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- What 79 best actress winners wore to accept their Oscars (businessinsider.com)
From Gowns to Glory: A Look Back at Best Actress Oscar Fashion Through the Decades
The Academy Awards are more than just a night to celebrate cinematic achievements; they’re a dazzling runway where Hollywood’s leading ladies showcase their most iconic style moments. While the golden statues honor talent, the red carpet is where legends are made, especially for the Best Actress winners whose ensembles are etched into public memory as their “coronation” as the queens of the silver screen.
With the 98th Academy Awards on the horizon for March 15, 2026, and a fresh crop of nominees including Jessie Buckley, Emma Stone, Rose Byrne, Kate Hudson, and Renate Reinsve, we’re taking a glamorous trip down memory lane. Join us as we rewind to 1930 to revisit the sartorial choices of nearly every Best Actress winner, from the elegance of Ginger Rogers and Faye Dunaway to the modern flair of Julia Roberts and Mikey Madison.
The Roaring Thirties: Sparkle, Fur, and Classic Silhouettes
1930: Mary Pickford
Mary Pickford, winning for “Coquette,” sparkled in a bedazzled dress, a substantial diamond bangle, and delicate pearl strings. It’s worth noting that 1930 saw two Academy Awards ceremonies – one in April and another in November!
1930: Norma Shearer
Later that year, Norma Shearer, honored for “The Divorce,” opted for a jacket with luxurious fur-lined sleeves over her gown. She completed her look with a pop of red lipstick, perfectly waved hair, and an array of dainty jewelry.
1931: Marie Dressler
Marie Dressler kept it understated yet elegant in a dark shift dress and a long necklace when she accepted her Oscar for “Min and Bill.”
1932: Helen Hayes
Helen Hayes exuded timeless sophistication in a classic black dress, a pearl necklace, and elegant gloves for her “The Sin of Madelon Claudet” win.
1935: Claudette Colbert
Breaking from tradition, Claudette Colbert, Best Actress for “It Happened One Night,” chose a chic gray suit adorned with a large flower on the lapel and a stylish black hat.
1936: Bette Davis
Bette Davis famously wore a patterned ensemble for her “Dangerous” win, reportedly convinced she wouldn’t win and thus donned an “old costume,” according to Harper’s Bazaar.
1937: Luise Rainer
Luise Rainer looked regal in an elegant white coat and a sophisticated updo when she won for her portrayal of Anna Held in “The Great Ziegfeld.”
1938: Luise Rainer
A rare back-to-back winner, Rainer’s second Oscar for “The Good Earth” saw her in a high-necked gown with dramatic bell sleeves.
1939: Bette Davis
Bette Davis secured her second Best Actress Oscar for “Jezebel” in a striking black gown featuring a unique, cloud-like collar embellishment.
The Forties: War-Time Restraint to Post-War Glamour
1940: Vivien Leigh
Vivien Leigh, accepting her award for the iconic Scarlett O’Hara in “Gone with the Wind,” wore a patterned dress, complemented by a single pendant, dark lipstick, curled hair, and plenty of mascara.
1941: Ginger Rogers
Ginger Rogers graced the 13th annual Academy Awards in a brown dress with delicate lace details for her “Kitty Foyle” victory. Historical context reveals attendees were advised to wear “muted tones” in 1941 due to the ongoing war.
1942: Joan Fontaine
Joan Fontaine, winning for “Suspicion,” was a vision in a lacy black dress, a matching hat, and multiple pearl necklaces.
1944: Jennifer Jones
Jennifer Jones (second from left), celebrated for “The Song of Bernadette,” wore a distinct dark gown with white, puffy sleeves and a floral embellishment at the collar.
1945: Ingrid Bergman
Ingrid Bergman opted for a dark skirt and blouse when she won for “Gaslight,” sweeping her hair away from her face for a polished finish.
1947: Olivia de Havilland
Olivia de Havilland, victorious for “To Each His Own,” chose a romantic strapless floral gown, paired with large curls and a classic pearl necklace.
1948: Loretta Young
Loretta Young made a statement in a green satin gown with matching gloves for “The Farmer’s Daughter,” her tiered dress boasting an abundance of ruffles.
