Expand Photo
1982, Katharine Hepburn
In a bit of a swipe at the Hollywood machine and, well, retrospective slideshows, Katharine Hepburn let presenter Jon V... more
1982, Katharine Hepburn
In a bit of a swipe at the Hollywood machine and, well, retrospective slideshows, Katharine Hepburn let presenter Jon Voight (and father of red carpet royalty Angelina Jolie) accept the award for On Golden Pond on her behalf. Hepburn was famous for her headstrong style. These days, it's hard to imagine many Best Actresses dressing themselves, much less being too busy to accept their awards.
Photo: Ron Galella/WireImage
Expand Photo
1983, Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep, pregnant with her daughter Mamie Gummer, gets the gold (and wears it) for her performance in Sophie’s Choice . ... more
1983, Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep, pregnant with her daughter Mamie Gummer, gets the gold (and wears it) for her performance in Sophie’s Choice . It might look a little like a window treatment from an Indian restaurant, but Streep had already earned fashion points for her look in Manhattan . (And would reach costume nirvana two years later in Out of Africa , ostensibly laying the groundwork for Ralph Lauren's Safari label.)
Photo: Barry King/WireImage
Expand Photo
1984, Shirley MacLaine
Shirley MacLaine won in 1984 for Terms of Endearment . And what could be more endearing than little red sideburns and a m... more
1984, Shirley MacLaine
Shirley MacLaine won in 1984 for Terms of Endearment . And what could be more endearing than little red sideburns and a mother-of-the-bride dress?
Photo: Ron Galella/WireImage
Expand Photo
1985, Sally Field
Sally Field, victorious for her role in Places in the Hear t, shows off impressive biceps and totally normal tanlines (this wa... more
1985, Sally Field
Sally Field, victorious for her role in Places in the Hear t, shows off impressive biceps and totally normal tanlines (this was obviously before bronzing oneself to match the statues became a thing), and that little bow necklace probably didn't even come with its own bodyguard. Between that and the lavender eyeshadow, she's like a gift from the '80s.
Photo: AP
Expand Photo
1986, Geraldine Page (second from right)
It's hard not to be distracted by Anjelica Huston's glowing green gown, but turn your attention to the... more
1986, Geraldine Page (second from right)
It's hard not to be distracted by Anjelica Huston's glowing green gown, but turn your attention to the late Geraldine Page's burnout velvet cloak (so ahead-of-her-time nineties!). The actress won on her eighth and final Oscar nomination, for The Trip to Bountiful.
Photo: Anonymous/AP Images
Expand Photo
1987, Marlee Matlin
What is happening here? It's like the Oscars, with some Miss America and a dash of Victoria's Secret thrown in. Marlee Matl... more
1987, Marlee Matlin
What is happening here? It's like the Oscars, with some Miss America and a dash of Victoria's Secret thrown in. Marlee Matlin, winning for Children of a Lesser God — and just winning, generally.
Photo: Ron Galella/WireImage
Expand Photo
1988, Cher Oh, Cher. For some reason, even in the age of Gaga's meat dresses and face-webs, Cher's Bob Mackie is still so much more exciting, bec... more
1988, Cher Oh, Cher. For some reason, even in the age of Gaga's meat dresses and face-webs, Cher's Bob Mackie is still so much more exciting, because you kind of get the feeling she just wore this because she liked it.
Photo: Jim Smeal/WireImage
Expand Photo
1989, Jodie Foster
Jodie Foster, accepting her Best Actress Award for The Accused , reportedly bought this dress off the rack in Rome before she... more
1989, Jodie Foster
Jodie Foster, accepting her Best Actress Award for The Accused , reportedly bought this dress off the rack in Rome before she knew she was nominated. (Not at Armani, probably.) It looks a little big and the fins are obviously awkward, but now it seems so novel for a Best Actress to actually pick something out AND buy it — extra points for looking like she loves it. No blaming the stylist here.
Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage
Expand Photo
1990, Jessica Tandy
Jessica Tandy, winning for Driving Miss Daisy , in what photographed like a Laura Ashley prairie print, but actually sparkle... more
1990, Jessica Tandy
Jessica Tandy, winning for Driving Miss Daisy , in what photographed like a Laura Ashley prairie print, but actually sparkled like a disco ball on TV.
Photo: Doug Pizac/AP Images
Expand Photo
1991, Kathy Bates
Kathy Bates playing it sort of safe in spangly shoulder pads and black velvet. (That's Daniel Day-Lewis with the Kenny G. hai... more
1991, Kathy Bates
Kathy Bates playing it sort of safe in spangly shoulder pads and black velvet. (That's Daniel Day-Lewis with the Kenny G. hair beside her.) Bates was nominated for her performance in Misery , up against Julia Roberts for Pretty Woman . That just sounds like a tough night out, so it's nice that she won.
Photo: Barry King/WireImage
Expand Photo
1992, Jodie Foster
Jodie Foster in Armani, keeping her Oscar for The Silence of the Lambs fingerprint-free, thanks to some shiny white gloves.&... more
1992, Jodie Foster
Jodie Foster in Armani, keeping her Oscar for The Silence of the Lambs fingerprint-free, thanks to some shiny white gloves. What's under that jacket?
Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage
Expand Photo
1993, Emma Thompson
It's hard to tell if Emma Thompson's all green getup (are those pants?) is supposed to look a little cockamamie and assymet... more
1993, Emma Thompson
It's hard to tell if Emma Thompson's all green getup (are those pants?) is supposed to look a little cockamamie and assymetrical, but it's sort of working, thanks to that pose. She's English! And quirky! And co-starred with Helena Bonham Carter, who was surely wearing something wonderfully weirder.
Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage
Expand Photo
1994, Holly Hunter
Between her loose hair, understated makeup, and seriously toned arms, Holly Hunter looks more like an Olympian than an Oscar... more
1994, Holly Hunter
Between her loose hair, understated makeup, and seriously toned arms, Holly Hunter looks more like an Olympian than an Oscar-winner, posing with her statuette for her performance in The Piano. Hunter actually ran her hand through her hair during her acceptance speech, possibly marking the last time an actress was able to do that.
Photo: Time Life Pictures./Time Life Pictures
Expand Photo
1995, Jessica Lange (third from right)
Jessica Lange won Best Actress in 1995 for playing 1950s bombshell Carly Marshall in Blue Sky. It's hard... more
1995, Jessica Lange (third from right)
Jessica Lange won Best Actress in 1995 for playing 1950s bombshell Carly Marshall in Blue Sky. It's hard to tell with that shawl, but Lange actually had a bit of a Madonna/Gaultier-bullet-bra thing happening with the underlayer of her sheer dress. Actual Academy Awards aside, the 1995 Oscars were all about Uma Thurman's palest periwinkle Prada dress, which began a new era of celebrity-as-designer-billboard.
Photo: Lois Bernstein/AP Images
Expand Photo
1996, Susan Sarandon
The generally unfussy Susan Sarandon wore this enormous-skirted Dolce and Gabbana ballgown the year she won for Dead Man W... more
1996, Susan Sarandon
The generally unfussy Susan Sarandon wore this enormous-skirted Dolce and Gabbana ballgown the year she won for Dead Man Walking . Actresses seemed to reason in the years to follow: If serious Susan Sarandon wore a Disney-princess dress, well, so could they.
Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage
Expand Photo
1997, Frances McDormand
Winning for her portrayal of chief Marge Gunderson in Fargo , Frances McDormand disarms the fashion police in a nav... more
1997, Frances McDormand
Winning for her portrayal of chief Marge Gunderson in Fargo , Frances McDormand disarms the fashion police in a navy satin dress that's less irreverent than her usual sartorial choices — a rare case of a Best Actress nomination sobering up one's fashion sense.
