These Are the Most Award-Worthy Oscars Looks Ever

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It’s nearly time to pull back the curtains on the 2026 Oscars.

While the event—hosted by Conan O’Brien on March 15—is sure to celebrate the best that film has to offer, it’ll also usher in equally notable fashion moments if past red carpet looks are any indication. 

Take, for instance, Ariana Grande’s Glinda-inspired blush pink Schiaparelli gown at the 2025 ceremony, where she was a Best Supporting Actress nominee for Wicked. The show-stopping number featured a fitted bodice and exaggerated peplum skirt, but by far the most impressive feature was the 190,000 crystals imbedded into the dress. 

And the Grammy winner kept fashion lovers everywhere fed with not only one dazzling look, but two. After all, Ariana, 32, made a quick change for her performance of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” as well as “Defying Gravity” alongside costar Cynthia Erivo. Also by Schiaparelli, the “we can’t be friends” hitmaker paid homage to the Jon M. Chu film further with a ruby-red gown that featured 150,000 beads, sequins, and Swarovski crystals.

At the time, Ariana gave designer Daniel Roseberry his flowers. 

“I had expressed that I wanted to pay tribute to the ruby slippers and to Judy Garland with this dress, and Daniel really just created the most stunning piece of Ozian art from there,” Ariana told Vogue. “What a special thing to forever be connected to Oz, and to have brought it to life in this way with Daniel. He really is as kind and beautiful as a person as he is brilliant.”

“I love Daniel and Schiaparelli more than life itself,” she added, “so to have been able to share this moment with him and the incredible team for both of my looks, was such a surreal honor.”

Photo by Chelsea Guglielmino/FilmMagic

And Ariana wasn’t the only star who was pretty in pink on the Oscars red carpet as of late. Indeed, Gemma Chan wore a dramatic hot pink gown my Valentino to the 2019 event. 

“It was the first gown we tried on and it was so spectacular that we couldn’t not wear it,” the Eternals star’s stylist Rebecca Corbin-Murray told The Hollywood Reporter at the time. “The color is so joyful and the silhouette is glorious. It’s everything modern haute couture should be. We had the Jimmy Choo bag and shoes hand-dyed to match.”

And perhaps one of the most iconic Oscars looks of all time was Halle Berry’s Elie Saab dress that she wore to make history as the first Black woman to win the Best Actress Award for Monster's Ball at the 2002 Oscars. 

Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

“I just remember feeling really great in this dress,” Halle told Vogue in a 2021 interview. “The top was very open and free and had these little flowers that sort of covered all the right bits that it needed to cover. But the bottom was very regal and very grand.”

And the expertly crafted look—which featured a mesh bodice and wine-colored skirt—put the now-renowned designer on the map. 

“He wasn’t the Elie Saab we know now,” the X-Men star, who rewore the look at a 2024 event celebrating the designer, explained. “He was a young designer who was just starting and at the time, it wasn’t the biggest name I could have worn, but there was something about this dress that felt like it made me feel uniquely myself.” 

For more of the best Oscars looks of all time, read on…

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Halle Berry

The actress' Oscar win was unforgettable for many reasons. She was the first Black woman to win the Best Actress Award, which she won in 2002 for Monster's Ball. In addition to her historical win, her dress became iconic and put designer Elie Saab on the map.

Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

Lupita Nyong'o

Lupita always turns heads on the red carpet, but this custom baby blue Prada gown took the grand prize. This marked the first time she won the Best Supporting Actress award for her debut film 12 Years a Slave.

Kurt Krieger/Corbis via Getty Images

Gwyneth Paltrow

The Goop founder shut down the red carpet in 2012, wearing a swoon-worthy cape dress. And it's safe to say Tom Ford outdid himself with this look.

Frank Worth, Courtesy of Capital Art/Getty Images

Ava Gardner

The silver screen siren of the Golden Age of Hollywood dazzled in an ostentatious sequins gown. As if that weren't glamorous enough, she accessorized with a large and lustrous tiara, white fur and gloves.

Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Timothée Chalamet

The Dune star skipped the basic black-and-white tuxedo for this glitzy Louis Vuitton two-piece. He added extra sex appeal by accessorizing his bare chest with a silver pendant.

David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock

Glenn Close

Glimmering in gold. The legendary actress rivaled the golden statue with this gilded caped dress.

David Fisher/Shutterstock

Angela Bassett

Angela Bassett did the thing when she stepped out in this royal purple confection at the 2023 ceremony.

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Gemma Chan

Perfectly pink! The Crazy Rich Asians star made a grand entrance with her bright and bold Valentino design.

Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock

Zendaya

The Euphoria star always turns heads on the red carpet but she pulled out all of the stops for the 2022 ceremony.

KMazur/WireImage

Hilary Swank

The actress, who took home the Best Actress award for Million Dollar Baby, stunned in a simple, yet striking Guy Laroche design that featured a plunging open-back. 

Darlene Hammond/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Elizabeth Taylor

One word: Glamourous. The legendary actress always knew how to drop jaws, and this design was no different.

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Regina King

The Watchmen actress knows how to make a statement with a simple but sophisticated look. Her 2019 gown is all the proof you need.

David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock

Janelle Monáe

Never one to stick to the basics, the Moonlight actress dropped jaws in an Elie Saab Haute Couture gown, which was adorned with intricate beading, lace set with feathers and an over-the-top tulle train.

Arturo Holmes/Getty Images

Cara Delevingne

Lady in red. The supermodel made sure all eyes were on her, as she stunned in a one-shouldered ballgown by Elie Saab.

Steve Granitz/WireImage

Kate Hudson

Of her many appearances at the Oscars, Kate Hudson's 2014 look stands out from the rest, thanks in part to this caped and beaded Atelier Versace gown. 

Michael Montfort/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Diana Ross

Diana Ross sizzled at the 54th Annual Academy Awards in a glittering red gown and lush white fur shawl.

Steve Granitz/WireImage

Kacey Musgraves

The country singer turned heads in her bubblegum pink Giambattista Valli number at the 2019 event.

Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Becky G

The "Mamiii" singer brought old-Hollywood glamour to the 2022 event with a shimmery rose gold gown.

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Billy Porter

The Pose alum proved why he reigns supreme on the red carpet, wearing a larger-than-life Christian Siriano design.

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Viola Davis

The Oscar-winning actress stunned in this electrifying hot pink gown by Michael Kors. In addition to her bright dress, she accessorized with a matching flamingo pink clutch and statement jewelry pieces.

WireImage

Nicole Kidman

The actress always shuts down the red carpet, and this powerful red gown by Balenciaga was no different. The high-neck and sleeveless design made it an instant classic, but the dramatic bow and striking color took it to the next level.

David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock

Yalitza Aparicio

The Roma actress brought a fashion fantasy to the red carpet with her dreamy and whimsical Rodarte design.

Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock

Eva Longoria

The Flamin' Hot director proved all that glitters is gold, erm, silver. She dazzled in a sparly Zuhair Murad couture gown at the 2023 ceremony.

Kevin Mazur/WireImag

Chrissy Teigen

Chrissy Teigen channeled old-Hollywood glamour in this periwinkle Zuhair Murad gown. 

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Jennifer Lopez

For the 2015 affair, JLo made sure all eyes were on her as she stunned in this glitzy Elie Saab dress.

Terry McGinnis/WireImage

Julia Roberts

The Oscar-winning actress may have taken home the award in 2001 for Erin Brockovich but her satin vintage Valentino gown stole the show. The black and white number was from the brand's 1982 collection.

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Lady Gaga

The A Star is Born actress looked effortlessly elegant in a white pantsuit dress by Brandon Maxwell.

Steve Granitz/WireImage

Zoe Saldana

Wearing a custom Atelier Versace design, the Guardians of the Galaxy actress stunned in a blush-colored, body-hugging gown.

Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock

Emilia Jones

To celebrate CODA's success, the actress wore a stunning gold dress from Dolce and Gabbana.

Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage

Salma Hayek

The Frida alum stunned on the Oscars red carpet in a vibrant ocean-blue Atelier Versace gown.

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