Since the Academy Awards were first conceived in 1927 by studio executive Louis B. Mayer as a way to honour excellence in film, the ceremony has grown into one of the most watched cultural events in the world, with a global broadcast where millions tune in each year. While the golden statuettes remain the official prize, the red carpet is a spectacle in its own right, turning the Oscars into one of fashion’s most closely watched stages alongside the Met Gala.

Across nearly a century, the outfits worn to the ceremony have mirrored the cultural mood of their time. Designers, stylists and actors have used the red carpet to craft images or disrupt expectations entirely. In 2002, Halle Berry stepped out in a sheer burgundy Elie Saab gown whose embroidered bodice captured the early-2000s fascination with sensual silhouettes. Nearly two decades later, Rihanna arrived at the 2019 ceremony in a sculptural black Alaïa bandage dress that framed her baby bump, pushing maternity dressing firmly into high-fashion territory.

Still, the red carpet of earlier years featured looks that feel just as resonant today as they did then. Before vintage dressing became today’s archival fashion arms race, actors occasionally arrived in historic or rediscovered pieces. Designers continue to revisit these references on the runway, whether through Old Hollywood silhouettes, ball gowns, sheer embellishment or reimagined tuxedo tailoring.

Ahead of the 97th Academy Awards on March 15, we’re revisiting some of the most memorable Oscars looks across Hollywood —  tuxedos and ball gowns, sheer statements and rule-breaking ensembles from the early 2000s till date.

‍Halle Berry in Elie Saab, 2002

Berry’s sheer Elie Saab gown marked a turning point not only for the actress, who became the first Black woman to win Best Actress that night for Monster’s Ball, but also for red-carpet fashion itself. The embroidered bodice dissolving into its burgundy skirt felt daring for the early 2000s and was a shift toward sensuality on the Oscars carpet. It also propelled Elie Saab from couture insider favourite to a major red-carpet force. 

Oprah Winfrey in Gianfranco Ferré, 2004

Attending as a presenter, Winfrey chose a sculptural off-shoulder blue-gray Gianfranco Ferré gown. The look reflected the early-2000s preference for refined couture silhouettes over overt embellishment.

‍Queen Latifah in Carmen Marc Valvo, 2006

Queen Latifah was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for Chicago earlier in the decade and by 2006 had become a regular presence at major ceremonies. In 2006, her black Carmen Marc Valvo dress leaned into classic and simple Hollywood glamour that stood out, especially at a moment when many celebrities experimented with embellishment and colour on the Oscars carpet.

Beyoncé in Armani Privé, 2007

Performing during the ceremony, Beyoncé opted for mint-green Armani Privé for the red carpet — a choice that reflected the mid-2000s fascination with ethereal couture palettes. The one-shoulder silhouette and soft drape gave the look a statuesque elegance.

Taraji P. Henson in Roberto Cavalli, 2009

Nominated for Best Supporting Actress for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Henson’s white strapless Cavalli gown balanced softness and romantic detailing with understated sensuality.

‍Zoë Saldaña in Givenchy Couture, 2010

Presenting at the ceremony shortly after the success of Avatar, Saldaña wore a layered ombré Givenchy couture gown that brought dramatic colour and movement to the red carpet.

Viola Davis in Vera Wang, 2012

Nominated for Best Actress for The Help, Davis’s emerald green Vera Wang dress was refreshingly bold and stood apart from the neutral palettes that dominated the Oscars red carpet in 2012.

Lupita Nyong’o in Prada, 2014

Winning Best Supporting Actress for 12 Years a Slave, Nyong’o instantly cemented her fashion icon status in a flowing sky-blue Prada gown. 

Solange Knowles in Christian Siriano, 2015

Attending as a guest, Solange sidestepped the traditional gown entirely, opting for a dramatic red cape top and trousers by Christian Siriano. 

Kerry Washington in Atelier Versace, 2016

Presenting at the ceremony, Washington’s white custom Atelier Versace gown was edgy and polished, from the construction and thigh-high slit to the unexpected leather detailing.

‍Chadwick Boseman in Givenchy, 2018

Presenting during the cultural peak of Black Panther, Chadwick Boseman challenged the uniformity of men’s formalwear. His embroidered Givenchy topcoat brought personality and cultural symbolism to the Oscars carpet.

Billy Porter in Christian Siriano, 2019

Billy Porter’s velvet tuxedo gown by Christian Siriano became one of the defining fashion images of the decade. The look blurred the line between tuxedo and gown, reframing gender norms on the red carpet and sparking wider conversations about fashion and identity.

Janelle Monáe in Ralph Lauren, 2020

Janelle Monáe in a sequin-covered Ralph Lauren gown merged futurist glamour with classic Hollywood references, two aesthetics Monáe has long balanced.

Zendaya in Valentino, 2021

Zendaya’s vibrant yellow Valentino gown showed her ability to make even the simplest silhouette feel directional. The bright colour and minimal styling gave the look a confident modernity.
‍Jada Pinkett Smith in Jean Paul Gaultier, 2022

Jada Pinkett Smith’s sculptural Gaultier gown leaned into couture theatricality, echoing the house’s longstanding relationship with prominent red-carpet silhouettes.

‍Rihanna in Alaïa, 2023

Performing her Oscar-nominated song Lift Me Up from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Rihanna delivered one of the most stylish maternity moments in Oscars history. Her body-skimming Alaïa design combined sheerness and leather accents, making the silhouette feel strikingly modern. 

‍Whoopi Goldberg in Christian Siriano, 2025

Whoopi Goldberg in a blue 'liquid water' organza gown by Christian Siriano illustrated Siriano’s continued influence on contemporary red-carpet couture.

Cynthia Erivo in Louis Vuitton, 2025

In 2025, Cynthia Erivo stepped on the red carpet in an emerald-green Louis Vuitton gown, highlighting the current era of dramatic, sculptural red-carpet dressing.

From sheer gowns to tuxedo dressing and sculptural couture, the Oscars red carpet has evolved into a living archive of fashion history. Each year brings new interpretations of glamour, reflecting shifts in culture, identity and personal style. As the 97th Academy Awards approaches, one thing remains certain: the red carpet will continue to be as captivating as the ceremony itself.

‍

‍