Photo: Ron Galella/WireImage
Expand Photo
1998, Helen Hunt
Helen Hunt won in 1998 for As Good as It Gets , which sort of says it here.
Photo: Ron Galella/WireImage
Expand Photo
1999, Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth Paltrow, winning for Shakespeare in Love , dripping in tears, Harry Winston ($160,000 dollars worth), and so much ... more
1999, Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth Paltrow, winning for Shakespeare in Love , dripping in tears, Harry Winston ($160,000 dollars worth), and so much pink Ralph Lauren. The dress — and the moment — bordered on ridiculous Barbie princess, but that was sort of her thing at the time. She’s Gwyneth Paltrow. She’s 26. She’s winning an Oscar. And she’s not yet blogging about her cleanse. Just be happy for her.
Photo: ERIC DRAPER/AP Images
Expand Photo
2000, Hilary Swank
It's hard to feel like Hilary Swank, winning here for Boys Don't Cry, isn't just having a modified Gwyneth moment in massive... more
2000, Hilary Swank
It's hard to feel like Hilary Swank, winning here for Boys Don't Cry, isn't just having a modified Gwyneth moment in massive silk taffeta and a six-figure necklace. But, it's working, especially considering Swank spent a month living as a boy to prepare for her role.
Photo: ERIC DRAPER/AP
Expand Photo
2001, Julia Roberts
Julia Roberts won in 2001 for Erin Brockovich , in which her wardrobe consisted of a sheer leopard blouse with matching heel... more
2001, Julia Roberts
Julia Roberts won in 2001 for Erin Brockovich , in which her wardrobe consisted of a sheer leopard blouse with matching heels, myriad push-up bras, and what appeared to be a lot of pleather and stretch lace. She more than made up for it by wearing this vintage Valentino velvet column.
Photo: Terry McGinnis/WireImage
Expand Photo
2002, Halle Berry
There's a little bit of a curtain-sarong thing happening here, but one has to praise Halle Berry for taking a risk and lookin... more
2002, Halle Berry
There's a little bit of a curtain-sarong thing happening here, but one has to praise Halle Berry for taking a risk and looking really pretty while she does it. Plus, it just seems cheap to criticize a person who is naked from the waist up.
Photo: SGranitz/WireImage
Expand Photo
2003, Nicole Kidman
Here is Nicole Kidman, who won for her portrayal of Virgina Woolf in The Hours . This Jean Paul Gaultier dress has THREE str... more
2003, Nicole Kidman
Here is Nicole Kidman, who won for her portrayal of Virgina Woolf in The Hours . This Jean Paul Gaultier dress has THREE straps, and they all come from the same side! Imagine how confusing it would be to put on — but that's what stylists are for.
Photo: SGranitz/WireImage
Expand Photo
2004, Charlize Theron
Look how much Charlize Theron looks like the Oscar statue here, holding her award for Monster . This dress is from Tom For... more
2004, Charlize Theron
Look how much Charlize Theron looks like the Oscar statue here, holding her award for Monster . This dress is from Tom Ford's last collection for Gucci, and true to form, it's golden, glittering, and body-conscious.
Photo: SGranitz/WireImage
Expand Photo
2005, Hilary Swank
Hilary Swank, five years after her silk taffeta moment, slimming it down in Guy Laroche to accept her award for Million Doll... more
2005, Hilary Swank
Hilary Swank, five years after her silk taffeta moment, slimming it down in Guy Laroche to accept her award for Million Dollar Baby . She was completely covered up in the front, totally exposed in the back, and prettiest from the side. Awkward, but true.
Photo: Chris Polk/FilmMagic
Expand Photo
2006, Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon, looking a little bit country — probably still channeling June Carter Cash — as she accepts her award... more
2006, Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon, looking a little bit country — probably still channeling June Carter Cash — as she accepts her award for Walk the Line .
