Nicole Kidman has donned quite a few unforgettable gowns at the Oscars—whether she's presenting, accepting an award, or just walking the red carpet—but this vivid red dress stands out in our minds the most. When Nicole arrived at the 2007 Academy Awards in this bright red Balenciaga number, the world stood still for a moment. It still kind of takes your breath away when you see it.
While red is a popular color on the red carpet, no one pulls it off quite like Nicole. This gown was absolutely ethereal on her tall form; and even though the gown didn't show much skin (it literally ties around her neck into a bow and falls down her back), it still managed to be effortlessly sexy.
Click through to see more unforgettable dresses from the Academy Awards over the years!
This dress by itself is nothing special; but as soon as Angie stuck her leg out of that thigh-high slit, an iconic red carpet moment was born.
This dress and pose combo has been recreated several times since the 2012 Oscars, but no one can pull it off quite like Angelina does.
Talk about a total surprise…Zoe Kravitz’s 2022 Oscar look was a blush-pink Saint Laurent gown with a stylized knot on the bodice. This gown stops perfectly at the floor and drapes neatly on her small frame. We know Zoe for her edgy style, but this look marries her style with a Hepburn-like expression.
The soft color of this gown pops on Zoe’s olive skin tone. Her hair and makeup take this look to a whole new level. The girlish glam lets the look speak for itself. Every aspect brings just enough to the eye, and altogether it finishes out this soft glamour look.
Kate had all eyes on her at the 2014 Oscars when she wore this Atelier Versace gown that made her look like she stepped out of the golden age of Hollywood.
The off-white dress was sexy and refined, which makes it one of our all-time favorites!
Before the "naked dress" was a staple on the red carpet, Halle Berry made everyone's jaw drop when she stepped onto the 2002 Oscars red carpet.
It was so risque for its time that the Academy later tried to set rules on what you can and can't wear on their red carpet.
Tiffany finally hung up her famous awards dress and swapped it for this absolutely drop-dead gorgeous green Dolce & Gabbana gown in 2022. This strapless dress looks like it was made for her body in mind. The emerald green looks delicious next to her skin, and what says red carpet like a gown studded with crystals?
She styled this gown perfectly. Her jewelry was simple yet bold. She wore a Pomellato necklace and a sit of diamond rings that look like they cost a fortune. She’s rocking short platinum hair with this look, and if you ask us…she’s embodying old Hollywood glamour.
Cher wasn't nominated for an Academy Award in 1973, but she stole the show anyway in this now-iconic gold ensemble.
"Best Abs" clearly isn't a real category, but if it were she would have taken home the prize that night!
Lupita first came on the scene in 2014 for her work in "12 Years a Slave," and we were all floored by her Cinderella-esque, Prada masterpiece of a gown. The light blue, floaty fabric complemented her skin tone flawlessly. We would give anything to get our hands on this dress!
Jessica Chastain is just statuesque. In 2022 she all but won the red carpet with her Oscars look. Her fair skin tone looks stunning with this pastel lavender and champagne gown. This custom Gucci gown had gorgeous movement on the red carpet and if you ask us, this perfectly suits Jessica.
We love these soft colors melting into each other at the waistline. At this Oscars ceremony, Jessica was nominated for her portrayal of Tammy Faye Baker. This gown screams Tammy Faye, and we love that she paid tribute to her on the red carpet.
This look is from the 1992 Oscars red carpet, but Geena wasn't letting that kill her '80s prom queen vibe!
Twitter was abuzz after Anne Hathaway hit the 2013 Oscars red carpet in this blush pink gown.
At first glance it's a pretty little number, but then you see...the point(s).
Zendaya’s stardom is on the rise! She’s become a style icon on the Hollywood A-list and her 2022 two-piece silhouette solidifies that fact. In this look, we have a stunning silver beaded skirt that hugs her curves perfectly. The skirt stops perfectly at the floor and trains behind her for an elegant finish.
On the top, we have a creamy collared crop top with peeking cut-outs on the sides. She always gives a unique twist to her red carpet looks, but this set of separates is a total knockout! Zendaya knows fashion, this subtle, almost ‘90s supermodel glam is to die for!
Unlike Anne Hathaway's accidental accentuation of her...assets...
Charlize Theron made no mistakes or apologies in this purple gown at the 2010 Oscars red carpet.
Grace Kelly was the human embodiment of fashion and style, and the 1955 Oscars red carpet was a testament to that.
