• Intelligencer
  • The Cut
  • Vulture
  • The Strategist
  • Curbed
  • Grub Street
  • Subscribe to the Magazine Give a Gift Subscription Buy Back Issues Current Issue Contents New York Shop
    Subscribe to New York Magazine
  • Subscribe
  • Profile
    Sign Out
The Cut
  • Style
  • Self
  • Culture
  • Power
Style
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Parties & Red Carpet
  • Fashion Shows
  • Cathy Horyn
  • The Cut Shop
Self
  • Health & Wellness
  • The State of the Uterus
  • Parenting
  • Advice
  • Sex & Relationships
  • Horoscopes
Culture
  • Books
  • Television
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Celebrity
Power
  • Politics
  • Work
  • Money
  • Rebecca Traister
More
  • Latest Stories
  • Video
  • About Us
  • nymag.com
  • New York Magazine
  • Intelligencer
  • Vulture
  • The Cut
  • The Strategist
  • Grub Street
  • Curbed
vintage hollywood
February 26, 2016

How Celebrities Dressed Before ‘the Red Carpet’ Became a Juggernaut

By Véronique Hyland

Share

  • Share
  • Tweet
Photo: Ron Galella/WireImage

“You didn’t fly to Paris to get outfitted for the awards. And Paris didn’t fly to you,” Anjelica Huston told the Cut about the early days of Oscars dressing. When she won her statuette for Prizzi’s Honor in 1986, she had a dress made from fabric she bought at Beverly Silks and Woolens. “In those days, you shopped.” In those days before stylists, professional handbag-holders, Giuliana Rancic, gushing press releases about which celebrity wore which Gobstopper-size gems, and next-day red-carpet knockoffs, things were a little bit simpler.

Boxy suits, wispy lace dresses, and even pajama tops were all acceptable attire, not the peg for a “Worst Dressed” segment. Here, a look at some of our favorite unsung moments from the pre-E! epoch.

View
1 / 15 Photos
Jane Fonda At a Los Angeles party, circa 1962. Photo: 2013 Getty Images
Jack Nicholson, Anjelica Huston At the Academy Awards in 1975.
Diane Keaton At the Academy Awards in in 1976. Photo: 2004 Getty Images
Sissy Spacek At the 5th Annual AFI Lifetime Achievement Award: Salute to Bette Davis in 1977 at the Beverly Hilton.
Meryl Streep, Don Gummer At the Academy Awards in 1979.
Jodie Foster At the Foxes premiere in 1980 at MGM Studios in Culver City, California. Photo: 1980 Ron Galella
Martin Scorsese, Isabella Rossellini In 1981. Photo: Time & Life Pictures/Time & Life Pictures
Diana Ross With her daughter at the 1985 premiere of Berry Gordy's Motown film The Last Dragon.
Charlotte Rampling At the premiere of The Night Porter in 1974. Photo: Ron Galella/1974 Ron Galella
Meryl Streep In 1985. Photo: Time & Life Pictures/Time & Life Pictures
Diane Keaton At the Met in 1978. Photo: Ron Galella/1978 Ron Galella
Winona Ryder At the 4th Annual Independent Spirit Awards in 1989 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Photo: 1989 Ron Galella, Ltd.
Molly Ringwald At the 1989 premiere of Miss Firecracker.
Julia Roberts At the Golden Globes Awards in 1990 at the Beverly Hilton. Photo: 1990 Ron Galella, Ltd.
Jane Birkin At Les Victoires de la Musique in 1992.
1 / 15

Tags:

  • red carpet
  • oscars
  • anjelica huston
  • slideshows
  • fashions
  • fame
  • vintage images
  • meryl streep
  • winona ryder
  • diana ross
  • molly ringwald
  • julia roberts
  • jane fonda
  • jodie foster
  • jane birkin
  • isabella rossellini
  • sissy spacek
  • diane keaton
  • vintage hollywood
  • More

More Galleries

May 26, 2023
Cannes Film Festival 2023: Red Carpet  There’s more than movies to be shown. Here are all of the looks at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. 
keeping up with the royals May 6, 2023
All the Looks From King Charles III’s Coronation  Robes, crowns, and Katy Perry. 
By Brooke LaMantia
met gala 2023 May 2, 2023
Met Gala 2023: All the Looks  See all the dresses, some on-theme and some, well, not so much — honoring Karl Lagerfeld at the Met Gala. 
By Brooke LaMantia
oscars 2023 Mar. 12, 2023
Oscars Red Carpet 2023: Every Look  Rihanna! Florence Pugh! Michelle Yeoh! They’re all here. 
celebrity Feb. 19, 2023
All the Best Looks From the 2023 BAFTAs Red Carpet  Florence Pugh, Barry Keoghan, and Angela Bassett brought color to the red carpet. 
grammys 2023 Feb. 5, 2023
Every Look From the 2023 Grammys Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Harry Styles, Lizzo, Bad Bunny, Adele, Doja Cat, Jack Harlow, Mary J. Blige, Sam Smith, and more.
By Brooke LaMantia
golden globes 2023 Jan. 10, 2023
All the Looks From the 2023 Golden Globes  Sheryl Lee Ralph, Jenna Ortega, Jessica Chastain, Julia Garner, Jeremy Allen White, Angela Bassett, and more. 
parties! Sept. 23, 2022
Katie Holmes, Chloë Sevigny, and More of the Bestest Party Pics This Week  Chanel, Mejuri, and more celebrate. 
parties! Sept. 16, 2022
Doja Cat, Lil Nas X, and More of the Bestest Party Pics This Week  Fendi, Frame, and Coach all celebrated NYFW. 
emmys 2022 Sept. 12, 2022
Emmys 2022: All the Red Carpet Looks  Updating: What Hollywood is wearing to the 2022 Primetime Emmy Awards. 
By Olivia Luppino
nyfw spring 2023 Sept. 9, 2022
Gigi Hadid, Chlöe Bailey, and More of the Bestest Party Pics of the Week  Saks Fifth Avenue, Longchamp, and more celebrate the beginning of NYFW. 
rip Sept. 9, 2022
The Queen Sure Did Love to Color-Coordinate  Monochrome for decades. 
red carpet Sept. 6, 2022
The Venice Film Festival Is a Major Fashion Event  Valentino and Gucci and Armani, oh my. 
red carpet June 5, 2022
All the Best Looks at the 2022 MTV Movie and TV Awards  Sydney Sweeney, Vanessa Hudgens, Jay Ellis, and more! 
parties! May 20, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  Harry Styles > everyone! 
parties! May 13, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  Bury me in Dove Cameron’s Saint Sintra skirt. 
parties! May 6, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  Cue the Met Gala after-party FOMO. 
met gala 2022 May 2, 2022
Met Gala 2022: All the Looks [Photos]  Billie Eilish, Kim Kardashian, Michelle Yeoh, Hailey Bieber, Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, Blake Lively, and more. 
parties! Apr. 29, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  This one goes to Olivia Rodrigo and her sweater vest. 
parties! Apr. 22, 2022
The Bestest Party Looks of the Week  “Fuck those Zoom tops.” 
  • Style
  • Self
  • Culture
  • Power
  • About The Cut
  • About New York Magazine
  • Newsletters
  • Help
  • Contact
  • Press
  • Media Kit
  • We’re Hiring
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Ad Choices
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Accessibility
The Cut is a Vox Media Network. © 2023 Vox Media, LLC. All rights reserved.