The Most Breathtaking Oscars Gowns

Dan MacMedan/Getty Images

It's practically a given that any actress who steps foot on the Oscars red carpet will look gorgeous, but only a very special and select few can be called "unforgettable."

Now that the 2018 Oscars ceremony is right around the corner (to air Sunday, March 4, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC), we thought it was the perfect time to dig through the archives and unearth the most extraordinary ensembles we've seen in the 88-year history of the Academy Awards red carpet.

From Marilyn Monroe's cloud of black tulle for the 23rd Academy Awards in 1951 to Lupita Nyong'o's real-life Cinderella moment in a plunging aqua Prada creation in 2014, flash back to the most breathtaking gown to have graced the Oscars red carpet, ever.

VIDEO: The Best Oscars Fashion of All Time

Start Slideshow

1 of 36

Marilyn Monroe, 1951

Sunset Boulevard/Corbis

Marilyn Monroe selected a cloud of black tulle from the 20th Century Fox wardrobe department for the 23rd Annual Academy Awards.

2 of 36

Grace Kelly, 1955

Silver Screen Collection/Getty

Grace Kelly won an Oscar for The Country Girl in a classic ice-blue design by Edith Head. The gown, which was originally created for the movie's premiere, was cut from a bolt of $4,000 French satin and paired with a matching evening coat.

3 of 36

Uma Thurman, 1995

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

Nominated for her role in Pulp Fiction, Uma Thurman opted for a simple lilac design from Prada.

4 of 36

Nicole Kidman, 1997

Nicole Kidman - Oscars Best - Christian Dior

Ron Wolfson/Getty

Nicole Kidman made history with her daring chinoiserie gown from Christian Dior.

5 of 36

Gwyneth Paltrow, 1999

Gwyneth Paltrow - Oscars Best - Ralph Lauren

Evan Agostini/Getty

"I just wanted to look very sweet," Gwyneth Paltrow said of her pretty pink Ralph Lauren gown.

6 of 36

Cate Blanchett, 1999

Cate Blanchett - Oscars Best - John Galliano

Evan Agostini/Getty

When it came to her stunning bespoke John Galliano gown, Cate Blanchett had a hand in the design process. And, bonus — according to Blanchett, the knit dress (trimmed with Lesage embroidery) was comfortable as well!

7 of 36

Renee Zellweger, 2001

Renee Zellweger - Oscars Best - Jean Desses

Chris Weeks/Getty

This canary vintage Jean Desses gown made Renee Zellweger one to watch on the red carpet.

8 of 36

Julia Roberts, 2001

Paul Smith/Featureflash/Retna

Julia Roberts accepted her Oscar for Erin Brockovich in a dramatic velvet-and-satin vintage Valentino gown from the designer's 1982 collection dedicated to movie stars. Valentino told InStyle, "This dress made me nervous. You are never sure who is going to wear what until they walk out onto the stage. That night I was in Rome, watching the Oscars live on television, and I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning to see if she wore it."

9 of 36

Charlize Theron, 2000

Charlize Theron - Oscars Best - Vera Wang

Evan Agostini/Getty

Charlize Theron's Vera Wang dress was cut to showcase her incredible shape.

10 of 36

Kate Winslet, 2002

Kate Winslet - Oscars best - Ben de Lisi

Steve Granitz/WireImage

Nominated for Iris, English rose Kate Winslet blossomed in scarlet Ben de Lisi. "Kate prefers clothes that don't scream theatrics," the designer told InStyle.

11 of 36

Reese Witherspoon, 2002

Reese Witherspoon - Oscars Best - Valentino

Ron Galella/WireImage

Reese Witherspoon stole the spotlight at her Academy Awards debut, thanks to a Valentino makeover. "It was her first time presenting and Reese wasn't as established back then," the designer told InStyle. "People thought of her as cute, but not glamorous."

12 of 36

Cameron Diaz, 2002

Cameron Diaz - Oscars Best - Emanuel Ungaro

Frank Micelotta/Getty

Cameron Diaz belted her floral-print Emanuel Ungaro dress with a 19th-century Indian necklace from Fred Leighton for a look that was uniquely her.

13 of 36

Jennifer Garner, 2004

Jennifer Garner - Oscars Best - Valentino

Jean-Paul Aussenard/WireImage

The Valentino gown the designer created for Jennifer Garner took four couturiers more than 300 hours to create, the designer told us.

