The best Oscars dresses of all time

Pore over our pick of the most memorable Oscars gowns of all time
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The annual Oscars awards ceremony took place in expected high style last night.

The 94th Academy Awards comes after a long line of ceremonies brimming with iconic looks, starting on May 16, 1929. Then, the first Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences prizes were given at a dinner of 250, hosted in the Blossom Room of the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, California. Charlie Chaplin took home a special honorary award.

As the spectacle of the ceremony grew and grew, there have been countless fashion moments which captivated audiences at the time, and continue to be vital reference points in the history of Hollywood’s style.

Cher wore Bob Mackie in 1986
Bettmann Archive

Think of Audrey Hepburn’s boatneck Givenchy dress in 1954, Cher sporting a Bob Mackie feather headdress and triangle hem skirt in 1986 and Gwyneth Paltrow looking princess-perfect in a Ralph Lauren gown to collect her Best Actress award in 1999. They are Oscars looks that live on across the mood boards of many top designers today.

Gwyneth Paltrow wore Ralph Lauren in 1999
Vince Bucci/AFP/Getty Images

In 1997, it was Nicole Kidman who stole the show in her Dior Couture lime green satin gown. The figure hugging John Galliano design came embellished with floral embroidery and a mink fur trim, as the actress clung on to then husband Tom Cruise.

Nicole Kidman wore Dior Couture in 1997
AFP/Getty Images

Others have been memorable for their statement making. Björk, in 2001, became the poster girl of the unexpected dress when she donned a swan frock in frothy white tulle by Marjan Pejoski. More recently, in 2019, Billy Porter made the largest impression in a huge skirted, black velvet gown with tuxedo top designed by Christian Siriano. It was so impactful that it is currently on display at the Victoria & Albert Museum.

Billy Porter wore Christian Siriano in 2019
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

In 2019, Gemma Chan also turned heads wearing a highlighter pink Valentino gown which cascaded in flounces from the shoulders, while Lady Gaga was commanding in a black Alexander McQueen dress which jutted at the hips and was worn with leather opera gloves and the most expensive jewellery worn to the Oscars: a Tiffany diamond reportedly worth $30 million, last worn by Audrey Hepburn.

Lady Gaga wore Alexander McQueen in 2019
Getty Images

Last year, it was Pierpaolo Piccioli’s designs at Valentino that made the best red carpet memories. Zendaya nailed sexy in a custom chartreuse cut-out front gown, with a billowing chiffon train and matching neon platforms.

93rd Academy Awards in Los Angeles
Carey Mulligan wore Valentino Couture in 2021
via REUTERS

Meanwhile, Carey Mulligan was unmissable in a vast, gold sequin shimmering skirt and bandeau top which had closed Valentino’s Spring 2021 Haute Couture show.

Click through the gallery above to see some of the best Oscars dresses of all time.

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