100 Best Dresses of the Decade

By Instyle
Updated Mar 19, 2018 @ 3:55 pm

From barely-there figure-flaunters to sophisticated sheaths, the last 10 years have been great for gowns. Take a walk down memory lane (via the red carpet!) with InStyle fashion director Hal Rubenstein.

RELATED VIDEO: The Most Naked Dresses of All Time

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1 of 100

Kate Hudson in Versace

Credit: SGranitz/WireImage

WHERE

75th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "It had a level of extravagance that just had you gasping. The combination of her golden skin, golden hair and the yards of gold lace-I was stunned."

-Hal Rubenstein, Fashion Director

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Anne Hathaway in Armani Prive

Credit: Mario Anzuoni/Landov

WHERE

81st Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "The huge, iridescent paillettes came down at a diagonal and created a great mermaid effect. This dress almost matched her skin tone and was like a burst of light underneath her."

3 of 100

Charlize Theron in Vera Wang

Credit: Rob Beccaris/WireImage

WHERE

72nd Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "Vera understands real, sexy, old-fashioned, 'knock 'em dead' glamour. The color is just great and, of course, the diamonds are perfectly placed. It’s Old Hollywood without looking old."

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Eva Mendes in Dior

Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage

WHERE

68th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "This look has one moment of extravagance and shows that proportion is everything. If that wonderful fold at her hip was two inches wider or longer it might have failed-but it was so right. The Van Cleef & Arpels necklace is a spectacular complement."

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Penelope Cruz in Atelier Versace

Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage

WHERE

81st Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "Three things: A refined moment with her hair and makeup, a va-va-va-voom moment where the dress fits so close to her body and a big glamour moment with the intricate train that goes on forever."

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Gwen Stefani in Valentino

Credit: Paul Smith/Featureflash/Retna

WHERE

61st Annual Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT “Here’s the rocker chick wearing the most unlikely dress of the night. It’s all about going against the grain and throwing people off.”

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Jessica Alba in Dolce & Gabbana

Credit: Evan Agostini/Getty Images

WHERE

58th International Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France
WHY WE LOVE IT "The movement of the fabric against her great body is sexy and, as sparkly as the dress is, there’s something very withholding about it."

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Kate Winslet in Atelier YSL

Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage

WHERE

81st Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "This dress shows the sexiness of a real woman who makes no apologies for her curves."

9 of 100

Sarah Jessica Parker in Chanel

Credit: Fernando Allende/CelebrityPhoto

WHERE

55th Annual Emmy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "There's something so happy about this dress. Those fabulous, weightless layers of organza-it’s like cotton candy or a pink meringue souffle. They didn’t bother with hair and makeup because the dress was such an eye-popper."

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10 of 100

Drew Barrymore in Alberta Ferretti

Credit: Dave Allocca/Startraks Photo

WHERE

Grey Gardens

premiere in New York City
WHY WE LOVE IT "Drew was channeling a femme fatale with the twenties hair and bee-stung lips. It had that unabashed boudoir feel that Alberta does so well."

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Joy Bryant in Donna Karan

Credit: Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

WHERE

The Skeleton Key

premiere in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "Everything comes dead center to the waist and starbursts out from there. It’s about a woman being proud of her curves."

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Reese Witherspoon in Nina Ricci

Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty

WHERE

65th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "This was Reese's first moment out after her split with Ryan Philippe: Strapless, short, yellow, unadorned and showing her body. I love the unexpectedness of it. It was a brilliant strategy and it really worked."

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Jennifer Lopez in Versace

Credit: Fitzroy Barrett/Globe Photos

WHERE

42nd Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "Her bravado is unbelievable. It’s funny because you want to tear the dress apart, yet when she showed up you couldn’t take your eyes off her."

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Cate Blanchett in Prada

Credit: Dave Hogan/Getty Images

WHERE

BAFTA Awards in London
WHY WE LOVE IT "Prada took a classic flash of glamour and added the little lingerie moments against a quiet T-strap shoe."

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SJP in Richard Tyler

Credit: Jim Smeal/WireImage

WHERE

57th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "It was layer upon layer of beaded tulle and was this wonderful blush color that perfectly matched her skin tone."

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Uma Thurman in Jean Paul Gaultier

Credit: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

WHERE

53rd Annual Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France
WHY WE LOVE IT "There’s something very calm about the dress in the sense that it’s not about the usual Hollywood drama. It’s as if you took old scarves and sewed them all together."

