Over the course of Oscars history, these leading ladies have caught our attention both on screen and on the red carpet.
As we gear up for the 97th Academy Awards this weekend, let’s take a walk down memory lane and revisit some of the most memorable fashion moments from the Oscars red carpet.
From iconic style statements to powerful performances and historic wins, these beloved stars have certainly left their mark on the annual awards ceremony.
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Grace Kelly in Edith Head (1955)
When Grace Kelly won the Best Actress award for her role as Georgie Elgin in The Country Girl, she wore a gown designed by Paramount Pictures’ costume department superstar Edith Head. Head is the most decorated designer in history, winning a total of eight Academy Awards for Costume Design and helping define the style and glamour of classic Hollywood. The mint green satin gown she designed for Kelly has become one of the most memorable Oscars looks.
Barbra Streisand in Arnold Scaasi (1969)
The 41st Academy Awards in 1969 was the first to be widely televised, reaching over 30 countries worldwide. This Oscars ceremony was also notable for featuring the first—and so far only—tie for Best Actress, with Katharine Hepburn and Barbra Streisand sharing the honor.
Winning for her performance in Funny Girl, Streisand wore a sheer, sequined pantsuit designed by Arnold Scaasi. She paired it with a bob wig that she had worn earlier that day on the set of On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.
Cher in Bob Mackie (1986)
The year Cher was snubbed at the Oscars for her performance in Mask, she made a statement by arriving in a show-stopping look, creating her own moment at the awards show.
Designed by frequent collaborator Bob Mackie, the all-black look featured a bare midriff and a towering feather headdress, successfully capturing everybody’s attention.
Halle Berry in Elie Saab (2002)
In 2002, Halle Berry made history as the first Black woman and woman of color to win the Best Actress Oscar. Recognized for her performance in Monster’s Ball that evening, Berry wore a deep red Elie Saab mesh dress embroidered with florals.
22 years later, the actress donned the iconic dress once again, this time in Saudi Arabia during the 1001 Seasons of Elie Saab runway show. “There are some moments in life that just happen and they change our lives forever! Winning an Academy Award in my @eliesaabworld gown was one of those moments for me,” the actress wrote on Instagram.
Lupita Nyong’o in Prada (2014)
In 2014, Lupita Nyong’o won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her feature film debut in 12 Years a Slave. The powder blue dress she wore that night was a custom design by Prada, in collaboration with Nyong’o.
The gown became an instant favorite, likened by various publications to Elizabeth Taylor and Grace Kelly’s looks in previous Oscars ceremonies. In interviews, Nyong’o shared that this particular shade of blue was inspired by her hometown of Nairobi, Kenya.
Natalie Portman in Dior (2020)
At the 92nd Academy Awards, Natalie Portman made a powerful statement on the red carpet with her Dior ensemble. The actress proudly showed off her black and gold Haute Couture cape, which was embroidered with the names of the female directors who were snubbed at the Oscars that year.
“I wanted to recognize the women who were not recognized for their incredible work this year in my subtle way,” Portman explained. The cape featured filmmakers such as Lulu Wang, Greta Gerwig, Lorene Scafaria, Melina Matsoukas, Marielle Heller, Mati Diop, Alma Har’el, and Céline Sciamma.
Rihanna in Alaïa (2023)
In 2023, Rihanna made her comeback to music, first at the Super Bowl halftime show and then at the 95th Academy Awards. The singer earned her first Oscar nod with the song “Lift Me Up” from the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack.
Set to perform the song at the awards show, Rihanna wowed the crowd on the red carpet while wearing a custom Alaïa gown. Highlighting her baby bump, the semi-sheer gown featured a strapped bustier and a long leather skirt, pushing the boundaries of maternity wear as the singer has been known to do.
Banner image via X @TheAcademy.
