Vuitton gown inspired by Belle from Beauty and the Beast, with some quirky elements added: a bubble hem and an uneven rain of silver sequins. She wore it with style and pleasure, and the result was stunning.
Vanity Fair, Winona Ryder, 1996
At the 1996 Oscars, Winona Ryder's retro look was stunning. Ryder is one of the few people who does Old Hollywood glamour better than anyone else, and her love of vintage often means that she's wearing old artefacts that she references. One of her most memorable flapper moments was when she paired her exquisitely beaded Champagne-colored gown with marcel waves and jewels.