17 of 100

Halle Berry in Valentino

Credit: Jeffrey Mayer/Wireimage

WHERE

57th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "The red stones jump out like a shower of little roses accenting the smallness of Halle’s waist. They were like two fires burning from the middle and bottom of the dress."

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Charlize Theron in Narciso Rodriguez

Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage

WHERE

El Captain Theatre in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "She looked like a glamorous savage. The torn beading and asymmetrical hem gave it an element of sophisticated grunge."

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Penelope Cruz in Ralph Lauren

Credit: KMazur/WireImage

WHERE

72nd Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "Ralph’s clothes never upstage the woman wearing them. He took his classic shape, pulled it off the shoulder and added an incredibly sheer shawl."

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Demi Moore in Donna Karan

Credit: Evan Agostini/ImageDirect/Getty Images

WHERE

Costume Institute Gala in New York City
WHY WE LOVE IT "There’s almost a deconstructed extravagance or luxury in this dress. The one shoulder gives it a goddess quality."

21 of 100

Kate Beckinsale in Givenchy

Credit: Jon Furniss/WireImage

WHERE

Pearl Harbor

premiere in London
WHY WE LOVE IT "It has this perverse, milkmaid-hits-the-red-carpet quality that I love. Also, the belt was made of this unbelievably thick, saddle-like leather."

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22 of 100

Michael Michele in Hermes

Credit: SGranitz/WireImage

WHERE

Ali

premiere in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "You can imagine someone wearing it on a red carpet or while walking around barefoot at home. I think any woman who bought this dress would wear it forever."

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Julianna Margulies in Oscar De La Renta

Credit: Fitzroy Barrett/Globe Photos

WHERE

56th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "This was a true fairy-tale princess gown. It looks as if somebody captured the heavens and wrapped it into a dress."

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Nicole Kidman in Jean Paul Gaultier

Credit: Dave Hogan/Getty Images

WHERE

Moulin Rouge

premiere in London
WHY WE LOVE IT "I like dresses that cover up everything but one asset. In this case, it’s her legs. It’s just so smart and brilliantly accessorized."

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Jennifer Lopez in Alexander McQueen

Credit: Theo Wargo/WireImage

WHERE

MTV Video Music Awards in New York City
WHY WE LOVE IT "This was very 19th century swashbuckler. The big heavy locket and the curly hair make it a great look from top to bottom."

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Jennifer Connelly in Vivienne Westwood

Credit: Dave Hogan/Getty Images

WHERE

BAFTA Awards in London
WHY WE LOVE IT "The dress looks classic but there’s a deliberate off-centeredness. This little twist makes the dress far more interesting and idiosyncratic."

27 of 100

Heather Locklear in Michael Kors

Credit: Gilbert Flores/Celebrity Photo

WHERE

59th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "The beige and turquoise highlighted her tan while the diamonds and rhinestones lit up her hair and eyes. There’s something cheeky about throwing so much onto something little."

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28 of 100

Oprah Winfrey in Bradley Bayou

Credit: Gilbert Flores/Celebrity Photo

WHERE

54th Annual Emmy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "There’s something queenly and regal about the dress just as there’s something very regal about Oprah. She’s like the Czarina of the world."

29 of 100

Halle Berry in Collette Dinnigan

Credit: SGranitz/WireImage

WHERE

Die Another Day

premiere in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "There's something about the combination of the Peter Pan haircut, the uneven hem and the sheerness of the beading. She looks like a fabulous sprite!"

30 of 100

Kate Beckinsale in Gucci

Credit: SGranitz/WireImage

WHERE

8th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "It was this weird mix of virginal and sensual. When she moved it was like it became a fabulous night gown."

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31 of 100

Kate Hudson in Valentino

Credit: KMazur/WireImage

WHERE

60th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "This is one of my favorite Valentino dresses ever. It’s not what you’d expect on a red carpet because it’s so riveting and untamed. The vibrant colors evoked Kate’s free spirit."

32 of 100

Gwen Stefani in Vivienne Westwood

Credit: KMazur/WireImage

WHERE

45th Annual Grammy Awards in New York City
WHY WE LOVE IT "This is just too cool for school. It's very strong and dramatic with the white cape that fit perfectly. She was definitely having a Marilyn moment."

33 of 100

Selma Blair in Behnaz Sarafpour

Credit: Carmen Valdes/Ron Galella/Wire