1949: Jane Wyman
Jane Wyman, kissing her Best Actress Oscar for “Johnny Belinda,” wore a white gown with an elegantly embellished collar.
The Fifties: Hollywood Royalty Embraces New Silhouettes
1950: Olivia de Havilland
Olivia de Havilland (second from left) perfectly captured 1950s style when accepting her Oscar for “The Heiress,” pairing her flower-embellished gown with coordinating gloves.
1953: Shirley Booth
Shirley Booth won for “Come Back, Little Sheba” in a patterned, long-sleeve dress with matching gloves. This ceremony was groundbreaking, being held simultaneously in Hollywood and New York City, and marked the first time the Oscars were televised.
1954: Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn, ever the style icon, wore a belted Givenchy dress for her “Roman Holiday” win, completing the look with her signature eyeliner and lipstick.
1955: Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly, the future Princess of Monaco, was radiant in a pale-green ensemble, topped with elbow-length gloves, delicate earrings, and an elegant updo for her “The Country Girl” triumph.
1958: Joanne Woodward
Joanne Woodward, Oscar winner and wife of Paul Newman, accepted her award for “The Three Faces of Eve” in a strapless gown adorned with sewn-on flowers, keeping her hair and makeup simple to let the dress shine.
1959: Susan Hayward
Susan Hayward took home the Oscar for “I Want to Live!” in a black dress, sporting a voluminous blowout, white gloves, and striking red lipstick.
The Sixties: From Chic Simplicity to Daring Statements
1960: Simone Signoret
Simone Signoret won for “Room at the Top” in a sophisticated off-the-shoulder black dress.
1961: Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor was a vision in a floral Christian Dior gown for her “Butterfield 8” award, with her high-volume hair and white gloves adding a touch of serious glamour.
1965: Julie Andrews
Julie Andrews, embracing her Oscar for “Mary Poppins,” wore a pale-yellow gown, accessorizing her simple dress with a statement necklace and gloves.
1966: Julie Christie
Julie Christie matched her Oscar for “Darling” in a shiny gold dress, completing her outfit with a feathery blowout.
1969: Barbara Streisand
Barbara Streisand famously wore an Arnold Scaasi pantsuit that, under the stage lights, proved to be transparent as she accepted her award for “Funny Girl.”
She finished her sequined look with a sleek bob and dramatic eyeliner. This year also saw a rare tie, with Streisand sharing her award with Katharine Hepburn, who rarely attended the ceremony.
The Seventies: A Decade of Individuality
1972: Jane Fonda
Jane Fonda accepted her “Klute” Oscar in a black Yves Saint Laurent suit, her sleek, shoulder-length hair parted to the side for a mod ensemble.
1973: Liza Minnelli
Liza Minnelli shone brightly in a yellow Halston dress for her “Cabaret” win, accessorizing with a colorful choker and matching bracelet.
1976: Louise Fletcher
Louise Fletcher posed with Jack Nicholson after their respective Oscar wins for “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” with Fletcher wearing a delicate champagne-colored gown by Alfred Fiandaca.
1977: Faye Dunaway
Faye Dunaway wore a black Geoffrey Beene dress with a rope belt for her “Network” award, finishing her dark outfit with several pieces of gold jewelry.
1978: Diane Keaton
Diane Keaton accepted her “Annie Hall” award in a unique Ruth Morley suit, opting for a muted color palette in her layered ensemble.
1979: Jane Fonda
Jane Fonda, a two-time winner, embraced 70s trends in a flowy floral James Reva gown for her “Coming Home” trophy.
The Eighties: Bold Choices and Iconic Moments
1980: Sally Field
Sally Field embodied spring in a white Bob Mackie dress with a sheer floral overlay for her “Norma Rae” win, enhancing the look with dramatic eyeliner and teased, voluminous hair.
1981: Sissy Spacek
Sissy Spacek took the award for “Coal Miner’s Daughter” in a black jumpsuit, keeping the rest of her look simple and chic.
