The 100 Best Red Carpet Gowns of All Time
From Valentino red gowns to pailette-embellished confections, BAZAAR selected the 100 best gowns to hit the modern red carpet.
With the Oscars just around the corner, the peak of awards season is here and is sure to bring some unforgettable red carpet gowns. From Valentino red gowns to pailette-embellished confections, BAZAAR selects the 100 best gowns to hit the modern red carpet. Plus, see a full list of this year's nominations here.
Winona Ryder
What: Trigère
Where: Academy Awards in 1990
Why: Ryder looks timeless in a strapless black gown and red lip.
Elizabeth Hurley
What: Versace
Where: Academy Awards in 1995
Why: Hurley's arrival on the scene was defined by these body-conscious gowns.
Mira Sorvino
Where: Academy Awards in 1996
Why: Sorvino looks like a winner in this classic Oscars fashion choice of princess gown and major jewels.
Sharon Stone
What: Her husband's shirt and Vera Wang skirt
Where: Academy Awards in 1998
Why: Stone proved style is about originality when she styled her husband's oxford shirt with an evening skirt.
Gwyneth Paltrow
What: Ralph Lauren
Where: Academy Awards in 1999
Why: Paltrow cemented her status as a style icon with this referential pretty-in-pink moment.
Charlize Theron
What: Vera Wang
Where: Academy Awards in 2000
Why: Tangerine was a welcome reprive from black on the statuesque blonde bombshell.
Cameron Diaz
What: Chanel Haute Couture
Where: Golden Globe Awards in 2003
Why: If we had legs like Diaz, we'd wear a mini dress to the Golden Globes too.
Kate Hudson
What: Versace
Where: Academy Awards in 2003
Why: From ingenue to icon, Hudson stepped out of her family's shadow for good.
Renee Zellweger
What: Carolina Herrera
Where: Directors Guild of America Awards in 2003
Why: This dress kicked off a long-standing (and seriously chic) relationship between the house of Herrera and Zellweger.
Kate Hudson
What: Valentino
Where: Golden Globe Awards in 2003
Why: Hudson brought her bohemian spirit to the red carpet in this paisley print dream.
Victoria Beckham
What: Dolce & Gabbana
Where: MTV Movie Awards in 2003
Why: Beckham showed off her curves with ease in a corset gown and matching husband in tow.
Angelina Jolie
What: Marc Bouwer
Where: Academy Awards in 2004
Why: Jolie offset her edgy persona with a surprisingly ethereal white satin gown and shawl.
Gwen Stefani
What: Jean Paul Gaultier
Where: Golden Globe Awards in 2004
Why: A mock turtleneck gown was and is still a rare site on the red carpet, but the orginal Stefani made it look modern.
Jennifer Aniston
What: Valentino
Where: Cannes Film Festival in 2004
Why: As the It couple of the time, Aniston ditched her status quo black for refreshing paneled white satin.
Jennifer Lopez
What: Michael Kors
Where: Golden Globe Awards in 2004
Why: The pop icon made orange and silver something to consider for the red carpet.
Nicole Kidman
What: Chanel Couture
Where: Academy Awards in 2004
Why: The stunning Aussie has many a gowns to remember, but this sky blue frock was a standout.
Hilary Swank
What: Guy Laroche
Where: Academy Awards in 2005
Why: Swank celebrated her many months of hard training for Million Dollar Baby in this backless-to-there gown.
Salma Hayek
What: Prada
Where: Academy Awards in 2005
Why: Hayek played up her best assets, her famous curves, in this navy and black embroidered dress.
Kate Bosworth
What: Calvin Klein Collection
Where: Academy Awards After-Party in 2005
Why: Bosworth sizzled in this sheer red gown (and nabbed the fashion's set attention to boot).
Michelle Williams
What: Vera Wang
Where: Academy Awards in 2006
Why: Arriving on the arm of the late Heath Ledger in this unexpetced saffron gown, Williams became an overnight style sensation.
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