When we saw Cynthia Erivo’s 2022 Oscar look we audibly gasped! This Louis Vuitton two-peice gown is fierce on Cynthia! The dimensions of this silhouette are powerful and commanding, and we love the play on menswear on the red carpet.
In all black with satin accents, you could tell that she felt confident…if not superior in this ensemble! The sparkling buttons and cufflinks add the perfect amount of bling to this outfit, elevating it to a whole new level. Her smokey eye and short hair bring this smoldering look to a perfect finish.
Penelope stole the show at the 2007 Academy Awards when she wore this blush, Atelier Versace gown.
This gown hugged her body in all the right places and somehow made ruffles look chic and elegant, which is something we never thought we’d see in our lifetime!
Helena is known for wearing outfits that are out of left field, but this velvet and taffeta gown made by costume designer, Colleen Atwood, takes the cake!
While she wore this trainwreck to the 2011 Academy Awards, we can all probably agree that this bizarre piece would fit in much better in a Tim Burton movie.
Queen Bey is known for her amazing and sometimes outrageous style choices, but one of our favorite looks is the Atelier Versace black velvet gown that she wore in 2005.
This look is simpler than most, but that’s what makes it unbelievably gorgeous to us.
At the 2010 Academy Awards, Zoe Saldana looked like she got lost on her way to her high school’s prom.
Her fluffy, purple Givenchy dress had an awkward slit and a weird ombre that made her look like a DIY gone wrong.
At the 2002 Academy Awards, Faith sang “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and wore a dress to match.
This pastel, rainbow-colored Versace disaster will live in infamy as one of the ugliest dresses to ever appear on the red carpet.
We still can’t decide if Cher’s jaw-dropping, Bob Mackie gown that she wore to the 1987 Oscars is crazy good or crazy bad.
The bottom half of the dress looks like a gorgeous mermaid tail, but she completed the look with a two-foot, feathery headdress!
You know that saying about wearing the dress instead of letting the dress wear you? Well, Demi's definitely wearing this dress and working it...the problem is the dress is hideous.
Thankfully, Demi's style has matured since the 1989 Oscars.
Gwyneth's style has improved, but we will never forget her Alexander McQueen dress from 2002. It was basically a see-through tank top and a voluminous maxi skirt sewn together in the worst way.
To add insult to injury, Gwyneth's choice to go braless made her ensemble look sloppy, rather than chic.
At the 2004 Oscars, Uma Thurman donned a Christian Lacroix creation.
Unfortunately, it appeared she would fit in more as a milkmaid in the Bavarian Alps than on the red carpet.
I don't think anything has ever represented the '90s quite as well as this pantsuit/dress getup did at the 1993 Oscars.
It's neon, it's green, and it doesn't make a lick of sense.
Angelina made her first big impression as a style icon when she wore this Marc Bouwer white satin gown to the Academy Awards in 2004.
This dress had a sexy plunge and grazed over her body flawlessly. She looked like a Grecian goddess.
No one does classy-but-insanely-sexy quite like Jennifer Lopez does.
This dramatic white gown at the 2010 Oscars red carpet stole the show.
2002 obviously wasn't a great year for Oscars red carpet fashion.
But this little number isn't a total miss; it would look absolutely perfect at Coachella, paired with a flower crown and sandals!
Kim designed her own dress for the 1990 Oscars. We have to say, she should have left it to the professionals. This confusing dress featured half a blazer, an opera glove, and a ballgown skirt.
None of these aspects were aesthetically appealing or flattering.
Lizzy Gardiner is a costume designer. Who designed her own dress for the 1995 Oscars. Out of American Express Gold Cards.
...No, literally. We weren't joking!
In 2001, Bjork took the tulle trend a bit too far when she wore a dress that had white tulle at the bottom and what looked like a dead swan’s head wrapped around her neck.
We only wish we could forget this design disaster by Marjan Pejoski ever happened!
This purple dress is super cute...for a teenage girl's prom in 1999.
But you know Tyra; she can take a prom dress and make it fashion.
Kate Winslet always keeps it classy and graceful on the red carpet...
The 2002 Oscars was clearly no exception.
Anne Hathaway wore a form-fitting, Armani Prive gown in 2009 that made her look like a sexy, golden goddess. This magnificent gown sparkled and shined in all the right ways.
It also solidified Anne’s place in our hearts as one of our favorite red carpet queens.
The 2011 Academy Awards was Jennifer Lawrence's first Oscars nomination, and she definitely left a lasting impression on the red carpet.
She wowed the world, and nothing's been the same since.
