Oscar Dresses

Memorable Oscar Dresses

What makes an Oscar dress memorable? Usually a combination of things. A great deal depends on the actress wearing it and whether she chooses a dress that complements her body, her coloring and her particular style. Because Oscar dresses are just as subject to trends as other items of clothing, some years will find more subdued fashions are popular (such as soon after 9/11), while other years are more daring and carefree.

Actresses typically receive requests from designers to wear their gowns. The higher the status an actress commands, the more visibility a designer can expect his dress to achieve. There are few publicity moments like an A-list actress wearing your gown on the red carpet. Some of the more unforgettable Oscar dresses include:

• In 1986, Cher went for an all-black Bob Mackie number, and a tall headdress made heads turn as much as the midriff bearing dress that made her look much like a beautiful spider.
• Cher goes for Bob Mackie again in a black confection in 1988, which showed as much skin as it did dress. Only the tall, willowy Cher could pull off this look as she took home the Best Actress Award for her unforgettable role in Moonstruck.
• Nicole Kidman was stunning in 1997 in a mustard/greenish John Galliano for Dior gown that made her look ten feet tall. Detailed embroidery and a slim column were the perfect details for Nicole, whose pale skin, elegant hairdo and ruby red lips accented this gorgeous dress.
• Gwyneth Paltrow awed onlookers in a pink Ralph Lauren gown in 1999. She took the Oscar home this year for her portrayal of Viola in Shakespeare in Love. The dress was beautifully simple and classic, and Gwyneth kept her hair and jewelry in tone with it, which is probably why the entire look worked so well for her.
• Julia Roberts won an Academy Award in 2001 for her portrayal of the brash, no-holds-barred Erin Brockovich in the movie of the same title. Her black Valentino dress featured vertical white accents that helped to elongate Julia's already tall frame. Wisely, she kept her hairstyle simple and off-the-face and her jewelry was kept to a bare minimum, keeping the focus on her dramatic gown.
• The beautiful Halle Berry wore an Elie Saab dress to collect her Best Actress Oscar in 2002 for Monster's Ball. The top of the dress was sheer, with a few well-placed appliqués to cover necessary parts, while the bottom of the dress was sweeping and richly colored. Worn with her signature short crop, all eyes were on this gown as she took the stage and accepted her award.
• Angelina Jolie went bright white in a Marc Bouwer dress in 2004, a departure from a few missteps that made her look more Goth than goddess. The dramatically plunging neckline and exotic necklace she wore ensured that the statuesque Angelina would look stunning in this classic number.

Memorable for Other Reasons

No post-Oscar wrap-up is complete without a rundown of who wore what, what was best and what was worst. These dresses are memorable, but not because they looked so good. Some have been dubbed the worst Oscar dresses.

• Uma Thurman's beauty couldn't save the Gypsy-inspired costume she wore to the 2004 Academy Awards. Her dress lacked flattering shaping and contained so many different elements, it was difficult to categorize.
• Demi Moore at the 1989 Oscars wore an outfit that looked like a cross between biking shorts and a Renaissance gown. Clearly, the two looks shouldn't be combined.
• Who could forget Bjork in that swan dress at the 2001 Awards? Feathers, a full skirt and a big swan head aren't likely to be forgotten soon when draped over the petite singer.

Tune in Every Spring

Gorgeous or ghastly, fashion pundits and fashionistas tune in every Academy Award season to see what the hottest stars are wearing to the Oscars. Will your favorite actress hit a style home run or will she not quite score fashion points? All you can do is tune in and see.