The Best Oscars Red Carpet Fashion of the Decade
It is hard to believe a new decade is upon us. It feels like just yesterday that Gwyneth Paltrow made Oscar history in a pink princess style Ralph Lauren gown (1999) and Nicole Kidman wore the unforgettable red Balenciaga bow back dress (2006). As the 2010s come to a close, it’s time to reflect back with 2020 hindsight on the best outfits to grace the Oscar red carpet over the last 10 years. While the nature of deciding the “best” of anything is subjective, no one can deny the impact performers like Lupita Nyong’o and Jennifer Lawrence have had on the carpet over the last decade. The most iconic style moments proved to be as much about the wearer as the dress itself. In many cases, we found less is more, and true fashion is memorable for the long haul when that delicate balance between intricacy and simplicity is struck.
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2019 – Gemma Chan
Gemma Chan not only won the award in our view for best dressed, she also won the award for most dramatic entrance on the carpet. Her electric pink Valentino dress is one for the records. The gown had several notable features, including a dramatic train, high neck and, wait for it, … pockets — which she utilized while striking a pose. She showed that one can be impossibly chic and comfortable while owning the carpet. The gown, designed by Pierpaolo Piccioli, was part of the house’s couture collection shown just a month prior to the Oscars.
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2019 – Billy Porter
It would be an act of blindness not to talk about Billy Porter’s grand entrance at the 2019 Oscars. Instead of a traditional suit, the “Pose” star opted to wear a gown himself, designed by fashion’s bright light, Christian Siriano. This was yet another moment that solidified Billy Porter as a fashion force to be noticed. He has changed the nature of what we expect on a carpet steeped in so much tradition. This look still inspires fashion debate and it deserves credit for getting us inspired and excited. The gown winks at tradition while moving us forward to a new decade of style.
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2018 – Margot Robbie
“I, Tonya” star Margot Robbie was the clear fashion winner of the night. On a carpet where the color white reigned supreme, her custom Chanel designed by Karl Lagerfeld was cream of the crop. Her longtime stylist, Kate Young, (considered among the coolest and most talented in the business) made sure the look balanced all the right notes. While the creation may have looked relatively simple from afar, Chanel craftspeople spent several hundred hours working on the masterpiece. Just the crystal camellia flower straps alone required over a hundred hours to construct. This is one of Karl Lagerfeld’s last red carpet legacies.
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2017 – Emma Stone
Emma Stone’s 1920s inspired Givenchy haute couture gown left a lasting impression in our minds and hearts. The bronze and gold fringed and beaded confection was rumored to have required 11 individuals and 1700 hours to create. Her win marked a history-making moment for the house of Givenchy, which had not been worn by an Academy winner since Audrey Hepburn won best actress for “Roman Holiday” in 1953. This was designer Riccado Tisci’s last gown for the house before his departure.
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2016 – Cate Blanchett & Alicia Vikander (Tie)
It’s undeniable that 2016 was one of the strongest years of the decade on the Oscar red carpet from a fashion perspective. Nominated for best actress in “Carol,” Cate Blanchett stunned in a seafoam green Armani Prive gown. The dress was covered in floral appliques embellished with Swarovski crystals on the front and back and fit to perfection. Alicia Vikander stunned in a lemon yellow princess style dress embellished with silver sparkle details designed by fashion legend Nicolas Ghesquiere for Louis Vuitton. She lit up the stage upon accepting her award for best supporting actress in the “Danish Girl,” an unforgettable moment.
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2015 – Lupita Nyong’o
Forget diamonds: Six thousand white Akoya pearls are also a girl’s best friend. Just when we thought it was impossible for Lupita Nyong’o to outdo her last red carpet gown, she did. She worked hand in hand with designer and creative director Francisco Costa to develop her look from Calvin Klein. The result: a dress that melded the simplicity and attention to detail we thirst for on the carpet. A strategically placed tiny peek-a-boo detail at the gown’s front and very wide open back made the dress impactful upon entering and exiting the room. Post-Oscars, the pearl confection underwent some drama. It was reported to have been stolen from her West Hollywood hotel room only to be returned the following afternoon. Thankfully the dress is safely secured in our hearts for eternity.
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2014 – Lupita Nyong’o
Nyong’o in Prada is all one has to say to bring us right back to that red carpet moment in 2014. The ethereal Grecian-style, sky blue Prada gown was custom-made for the star who won for best supporting actress in the film “Twelve Years a Slave.” Notable details included the deep V-plunge at the front and back of the dress and pleated silk georgette fabrication that moved with her as she walked. Her stylist, Micaela Erlinger, has been instrumental in making the star a red carpet style icon.
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2014 – Jared Leto
It was also a memorable year for mens’ fashion. The Oscar invitation calls for black tie, so when actors do not abide by the letter of the law, it becomes a notable moment. Jared Leto has become one of the most beloved fashion risk takers over the years. His white tuxedo jacket, designed by Saint Laurent’s Hedi Slimane, was a gentle dip into the deep end of fashion that paid off. The exquisite tailoring is evident here. The jacket was paired with tuxedo trousers and an unexpected red bow tie. His moving speech, a love letter to his mom as he took home the award for best supporting actor in “Dallas Buyers Club,” will be long remembered
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2013 – Jennifer Lawrence
This unforgettable Dior Haute Couture princess style dress is the stuff red-carpet dreams are made of. Jennifer Lawrence’s official partnership as brand ambassador for the house of Dior had just begun and from this moment forward, she has donned Dior for every major event in her life, including her most recent October wedding. In this cream strapless gown she looked very much the ingenue as she took home the award that evening for best actress in a drama for “Silver Linings Playbook.” She had a memorable stumble as she approached the stage to accept her award but thankfully the blow was cushioned by the gorgeous gown’s voluminous train. A big dress for a big night.
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2012 – Angelina Jolie
Otherwise known as the year legs became an official accessory on the red carpet; that is, if your leg happens to belong to Angelina Jolie. Her black velvet strapless Atelier Versace gown is one of the carpet’s most memorable “less is more” moments. She looks comfortable in her outfit and it is clear that she is wearing the gown, not the other way around. Moving forward, every visible leg ever to grace a red carpet would be affectionately known as #AngieLeg. Thigh-high slits would also cement themselves as the must-have trend for long dresses everywhere. While many have tried to recreate this leggy look on the red carpet, Jolie will always be our first.
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2011 – Jennifer Lawrence
It’s hard to envision a red carpet universe without Lawrence. It’s even harder to imagine her pre-“Hunger Game” stardom. For her debut red carpet strut, she was indeed the lady in red, wearing a sleek and simple Calvin Klein dress designed by creative director Franciso Costa. In hindsight, it’s almost as though she knew the megawatt star she would ultimately become; the confidence and ease under the photographers’ flashes was evident. Many words have been used to describe this dress, including: iconic, timeless and classic. The dress captures the true spirit of house of Calvin Klein, where value is always placed on the simplicity of the cut and perfect tailoring.
PHOTO : JIM SMEAL/BEI/SHUTTERSTOCK
2010 – Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Reynolds donned a sleek black one-button tuxedo on the carpet. Even with Scarjo on his arm, Reynolds did not escape notice. His look was simple but sharp. If a God of tuxedos exists, we can agree, his name is Tom Ford and that night Ryan Reynolds’ gave meaning to the adage “if the suit fits.” Here, the power of a perfectly fitted suit is clear and the precision of it all has resonance. Reynolds’ overall look is one example of how classic style done right on the carpet is always winning.
