The best Oscars red carpet moments of all time

April 23, 2021 - 09:44 BST hellomagazine.com

1/51

By Heather Cichowski

The Oscars is Hollywood's biggest night. So, the Academy Awards are when celebrities put on their very best looks. They might have dazzled during the rest of awards season with their fashion, but the Oscars are the grand finale and often when A-listers make their most extravagant style statements. That has left us with many fond memories of exquisite fashion from stars including Cate Blanchett, Jennifer Lawrence and Lupita Nyong'o.

Scroll through the gallery (or click through if you're on desktop) to see all of the best Oscars gowns of all time.

Photos: © Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Gregg DeGuire/WireImage, SGranitz/WireImage

2/51

1956

Grace Kelly defined timeless elegance at the 28th Annual Academy Awards in a full skirt and short evening gloves. It was her last Oscars appearance before leaving Hollywood to marry Prince Rainier of Monaco.

Photo: © Bettmann

3/51

1965

My Fair Lady's Audrey Hepburn was the picture of elegance in a white gown and long gloves at the Oscars that year.

Photo: © Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

4/51

1969

Barbra Streisand's glittering sheer look at that year's Academy Awards remains a standout thanks to the unconventional style. She won the Best Actress award for Funny Girl in a tie with Katharine Hepburn.

Photo: © Bettmann

5/51

1973

No one does the red carpet like Cher! The singer-actress wore a decorative yellow crop top and skirt to the 45th Annual Academy Awards. She attended with Sonny Bono.

Photo: © Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

6/51

1986

Cher always knows how to make a style statement! And the singer-actress definitely did at the Academy Awards. She wore a Bob Mackie ensemble complete with an oversized feathered headpiece and harness bra top.

Photo: © Bettmann

7/51

1988

When Cher won her Best Actress in a Leading Role Oscar for Moonstruck, she donned a racy head-turning gown with fringed beading and a billowing stole.

Photo: © John Barr/Liaison

8/51

1992

A Few Good Men's Demi Moore embraced the glamour of the Oscars ceremony in a fitted purple dress with lace bodice and long gloves.

Photo: © Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

9/51

1992

At the 64th Annual Academy Awards, Audrey Hepburn solidified her status as a style icon in a hot pink gown with draped shoulder.

Photo: © Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

10/51

1997

What a star! Canadian icon Céline Dion shone at the 69th Annual Academy Awards with her sparkly ombré dress and shooting star necklace.

Photo: © Ke.Mazur/WireImage

11/51

1997

Nicole Kidman, who was joined by then-partner Tom Cruise, brightened up the red carpet at the 69th Annual Academy Awards in a John Galliano for Christian Dior yellow-green gown with floral embroidery.

Photo: © Ke.Mazur/WireImage

12/51

1999

Gwyneth Paltrow had an iconic moment in a romantic cotton candy pink gown by Ralph Lauren at the 71st Annual Academy Awards. She took home the Best Actress award for Shakespeare in Love.

Photo: © Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage

13/51

1999

Who says there's one way to wear something? Céline Dion put her own twist on a white suit by wearing the jacket backwards to the 71st Annual Academy Awards. She accessorized the fashion-forward look with a coordinating fedora and sunglasses.

Photo: © Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

14/51

2001

Best Actress winner Julia Roberts proved gorgeous gowns don't date when she wore a vintage Valentino dress from 1982 to the 73rd Annual Academy Awards.

Photo: © Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

15/51

2001

Renée Zellweger brought plenty of sunshine to the Oscars red carpet in Lily et Cie.

Photo: © SGranitz/WireImage

16/51

2002

Halle Berry made a memorable impression at the 74th Annual Academy Awards in a dramatic Elie Saab look with floral embroidered bodice and a full draped skirt. She would win Best Actress for Monster's Ball.

Photo: © SGranitz/WireImage

17/51

2003

What romance! Jennifer Lopez wowed in a one-shouldered mint green Valentino gown with ivory clutch and dangling earrings.

Photo: © SGranitz/WireImage

18/51

2003

Kate Hudson had a fashion moment in a champagne gold gown by Versace.

Photo: © Kevin Winter/Getty Images

19/51

2004

Angelina Jolie looked effortlessly chic in a silky Marc Bouwer gown and matching wrap at the 76th Annual Academy Awards.

Photo: © Bob Riha Jr/WireImage

20/51

2004

What a stunner! At the 76th Annual Academy Awards, Best Actress winner Charlize Theron glimmered in a Gucci gown with strappy open back.

Photo: © Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

21/51

2005

Hilary Swank, who won Best Actress for her role in Million Dollar Baby, surprised on the Academy Awards red carpet when she turned around to reveal the plunging open back on what appeared to be a modest Guy Laroche gown from the front.

