11+ Most Stunning Celebrity Gowns Ever Worn
18th May, 2022
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Celebrities and fashion designers take the red carpet very seriously. Let’s look at some of the most swoon-worthy gowns ever worn over the years.
Award ceremonies are renowned for showcasing some of the most iconic fashion moments. Celebrities are seen clad in stunning ensembles, leaving the world in complete awe. While some opt for well-known designers, others decide to take a bold leap of faith with upcoming designers. No matter which direction they head in, their choices often give us some historic looks that get etched in our minds. Some of these stunning looks have paved the way for new fashion trends we’ve come to love.
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Princess Diana – Cannes Film Festival (1987)
The light blue tulle dress donned by the princess has a permanent place in the minds and hearts of many across the globe. She paired the powder blue dress with a matching scarf, statement drop earrings, and a dainty bracelet. Although some of us never saw her in the outfit in person, the pictures showcased the grace, and charm the royal carried. Her sense of fashion, appreciation, and love for the commoner is very well known by the masses. The Catherine Walker gown also happens to be one of the most beautiful gowns the world has ever seen.
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Elizabeth Hurley – Four Weddings and a Funeral Premiere (1994)
The black dress is just as iconic as it was three decades ago. A risque outfit indeed! Elizabeth Hurley decided to take a chance with this black Versace creation. What we know is that there wasn’t any secret plan behind the successful fashion moment. Even the actor-model didn’t feel it was “that big a deal at the time.” Needless to say, the Four Weddings and a Funeral star looked splendid in the statement outfit. In fact, in 2019, Hurley tried recreating the safety pin dress look, and without a doubt, it turned out to be just as stunning as the first appearance.
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Gwyneth Paltrow – Oscars (1999)
Gwyneth Paltrow took the world for a loop in a bubblegum pink Ralph Lauren ensemble at the 1999 Oscars night. Simple yet elegant, the designer dress featured noodle straps with a plunging V-neckline and a flared skirt. Everything about the dress was eye-catching in its extreme simplicity. To complete the look, the actress donned a sleek back hairdo and sparkly diamond jewelry. The actor took home the Oscar that evening for her role in Shakespeare in Love. Also, Paltrow had picked up the dress all by herself without the help of a stylist. Impressive!
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Jennifer Lopez – Grammy Awards (2000)
Jennifer Lopez has given us more than a handful of inspirational looks over the years. That said, the low-cut silk green, sexy number by Donatella Versace is by far the most memorable gowns to have ever graced the red carpet. Additionally, this dress was the reason behind the invention of Google images. Historic enough, right? The plunging neckline, the jungle print, the makeup, basically everything about the look, was taken up a notch higher for the closing runway walk at the Spring 2020 Versace show in Milan. And, of course, JLo nailed the look!
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Julia Roberts – Oscars (2001)
What is so special about the black and white simple outfit Julia Roberts chose for her 2001 Oscars appearance? Well, for starters, the dress is a Valentino vintage Autumn Winter ’92 collection, to be precise. The dress is a contemporary mix of velvet and satin. And the white piping running down the length of the gown oddly seems to enhance the elegance of this Old-Hollywood style number. The fishtail trail adds a dash of drama to the retro theme of the look. The “pretty woman” kept the jewels and makeup minimal.
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Kate Hudson – Golden Globes (2002)
With a plunging V neckline that stopped right above her belly button and longer than the usual sleeves, Kate Hudson was a sight to behold at the 2002 Golden Globes. The star donned an Atelier Versace gown paired with peachy makeup and long beachy waves. Hudson truly channeled her inner Golden Girl to nail this look. That’s a reason enough to make it to our list. The star kicked her usual bohemian chic style for this elegant number. This look managed to stun the paparazzi and the audience present for the awards ceremony.
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Halle Berry – Oscars (2002)
If there is someone who needs to be thanked for the countless sheer dresses that have been created over the years, it's Halle Berry. The star strutted down the Oscars red carpet in a semi-sheer Elie Saab number that instantly became the talk of the town for a long time. The embroidered net top teamed with the burgundy flared bottom of the dress gave fans more than they bargained for. The barely-there baubles added enough sparkle to the look. Later that night, Halle Berry became the first black woman to win the Oscars for Best Actress. T’was a splendid night for the actress!
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Charlize Theron – Oscars (2004)
The star chose a backless, sultry orange Vera Wang gown for her first Oscars appearance in 2000. Despite her impeccable taste in fashion, Theron underwent a stellar evolution with respect to her style. The proof is her 2004 Gucci gown, where she portrayed a timeless Old-Hollywood look. Her hair in short finger waves, negligible nude makeup, long earrings, a statement bracelet, and a winner’s trophy in hand completed her look as she headed home after the ceremony. This glittery diversion from her usual Dior selection seems to have worked out in her favor.
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Nicole Kidman – Oscars (2004)
Nicole Kidman has hardly ever missed the mark on the Oscars red carpet. The Australian star has more than a handful of appearances at the Academy Awards that can be deemed timeless. You can only imagine how difficult it was to narrow it down to one look and one dress. Thankfully, numerous people have made the same choice before us and will continue to do so. We are harping here about the Chanel strapless satin gown that she wore for the Oscars in 2004. The off-the-shoulder gown paired with the delicate necklace and pulled-back soft curls completed the unforgettable look.