1983: Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep won for “Sophie’s Choice” in a shimmering gold Christian Leigh dress while pregnant with her second daughter, Mamie. She completed her outfit with a pink-brown lipstick shade and curled hair.
1984: Shirley MacLaine
Shirley MacLaine chose a pale-pink Fabrice suit, intricately embroidered, when she won for “Terms of Endearment.”
1985: Sally Field
Sally Field famously exclaimed, “You like me!
You really like me!” in a strapless black dress as she won her second Oscar for “Places in the Heart,” finishing her outfit with a bow-like necklace.
1986: Geraldine Page
Geraldine Page, winning for “The Trip to Bountiful,” layered a deep-purple velvet cape over her dress, accessorizing with chandelier earrings and a warm lipstick shade.
1987: Marlee Matlin
Marlee Matlin paired her pink dress with a floral headpiece for her “Children of a Lesser God” win, opting for peachy lipstick with her mixed-material gown.
1988: Cher
Cher’s sheer Bob Mackie ensemble for her “Moonstruck” acceptance speech is legendary. From her headdress to her sandals, the star truly sparkled.
1989: Jodie Foster
Jodie Foster wore a light-blue, ruched gown when she won for “The Accused,” keeping her hair and makeup simple to let the dress make its statement.
The Nineties: Power Suits to Princess Gowns
1990: Jessica Tandy
Jessica Tandy sparkled in a two-piece Giorgio Armani getup for her “Driving Miss Daisy” performance, completing her outfit with statement earrings.
1991: Kathy Bates
Kathy Bates wore a black gown with shoulder pads for her “Misery” award, her earrings perfectly matching the glitzy details on her dress.
1992: Jodie Foster
Foster took home her second Oscar for “The Silence of the Lambs” in a cream Armani jacket, paisley crystal-encrusted trousers, and classic matching gloves. She also wore a red pin for HIV/AIDS awareness.
1993: Emma Thompson
Emma Thompson wore an emerald Caroline Charles jumpsuit for her “Howards End” win, completing her look with red lipstick and curled ringlets.
1994: Holly Hunter
Holly Hunter chose a black and gray Vera Wang dress with subtle sparkle for her “The Piano” victory, matching her earrings and bracelet to the gown’s glimmering details.
1995: Jessica Lange
Jessica Lange wore Calvin Klein when she won for “Blue Sky,” adding a touch of bright lipstick to her dark, mesh-paneled gown.
1996: Susan Sarandon
Susan Sarandon wore a bronze Dolce & Gabbana gown when recognized for “Dead Man Walking,” finishing off her outfit with tousled hair.
1997: Frances McDormand
Frances McDormand kept it simple in a blue dress for her “Fargo” win, opting for minimal accessories – a style she maintains to this day.
1998: Helen Hunt
Helen Hunt stunned in a strapless blue Tom Ford for Gucci dress for her “As Good as It Gets” win, completing her outfit with a matching wrap, frosty makeup, and a diamond bracelet.
1999: Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth Paltrow’s baby-pink Ralph Lauren princess gown for “Shakespeare in Love” remains one of the most iconic Oscar looks, topped off with a sheer tulle wrap, a statement necklace, bright-pink lipstick, and a touch of blush.
The New Millennium: From Bold Statements to Modern Elegance
2000: Hilary Swank
Hilary Swank wore a strapless green Randolph Duke dress for her “Boys Don’t Cry” acceptance, glamming it up with a dazzling statement necklace.
2001: Julia Roberts
Julia Roberts made a lasting impression in a black Valentino gown with white accents when she won for “Erin Brockovich.”
2002: Halle Berry
Halle Berry’s floor-sweeping Elie Saab gown, with its mesh, floral-embroidered top and contrasting satin skirt, for her “Monster’s Ball” award is one of the most memorable Oscar dresses of all time.
2003: Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman accepted her “The Hours” Oscar in a black Jean Paul Gaultier dress featuring an unexpectedly edgy neckline.
2004: Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron rocked a glittering Gucci dress for her “Monster” win, looking old Hollywood glamorous with her hair styled in elegant waves.
2005: Hilary Swank
Hilary Swank accepted her “Million Dollar Baby” Oscar in a fully backless Guy Laroche dress, completing the look with shimmering makeup and a sleek hairdo.
