For decades, A-listers have glammed up for the Golden Globes, turned out for the SAGs, and pulled out almost all the stops for the Grammys. But the mother of all award shows is the Oscars, where the all-star Hollywood glamour is always on full display.
From couture gowns to custom-made looks, the Oscars red carpet at the Oscars showcases the best, most unforgettable fashion, from Audrey Hepburn's white Givenchy dress in 1954 to the Dior gown Jennifer Lawrence wore to accept her Academy Award in 2013. It has also given us outfits that pushed the limits of what’s considered formalwear: Take, for example, Sharon Stone's 1998 Gap-shirt-and-Vera-Wang-skirt combo or Ariana De Bose's Valentino crop top-and-pants look, which she paired with a long train, in 2022.
While we patiently wait for this year’s Oscars — happening this Sunday at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, FYI — we’re brushing up on our Academy Awards fashion history with a trip down memory lane. Ahead, reminisce over the best Oscars red carpet looks of the past few decades, according to our fashion team.
Audrey Hepburn, 1954
It never took much to make the late Audrey Hepburn look glamorous, but in this Givenchy gown, Hepburn, glowing from winning an Oscar for Roman Holiday, is nothing short of perfection.
Photo: NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images.
Grace Kelly, 1955
Designed by arguably the most famous costumer in history, Edith Head, Grace Kelly's Oscars look was, like most of her outfits, an absolute winner.
Photo: Silver Screen Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty Images.
Madonna, 1991
Dripping in Old Hollywood glamour, this Bob Mackie ensemble was a feast for the eyes, featuring sparkle and fur aplenty.
Photo: Ron Galella/WireImage/Getty Images.
Winona Ryder, 1994
Who doesn't love a Gatsby-esque gown at the Oscars?
Photo: Ron Galella Collection/Getty Images.
Elizabeth Hurley, 1995
Head-to-toe white Versace? Sweetheart neckline? Floor-length sequins? Check! Check! Check!
Photo: Jim Smeal/WireImage/Getty Images.
Winona Ryder, 1996
While we're used to seeing '90s-era Winona Ryder donning all black, it was an unexpected surprise to see her in this champagne-colored vintage gown.
Photo: Jim Smeal/WireImage/Getty Images.
Courtney Love, 1997
The queen of grunge got all dolled up by Versace for the 1997 Academy Awards — and we support it 100%.
Photo: Jim Smeal/WireImage/Getty Images.
Sharon Stone, 1998
When it's combined with Vera Wang and draped on Sharon Stone, it's hard not to be convinced that Gap belongs on the red carpet. Photo: Mychal Watts/WireImage/Getty Images.
Celine Dion, 1999
A woman wearing a suit on the red carpet is hardly surprising in 2025. But, in 1999 — and styled backward — well, let's just say our minds were blown upon seeing Celine Dion in this John Galliano set.Photo: SGranitz/WireImage/Getty Images.
Gwyneth Paltrow, 1999
Pretty In Pink might have starred Molly Ringwald, but Gwyneth Paltrow (that year's Best Actress winner for Shakespeare in Love) looked the part in this bubblegum pink number by Ralph Lauren.
Photo: Frank Trapper/Corbis/Getty Images.
Queen Latifah, 2000
Blue is definitely Queen Latifah's color.
Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images.
Renée Zellweger, 2001
A long way from donning PJs all day and micro-minis at work in her role as Bridget Jones, Renée Zellweger classed it up for the red carpet in a vintage yellow gown by Jean Dresses.
Photo: Chris Weeks/Getty Images.
Halle Berry, 2002
Halle Berry became the first Black woman to win Best Actress at the Oscars in this stunning Elie Saab gown.
Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Getty Images.
Charlize Theron, 2004
Is Charlize Theron ever not glowing? Add Dior to the mix and you have a recipe for greatness.
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images.
Beyoncé Knowles, 2005
There to perform not one, not two, but three songs, Beyoncé went with a black velvet number that was made for her by Versace.
Photo: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images.
Michelle Williams, 2006
Accompanying her then-boyfriend, the late Heath Ledger, Michelle Williams was a shining ray of light in this yellow number by Vera Wang.
Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.
Nicole Kidman, 2007
Nicole Kidman is now a brand ambassador for Balenciaga, and after seeing the Oscar-winning Australian actress in this red-hot Balenciaga gown, it’s easy to see why.
Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.
Anne Hathaway, 2009
Is it just us, or does Anne Hathaway look like an actual Oscar in this fitted Armani Privé dress?
Photo: John Shearer/WireImage/Getty Images.
Cate Blanchett, 2011
In this lavender Haute Couture gown by Givenchy, Cate Blanchett wasn't just an award-winning actress — she was a fashion icon.
Michelle Williams, 2012
Wearing red on the red carpet isn't for the faint of heart. Nonetheless, Michelle Williams, nominated for her role as Marilyn Monroe in My Week With Marilyn, made it look like the easiest task in the world, thanks to one hell of a pixie cut and 300 hours of work in the Louis Vuitton Paris atelier.