Photo: Mirek Towski/FilmMagic
Expand Photo
2007, Helen Mirren This is what a Dame looks like. Helen Mirren, with her award for The Queen , appropriately.
Photo: Lester Cohen/WireImage
Expand Photo
2008, Marion Cotillard Marion Cotillard with her Oscar for La Vie en Rose , looking very Parisian mermaid bride in Gaultier.
Photo: Steve Granitz... more
2008, Marion Cotillard Marion Cotillard with her Oscar for La Vie en Rose , looking very Parisian mermaid bride in Gaultier.
Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage
Expand Photo
2009, Kate Winslet
The asymmetry and varied fabrics of this Yves Saint Laurent gown may feel a bit busy until one remembers this was the year t... more
2009, Kate Winslet
The asymmetry and varied fabrics of this Yves Saint Laurent gown may feel a bit busy until one remembers this was the year that Penelope Cruz, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Marisa Tomei all went full-skirted bride. Kate Winslet won for The Reader , and that gunmetal gray-blue silk matched her eyes pretty perfectly.
Photo: Jennifer Graylock/AP Images
Expand Photo
2010, Sandra Bullock
Shortly after Sandra Bullock won this award for The Blind Side , her marriage to Jesse James fell apart. How many headline ... more
2010, Sandra Bullock
Shortly after Sandra Bullock won this award for The Blind Side , her marriage to Jesse James fell apart. How many headline puns must've come out of that one? Either way, this was a very dignified Marchesa dress.
Photo: Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage
Expand Photo
2011, Natalie Portman It's nice that Natalie Portman has good taste, but being pregnant at the Oscars just seems like such a prime opportunity to... more
2011, Natalie Portman It's nice that Natalie Portman has good taste, but being pregnant at the Oscars just seems like such a prime opportunity to let that go. A pregnant Rodarte Black Swan could have been just so amazing.
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Expand Photo
2012, Jennifer Lawrence With a train on a Dior gown like this, it's no wonder she tripped while getting on stage to accept her award for Silver Lining... more
2012, Jennifer Lawrence With a train on a Dior gown like this, it's no wonder she tripped while getting on stage to accept her award for Silver Linings Playbook , but she looked gorgeous doing it. Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Expand Photo
2013, Cate Blanchett Accepting the award for her role in Blue Jasmine , Cate wore one of the most expensive Oscars dresses of all time: an Armani Privé... more
2013, Cate Blanchett Accepting the award for her role in Blue Jasmine , Cate wore one of the most expensive Oscars dresses of all time: an Armani Privé gown embellished with $100,000 worth of Swarovski crystals. Photo: Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage
Expand Photo
2014, Julianne Moore You can't go wrong with Chanel, and she looked like a classic beauty in it when she won for her role in Still Alice . Photo: Jason... more
2014, Julianne Moore You can't go wrong with Chanel, and she looked like a classic beauty in it when she won for her role in Still Alice . Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Expand Photo
2015, Brie Larson When she won an Oscar for her role in Room , she also received acclaim for this electric blue gown that Gucci custom-made for her. Ph... more
2015, Brie Larson When she won an Oscar for her role in Room , she also received acclaim for this electric blue gown that Gucci custom-made for her. Photo: C Flanigan/FilmMagic
Expand Photo
2016, Emma Stone In a golden Givenchy gown with beaded fringe and an embellished bodice, Emma collected her award for La La Land looking like an award... more
2016, Emma Stone In a golden Givenchy gown with beaded fringe and an embellished bodice, Emma collected her award for La La Land looking like an award herself. Photo: David Crotty/2017 David Crotty
Expand Photo
2017, Frances McDormand In an empowering feminist speech accepting her award for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri , Frances touted inclusion r... more
2017, Frances McDormand In an empowering feminist speech accepting her award for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri , Frances touted inclusion riders and asked every female nominee to stand with her in solidarity. Photo: MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images