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Scarlett Johansson – Golden Globes (2006)
If we’ve to add one Johansson outfit to our list, it has to be the formal red gown from the Golden Globes Awards in 2006. The actress looked impeccable in a body-hugging Valentino red gown; the simplicity of the dress made headlines. This iconic moment was right in the middle of the dubious fashion trends that 2006 presented the world with, making the look even more impressive. The then 21-year-old actress was nominated for her supporting role in Match Point. Although she didn't leave with an award that night, she won millions of hearts for her red carpet look.
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Beyoncé – Golden Globes (2007)
Everything that Queen B does is a testament to her queen status. The ex-lead Destiny’s Child singer is her own brand and she carries it well. Among her most iconic looks is the sultry Elie Saab gown at the 2007 Golden Globes award night. The vivacious golden outfit was the perfect figure-hugging dress for the singer-songwriter. The jewels added the right amount of sparkle to complement the overall look. The Halo singer definitely looked like a shining globe that night. The multi-talented artist was seen in many iconic looks, which include the Lemonade dress and the 2015 MET Gala gown.
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Zoe Saldana – Avatar Premiere (2009)
The Avatar star looked drop-dead gorgeous in a silver Roland Mouret dress for the world premiere of the movie in 2009. While some of you might no longer remember this particular dress thanks to the stunning looks that the actor has donned over the years, it still remains an iconic fashion moment. The star has turned out to be ranked among the more stylish ones on the red carpets. And if her appearances at various award ceremonies are anything to go by, we know she will be giving us at least a handful of historical fashion moments.
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Kate Middleton – Royal Wedding (2011)
Royal weddings are a public affair. The 2011 royal wedding managed to have more than just a few hundred people waiting to get a glimpse of the newlyweds. People have always been just as invested in the life of the royal family as they have been in their own. The white lace gown has managed to snag a spot on more than a handful of best gowns lists through the years. The Alexander McQueen gown designed by Sarah Burton sported an enchanting white trail. Kate Middleton was the perfect embodiment of every girl’s “princess wedding” dreams.
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Angelina Jolie – Oscars (2012)
Wrapped in a stunning structured black gown with a daring thigh-high slit and sultry red lips, Angelina’s look screamed drama. The combination of these elements never fail to conjure a single image in our collective minds when it comes to Angelina Jolie. And the iconic right leg pose made quite a statement. The world would forever be grateful to Jolie for choosing comfort over fashion. The gorgeous Atelier Versace velvet gown has had admirers gawking circa 2012. Could you imagine what would have happened had she chosen her originally designated dress for the event? The comfort-over-complicated gang would forever be happy with this choice.
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Jennifer Lawrence – Oscars (2013)
Jennifer’s 2013 Oscars ensemble is nothing short of a fairytale princess dream. The Dior off-the-shoulder blush gown managed to wow audiences and inspire upcoming designers to this day. If you may ask, we have our own suspicions that the actor and her stylist were trying to create a fairytale of their own. Surely not a damsel in distress, rather a fierce queen who can march on with her head held high and pick her statuette for her hard work. You could very well disagree, but the series of events of the night does ring some bells.
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Sandra Bullock – Oscars (2014)
The actress arrived at the 2014 Oscars night in a deep blue strapless Alexandra McQueen gown. The side-swept hairdo somehow accentuated the sweetheart neckline and the smokey eye and nude lips added the perfect drama to the overall look. The dramatic drapes of the dress worked well to showcase her curves. Additionally, the cherry on the cake was the diamond Lorraine Schwartz ear cuff, priced at a whopping $1.8 million. While Bullock might not have snagged her best actress award for her performance in Gravity that evening, she certainly did win the best-dressed title.
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Lupita Nyong’O – Oscars (2014)
Lupita Nyong’O is mostly seen in bright ensembles with interesting patterns and silhouettes. Some of her best red carpet looks have been caught on camera. And thanks to the artist, we have another powder blue dress on the list. If that does not ring a bell, we advise you to take a look at the most memorable looks from the Oscars 2014. The 12 Years a Slave star walked down the carpet in a pleated Prada dress, leaving the paps and audience in awe. She even won her first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress that night.
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Rihanna – MET Gala (2015)
How can we ever leave out Rihanna from this list? If there is one person who has consistently succeeded at leaving audiences dumbstruck by their red carpet looks, it has to be bad girl Riri. Every girl often turns to Rihanna for inspiration, be it for life, success, confidence, or fashion. The Umbrella singer effortlessly donned the 55 pounds Guo Pei creation and glided through the carpet like a swan. The netizens were quick to name it “the omelette dress.” The designer took around two years to create the magnificent gown. Needless to say, RiRi made every head turn that evening.
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Zendaya Coleman – Oscars (2015)
The star’s style evolution has been quite a journey of great choices. She chose a gorgeous off-the-shoulder satin Vivienne Westwood dress for the 87th Annual Academy Awards (2015). The waist-grazing dreadlocks added a hip edge to the off-white period-inspired gown. Not to forget the Chopard baubles that elevated the overall look. The star was highly praised for going bold with her hairstyle and applauded for owning her choices and her voice. That said, many even criticized the actress for her unusual hair moment. Team Barbie decided to immortalize her iconic Oscars look by creating a one-of-a-kind Zendaya Barbie doll.
