The 20 Most Incredible Oscars Gowns That Have Stood The Test Of Time
We'd wear any of these again tomorrow
The 2024 Oscars are taking place on March 10 (March 11 for Australians) which means two things for fashion lovers: anticipatory speculation about the red-carpet runway and head-tilting nostalgia over years gone by. Each year, one or two gowns stand out as being beyond the pale of greatness, finding a perfect balance between glamour, sophistication and timelessness. They’re the forever-memorable gowns that maketh the true Hollywood fairytale.
Of course, the event is all about the films, the actors, the stories and the creatives, but as the limousine doors open and the A-listers begin their walk-pose-and-wave we can’t help but fall in love with the sartorial sensations.
But while many looks cause a flurry of excitement on the day, only a golden few will stand the test of time.
There’s Demi is her spectacularly ruffled Versace, Nicole in a jaw-dropping red Balenciaga (complete with a bow train), Lupita in a heavenly pastel Prada, Meryl in a lavishly draped Lanvin and Gwyneth in her trend-starting caped column dress by Tom Ford. Even the awards of the Nineties produced a capsule of looks completely back in fashion now: Sharon in her high street white shirt with Vera Wang ball gown skirt, Claire in that oh-so-chic bias cut satin skirt and ingénue Uma in her simple Prada slip way back in 1995.
Each of these 20 looks are worthy of their own place in the Hall of Fame. Take a look.
You can view all the 2024 nominees here. Join us back here at 10am Monday March 11 AEST for all of the 2024 Academy Awards major moments.
Michelle Williams in Vera Wang at the Oscars in 2006 (Photo by KMazur/WireImage)Nicole Kidman in Balenciaga at the Oscars in 2007 (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)Actress Mila Kunis, in Ellie Saab, at the Oscars in 2011, held at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood. (Photo by Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty Images)HOLLYWOOD, CA – MARCH 02: Actress Lupita Nyong’o, in Prada, arrives at the 86th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on March 2, 2014 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)HOLLYWOOD, CA – FEBRUARY 22: Emma Stone, in Ellie Saab, arrives at the 87th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 22, 2015 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)Demi Moore, in Atelier Versace, arriving for the 82nd Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre, Los Angeles. (Photo by Ian West/PA Images via Getty Images)Claire Danes in Narciso Rodriguez at the 1997 Oscars (Photo by Ke.Mazur/WireImage)Penelope Cruz, nominee Best Actress in a Leading Role for “Volver”, arrives at the 2007 Oscars in Atelier Versace (Photo by Jeff Vespa/WireImage)HOLLYWOOD, CA – FEBRUARY 26: Actor Meryl Streep, in Lanvin, arrives at the 84th Annual Academy Awards held at Hollywood & Highland Centre on February 26, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Dan MacMedan/WireImage)Gwyneth Paltrow, in Tom Ford, attends the 84th annual Academy Awards at the Hollywood & Highland Center. Paltrow wears Tom Ford with Anna Hu jewelry and Jimmy Choo shoes. (Photo by Donato Sardella/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images)Kate Hudson, in Versace, at the Oscars in 2003 (Photo by SGranitz/WireImage)Jennifer Aniston, in Valentino Haute Couture, attends the 85th annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre. (Photo by Donato Sardella/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images)Cate Blanchett, in Givenchy Couture, attends the 83rd annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre. Blanchett wears Givenchy Haute Couture with Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry. (Photo by Fairchild Archive/Penske Media via Getty Images)HOLLYWOOD, CA – FEBRUARY 26: Actress Octavia Spencer, in Tadashi Shoji, arrives at the 84th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic)Actress Halle Berry, in Marchesa, at the 83rd Academy Awards, held at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood. (Photo by Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty Images)Uma Thurman, in Prada, arrives at the 1995 Oscars. (Photo by Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty Images)LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 07: Actress Cameron Diaz, in Oscar de la Renta, arrives at the 82nd Annual Academy Awards held at the Kodak Theatre on March 7, 2010 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Brian To/WireImage)Hilary Swank, nominee Best Actress in a Leading Role for ‘Million Dollar Baby’ in Guy Laroche at the 2005 Oscars (Photo by L. Cohen/WireImage)Sharon Stone, in a Vera Wang skirt and The Gap shirt, arrives at the 70th Academy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, on March 23, 1998. (Photo by Donato Sardella/Penske Media via Getty Images)Actress Charlize Theron in a Tom Ford for Gucci gown, arrives at the 76th Annual Academy Awards in 2004. (Photo by Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty Images)