14 of 36

Beyoncé, 2005

SGranitz/WireImage

Beyoncé made her way down the red carpet in a luscious black velvet vintage gown from Atelier Versace.

15 of 36

Hilary Swank, 2005

Hilary Swank - Oscars Best - Guy Laroche

Steve Granitz/WireImage

Her role in Million Dollar Baby gave Hilary Swank the super-toned body for this dare-to-bare Guy Laroche gown.

16 of 36

Keira Knightley, 2006

Keira Knightley - Oscars Best - Vera Wang

Frazer Harrison/Getty

"Keira wanted something dramatic and sexy," Vera Wang told InStyle of the burgundy mermaid dress she made for Knightley's Oscar appearance."The color is absolutely gorgeous on her."

17 of 36

Michelle Williams, 2006

Michelle Williams - Oscars Best - Vera Wang

Chris Polk/FilmMagic

Brokeback Mountain nominee Michelle Williams owned the red carpet in a marigold design from Vera Wang. The silk-chiffon dress, chosen a week before the ceremony, was accessorized with dark 19th-century Fred Leighton diamonds.

18 of 36

Jennifer Lopez, 2007

Vince Bucci/Getty

Presenter Jennifer Lopez sparkled in a crystal-strung Marchesa design. "Pretty huh? I want to keep it!" she told reporters of the custom gown.

19 of 36

Marion Cotillard, 2008

Marion Cotillard - Oscars Best - Jean Paul Gaultier

CelebrityPhoto.com

Marion Cotillard shined in this Jean Paul Gaultier embellished gown. "Marion initially requested something simple, but I wanted everyone to see the woman I saw," the designer told InStyle. "So I showed her the sketches for this mermaid-inspired dress, and she loved it. We waited two weeks for the fabric, which was printed with fish scales and laboriously hand-embroidered."

20 of 36

Freida Pinto, 2009

Freida Pinto - Oscars Best - John Galliano

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Indian actress Freida Pinto gave a nod to her homeland with a sari-inspired design from John Galliano. Complementing the cobalt design (and the theme!) was a 150-year-old diamond from her native country.

21 of 36

Anne Hathaway, 2009

Anne Hathaway - Oscars Best - Giorgio Armani

Fernando Allende/Broadimage

Anne Hathaway glowed like a pearl in Giorgio Armani.

22 of 36

Sandra Bullock, 2010

Steve Granitz/WireImage

"The dress does make the woman," joked Sandra Bullock of her embroidered silver Marchesa gown. Not so! The peek-a-boo design perfectly showcased the star's lithe shape.

23 of 36

Mila Kunis, 2011

Jason Merritt/Getty

Mila Kunis looked radiant in a lavender haute couture design from Elie Saab. The only drawback to the chiffon-and-lace layered number? A lack of insulation. "I'm cold, I have to admit!" Kunis joked on the red carpet.

24 of 36

Angelina Jolie, 2012

Angelina Jolie - Versace - Oscars - Best Dresses

Joe Klamar/AFP/Getty Images

When Angelina Jolie bared her right leg in a stunning velvet Atelier Versace gown, it became an instant internet sensation. Jolie accented the classic gown with Neil Lane jewels, a Jaime Mascaro bag and custom Salvatore Ferragamo velvet peep-toes.

25 of 36

Gwyneth Paltrow, 2012

Gwyneth Paltrow - Tom Ford - Oscars - Best

Jason Merritt/Getty Images

"I've learned to wear what works for my body while always taking a bit of a risk," Gwyneth Paltrow told InStyle of her sleek all-white Tom Ford dress. She accessorized the gown and cape with Anna Hu Haute Joaillerie diamonds, Jimmy Choo shoes, and a sleek low ponytail.

26 of 36

Jennifer Lawrence, 2013

Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Jennifer Lawrence stole the show in a strapless Dior Haute Couture pale blush gown that she styled with Chopard diamonds and a metallic Roger Vivier clutch. The Best Actress winner for Silver Linings Playbook wore pear-shaped white diamond drop earrings, plus a white diamond band, floral diamond ring, and the show-stopping centerpiece: a 74-carat strand of 150 diamond beads, which she wore backwards, draping down her back.

27 of 36

Lupita Nyong'o, 2014

Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Lupita Nyong’o had a real-life Cinderella moment—she took her red carpet stroll in a sweeping deep-plunge Prada gown fit for a princess, complete with Fred Leighton jewelry, including one gold headband (aka tiara).