Photo: Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images.
Angelina Jolie, 2012
No one does a high slit quite like Angelina Jolie, and this one generated one of the greatest Oscar memes ever.Photo: Donato Sardella/WireImage/Getty Images.
Jennifer Lawrence, 2013
En route to accept her Oscar for Silver Linings Playbook, Jennifer Lawrence had all eyes on her in this pastel-colored Dior gown. It was pretty chill, even for her. Photo: Gregg DeGuire/WireImage/Getty Images.
Lupita Nyong'o, 2014
Lupita Nyong'o — who won Best Supporting Actress for her role in 12 Years a Slave — lit up the sky in this baby blue Prada gown.Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images.
Zendaya, 2015
For an Oscars newbie, Zendaya looked anything but out of place in this Vivienne Westwood stunner of a gown.Photo: Dan MacMedan/WireImage/Getty Images.
Sienna Miller, 2015
For his red carpet debut designing for Oscar de la Renta, Peter Copping made quite the impression with this bow-embellished, square-neck gown on Sienna Miller.
Photo: Gregg DeGuire/WireImage/Getty Images.
Olivia Wilde, 2016
Olivia Wilde going backless in Valentino Haute Couture? We'll take it.
Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images.
Taraji P. Henson, 2017
Taraji P. Henson blew us back in time with this Old Hollywood-esque Alberta Ferretti velvet gown. And that necklace? Whew, we're getting excited just thinking about it.
Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.
Naomie Harris, 2017
Of the four Moonlight stars dressed by Raf Simons for Calvin Klein, this white sequin look on Naomie Harris took home the prize (for best-dressed) in our book.Photo: George Pimentel/FilmMagic/Getty Images.
Saoirse Ronan, 2018
A long way from dress shopping at a Sacramento thrift shop! This bubblegum pink frock on Lady Bird lead Saoirse Ronan is one for the record books.
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images.
Margot Robbie, 2018
Margot Robbie was a breath of fresh air in this showstopping white gown courtesy of Chanel.
Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images.
Gemma Chan, 2019
Hot pink came out running at the 91st Annual Academy Awards. But if you ask us, Gemma Chan won the marathon in this tiered Versace dress.
Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.
Cynthia Erivo, 2020
From the extra-high slit to the asymmetric neckline, this custom Versace gown includes everything that's good in the world.
Photo: Rick Rowell/Getty Images.
Scarlett Johansson, 2020
It's the peek-a-boo corset that really makes this Oscar de la Renta ensemble shine.
Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty Images.
Beanie Feldstein, 2020
We'll never grow tired of Beanie Feldstein wearing Miu Miu on the red carpet.
Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty Images.
Regina King, 2021
According to styling duo Wayman Bannerman and Micah McDonald, Regina King's custom winged Louis Vuitton gown includes 6,000 crystals. (Casual.)Photo: Chris Pizzello-Pool/Getty Images.
Zendaya, 2021
Between the midriff cut-out, the 183 carats of Bulgari diamonds, and the homage to Cher, Zendaya's 2021 Oscars look will go down in history. Photo: Chris Pizzello-Pool/Getty Images.
Ariana DeBose, 2022
Sure, a gown is all good. But Ariana DeBose challenged the award season dress code with this Valentino pantsuit and cape combo that made the Oscar winner a red carpet victor.photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images.
Florence Pugh, 2023
Miss Flo's black shorts underneath her Valentino divided the internet, but they made a statement — and changed red-carpet dressing in the process.Photo: Kayla Oaddams/WireImage.
Lily Gladstone, 2024
Lily Gladstone — the first Native American woman to be nominated for best actress — wore a custom Gucci gown that was made in collaboration with Indigenous artist Joe Big Mountain of Ironhorse Quillwork.Photo: KEVIN MAZUR/GETTY IMAGES
Sandra Hüller, 2024
German actor Sandra Hüller – who starred in two Best Picture nominees, Anatomy of a Fall and The Zone of Interest — capped off her fashionable red-carpet season in a velvet hourglass Schiaparelli gown with statement shoulders.Photo: ARTURO HOLMES/GETTY IMAGES
Da'Vine Joy Randolph, 2024
Supporting actress winner Da'Vine Joy Randolph made her Oscars debut in a show-stopping Louis Vuitton gown that had it all: sequins, ruffles, and a sheer train.
PHOTO: JOHN SHEARER/WIREIMAGE
Emily Blunt, 2024
Oppenheimer nominee Emily Blunt’s shimmering, floating-shoulder Schiaparelli gown was one to remember.
Photo: GILBERT FLORES/VARIETY/GETTY IMAGES
Emma Stone, 2024
The Poor Things star picked up her second Oscar in a corseted Louis Vuitton peplum gown that featured a sleek skirt and short train.
PHOTO: JOHN SHEARER/WIREIMAGE.
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