Photo: © Gerard BURKHART/AFP via Getty Images

22/51

2005

What an entrance! A brunette Charlize Theron looked ethereal in the palest blue frilled John Galliano for Christian Dior gown at the 2005 Oscars.

Photo: © Dan MacMedan/WireImage

23/51

2006

Jennifer Aniston demonstrated her mastery of minimalism at the 78th Annual Academy Awards in a black Rochas gown. But she did accessorize with a statement vintage necklace from Bulgari!

Photo: © Chris Polk/FilmMagic

24/51

2006

Reese Witherspoon looked every inch the Best Actress nominee at the 2006 Academy Awards in a 1955 vintage Christian Dior dress with magnificent embellishment. She did end up taking home the prize thanks to her role in Walk the Line.

Photo: © SGranitz/WireImage

25/51

2006

Salma Hayek was sensational in a silky blue dress by Versace at the 78th Annual Academy Awards.

Photo: © Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

26/51

2006

Best Actress nominee Keira Knightley was so regal at the 78th Annual Academy Awards in a maroon taffeta gown by Vera Wang and Bulgari necklace.

Photo: © Chris Polk/FilmMagic

27/51

2006

Michelle Williams, Best Supporting Actress nominee for Brokeback Mountain, had an iconic fashion moment in a canary yellow Vera Wang dress punctuated with red lipstick.

Photo: © Chris Polk/FilmMagic

28/51

2007

Nicole Kidman was all wrapped up in a red gown with trailing neck bow by Balenciaga.

Photo: © Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

29/51

2007

Penelope Cruz, who was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Volver, graced the Oscars red carpet in a blush feathered Versace dress.

Photo: © Jeff Vespa/WireImage

30/51

2008

Best Actress winner Marion Cotillard made a splash at the 80th Academy Awards in a mermaid-inspired white gown by Jean Paul Gaultier.

Photo: © Ian West - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images

31/51

2011

Belle of the ball! Best Supporting Actress nominee Mila Kunis charmed at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards in a lacy lavender dress by Elie Saab Haute Couture.

Photo: © Kevin Mazur/WireImage

32/51

2011

Jennifer Lawrence showed how simplicity can make a statement in a minimalist Calvin Klein dress. It was her first Oscars!

Photo: © Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images

33/51

2012

Fresh from The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Rooney Mara captivated at the 84th Annual Academy Awards in a white Givenchy Couture dress with unique detailing and a striking beauty look.

Photo: © Michael Buckner/Getty Images

34/51

2012

Penelope Cruz looked like a princess at the 84th Annual Academy Awards in an elegant muted blue gown by Armani Privé.

Photo: © Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage

35/51

2012

Gwyneth Paltrow oozed elegance in a pristine white column dress and cape by Tom Ford.

Photo: © Dan MacMedan/WireImage

36/51

2013

She might have had a slight slip in it when she went to collect her Best Actress award for her performance in Silver Linings Playbook, but Jennifer Lawrence's full-skirted Christian Dior dress was oh-so-dreamy.

37/51

2014

Best Actress winner Lupita Nyong'o took everyone's breath away in a flowing Prada dress crafted in "Nairobi blue" fabric.

38/51

2014

Cate Blanchett looked like a goddess the year she won Best Actress for Blue Jasmine in an illusion Armani Privé gown detailed with embellishment.

39/51

2014

Viola Davis was gorgeous in green at the 86th Annual Academy Awards.

40/51

2014

All that glitters! Angelina Jolie stepped out to the 2014 Oscars in a shimmering Elie Saab Couture dress with illusion details.

41/51

2014

Charlize Theron struck a fierce pose in a statement-making black gown with illusion neckline from Dior with a Harry Winston 31-karat diamond pendant.

42/51

2015

Jennifer Lopez had a romantic turn at the 87th Annual Academy Awards in a neutral Elie Saab ballgown with cascade of sparkle.

43/51

2015

An expectant Keira Knightley made a joyful statement in a full tulle Valentino Couture gown decorated with floral embroidery and phrases written in cursive.

44/51

2016

At the 88th Annual Academy Awards, Best Actress nominee Cate Blanchett was equal parts whimsy and elegant in a mint green Armani Privé gown with floral appliqués.

45/51

2016

Best Supporting Actress winner Alicia Vikander made everyone smile with her custom yellow Louis Vuitton dress with balloon hem and swipes of embellishment.

46/51

2016

Best Original Song nominee Lady Gaga merged trousers and a dress in a pleated Brandon Maxwell jumpsuit.

47/51

2017

Singer-actress Janelle Monáe arrived in style at the 89th Annual Academy Awards in a dramatic Elie Saab Haute Couture gown that looked straight out a fairy tale.