28 of 36

Emma Stone, 2015

WireImage

Emma Stone embraced chartreuse, aka one of the trickiest shades ever. She stunned in a bead-embroidered Elie Saab gown that featured full sleeves and an open back.

29 of 36

Lupita Nyong'o, 2015

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

With thousands of tiny pearls and a fit that was divine, it’s no surprise that Lupita Nyong'o's Calvin Klein Collection halter dress for the Oscars was later stolen (and returned).

30 of 36

Cate Blanchett, 2016

David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock

Blue officially became the color of the night when endorsed by Blanchett and, of course, she chose the most spectacular shade—an icy crystal that picks up the sparkle of her Tiffany & Co. jewels (and also matches the Roger Vivier clutch). Those three-dimensional flowers of her Armani Privé gown added a rare touch of whimsy to the Oscars.

31 of 36

Jessica Biel, 2017

Steve Granitz/Getty Images

Jessica Biel was the very definition of a golden goddess at the 2017 Oscars in a glittering KaufmanFranco gown. And when it came to jewelry, she wasn't afraid to outshine her dress with an extravagant gold, diamond, and platinum necklace from Tiffany's, which is estimated to be worth around $2 million.

32 of 36

Michelle Williams, 2017

Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images

The actress decided to keep it classic in Louis Vuitton — fitting, considering she's the face of the brand. The simplicity of her dress's black velvet bodice was offset by a heavily-embroidered skirt. Meanwhile, diamond stud earrings and a matching bracelet added the right amount of bling.

33 of 36

Zendaya, 2018

Steve Granitz/Getty Images

Zendaya looked every inch of a leading lady in a whimsical Giambattista Valli gown that elegantly skimmed her lithe frame. A one-sleeve silhouette offered major Grecian vibes, while dangling diamond earrings gave a hint of Old Hollywood.

34 of 36

Margot Robbie, 2018

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Margot Robbie's Chanel Haute Couture gown for the 2018 Academy Awards took 550 hours to custom create by fourteen hands. The dress's corset bodice features a 3D band of crystals that effortlessly drapes off her shoulders and is supported by two crystal camellias (Coco Chanel's favorite flower.)

35 of 36

Nicole Kidman, 2018

Dan MacMedan/Getty Images

Nicole Kidman shut down the 2018 Oscars red carpet in a cobalt blue Armani Privé dress. At first glance, all the attention is drawn to gown's giant bow in the center, but upon closer inspection, a surprise leg reveal is what really made the ensemble a true showstopper.

Replay gallery

Account

More

From 1955 to Now: The Oscar Dresses We Can't Forget (and Don't Want To!)

1 of 36

Marilyn Monroe, 1951

1 of 36

2 of 36

Grace Kelly, 1955

2 of 36

3 of 36

Uma Thurman, 1995

3 of 36

4 of 36

Nicole Kidman, 1997

4 of 36

5 of 36

Gwyneth Paltrow, 1999

5 of 36

6 of 36

Cate Blanchett, 1999

6 of 36

7 of 36

Renee Zellweger, 2001

7 of 36

8 of 36

Julia Roberts, 2001

8 of 36

9 of 36

Charlize Theron, 2000

9 of 36

10 of 36

Kate Winslet, 2002

10 of 36

11 of 36

Reese Witherspoon, 2002

11 of 36

12 of 36

Cameron Diaz, 2002

12 of 36

13 of 36

Jennifer Garner, 2004

13 of 36

14 of 36

Beyoncé, 2005

14 of 36

15 of 36

Hilary Swank, 2005

15 of 36

16 of 36

Keira Knightley, 2006

16 of 36

17 of 36

Michelle Williams, 2006

17 of 36

18 of 36

Jennifer Lopez, 2007

18 of 36

19 of 36

Marion Cotillard, 2008

19 of 36

20 of 36

Freida Pinto, 2009

20 of 36

21 of 36

Anne Hathaway, 2009

21 of 36

22 of 36

Sandra Bullock, 2010

22 of 36

23 of 36

Mila Kunis, 2011

23 of 36

24 of 36

Angelina Jolie, 2012

24 of 36

25 of 36

Gwyneth Paltrow, 2012

25 of 36

26 of 36

Jennifer Lawrence, 2013