2006: Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon looked radiant in a Christian Dior gown for her “Walk the Line” performance, completing her outfit with a smoky eye, a simple hairdo, and earrings that matched her dress.
2007: Helen Mirren
Helen Mirren wore a Christian Lacroix gown for her “The Queen” Oscar, appearing to layer a patterned tulle skirt over her lacy, embellished gown.
2008: Marion Cotillard
Marion Cotillard took home the Oscar for “La Vie En Rose,” looking glamorous with sleek curls and a mermaid-inspired Jean Paul Gaultier dress.
2009: Kate Winslet
Kate Winslet, winning for “The Reader,” chose a one-shouldered, blue-gray Yves Saint Laurent gown, complementing her two-toned dress with a smoky eye.
2010: Sandra Bullock
Sandra Bullock wore a silver Marchesa dress for her “The Blindside” award, adding a pop of color with bright-pink lipstick.
2011: Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman wore an off-the-shoulder Rodarte dress for her “Black Swan” win, her shoes and earrings perfectly matching her gown. Fun fact: she was four months pregnant at the time!
2012: Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep matched her Oscar for “The Iron Lady” in a gold Lanvin dress, appearing to be “dripping in gold” from her accessories to her makeup.
2013: Jennifer Lawrence
Jennifer Lawrence, winning for “Silver Linings Playbook,” may have famously tripped on her way to the stage, but she still looked flawless in this white Christian Dior gown.
2014: Cate Blanchett
Cate Blanchett wore an embellished Armani Privé gown for her “Blue Jasmine” award, completing her look with delicate curls and large sunburst earrings.
2015: Julianne Moore
Julianne Moore wore a strapless Chanel gown for her “Still Alice” acceptance. This custom, intricately detailed gown reportedly took over 900 hours to create.
2016: Brie Larson
Brie Larson accepted the Oscar for “Room” in a belted, royal-blue Gucci dress, an intricate gown that was reportedly two months in the making.
2017: Emma Stone
Emma Stone wore a vintage-inspired gown for her “La La Land” win, finishing her golden-toned dress with big waves and classic red lipstick.
2018: Frances McDormand
Frances McDormand won for “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” in a black dress with a gold pattern. During her powerful acceptance speech, she famously asked every female nominee in the audience to stand and advocated for inclusion riders.
2019: Olivia Colman
Olivia Colman wore an emerald-green Prada gown for her “The Favourite” award, a dress that took months to create. Her gown featured a silk organza cape tied into a giant bow at the back and was adorned with Swarovski crystal flowers.
2020: Renée Zellweger
Renée Zellweger won her first Best Actress Oscar for “Judy” in a custom white Armani Privé gown. Though subtle, the gown was covered in beads with pale pink and blue thread.
2021: Frances McDormand
McDormand wore a navy-blue gown with a feathered bottom and feathered sleeves to win her third acting Oscar for “Nomadland.” With this win, she tied Meryl Streep and Ingrid Bergman for the most acting Oscars, with Katharine Hepburn still holding the record for Best Actress statues.
2022: Jessica Chastain
Jessica Chastain dazzled in a sparkly ombré Gucci gown that transitioned from rose gold to lavender as she accepted her first Academy Award for “The Eyes of Tammy Faye.”
2023: Michelle Yeoh
Michelle Yeoh channeled an angelic goddess in a white Dior Couture gown, accented with feathers. The “Everything Everywhere All At Once” star paired the look with a Moussaieff diamond headband and earrings, along with a Richard Mille watch.
2024: Emma Stone
Emma Stone accepted her second Best Actress Oscar for “Poor Things” in a mint-green peplum gown designed by Louis Vuitton. During her speech, she playfully blamed Ryan Gosling’s energetic “I’m Just Ken” performance for a broken zipper!
2025: Mikey Madison
Mikey Madison, winning for “Anora,” embraced an Old Hollywood aesthetic at the 2025 Oscars, donning a two-toned pink and black satin Dior dress with a chic bow.
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- What 79 best actress winners wore to accept their Oscars (businessinsider.com)