Fashion

Frocks that rocked: The best-ever Oscars gowns

The Academy Awards are just hours away and while Hollywood anxiously speculates about who will take home the prizes for best actor and actress, we’re more interested in who win another coveted title – best-dressed.

Based on recent red carpet form, we think Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain and our own Naomi Watts will be ones to watch, but the red carpet is a funny place, and an actress with lesser fashion credentials could easily scoop the prize.

While we wait for the annual frock fest to begin, we’ve put together a list of the most memorable Oscar gowns of all time.

Michelle Williams, Natalie Portman, Reese Witherspoon, Michelle again, and Sandra Bullock.

Julia Roberts in vintage Valentino in 2001.

Halle Berry in Elie Saab in 2002.

Michelle Williams in Louis Vuitton in 2012.

Meryl Streep in Lanvin in 2012.

Sandra Bullock in Vera Wang in 2011.

Michelle Williams in Vera Wang in 2006.

Gwyneth Paltrow in Tom Ford in 2012.

Hilary Swank in Guy Laroche in 2005.

Gwyneth Paltrow in Calvin Klein in 2011.

Natalie Portman in Rodarte in 2011.

Cate Blanchett in Valentino Couture in 2005.

Reese Witherspoon in Armani Prive in 2011.

Nicole Kidman in Christian Dior in 2011.

Jacki Weaver in Collette Dinnigan in 2011.

Helen Mirren in Vivienne Westwood in 2011.

Cate Blanchett in Givenchy haute couture in 2011.

Jennifer Lopez in Zuhair Murad in 2012.

Kate Winslet in Ben de Lisi in 2002.

Charlize Theron in Christian Dior in 2005.

Penelope Cruz in Versace in 2007.

Helen Mirren in Christian Lacroix in 2007.

Keira Knightley in Vera Wang in 2006.

Nicole Kidman in John Galliano for Dior in 1996.

Kim Basinger in Escada in 1998.

Cindy Crawford in Versace in 1991.

Cate Blanchett in John Galliano in 1999.

Gwyneth Paltrow in Ralph Lauren in 1999.

Catherine Zeta-Jones in Versace in 1999.

Reese Witherspoon in vintage Christian Dior in 2006.

Related stories