If there's anything that can steal the spotlight from an Academy Award—it's a stunning Oscars outfit.
As anyone who looks forward to Hollywood's biggest night well knows, there have been plenty of standout ensembles in the course of the award ceremony's nine-decade history. As the event where dressing to impress is more of an expectation than an option, the Oscars red carpet has become the place to unveil breathtaking fashion. Whether an exquisite ballgown or an inventive jumpsuit, the boundaries for what makes a stellar Oscars look continue to expand—but style is always at its core.
So, in the nearly 100 years that Hollywood's brightest stars have gotten dressed up for the special night, which looks continue to stick out as the crème de la crème? Lupita Nyong'o's custom Calvin Klein gown from 2015, for one? The showstopping creation featured more than 6,000 pearls, one of the reasons it remains unforgettable to this day.
There's the Brandon Maxwell jumpsuit-ballgown hybrid Lady Gaga donned in 2016 or the Alexander McQueen sculptural gown—with matching gloves and an estimated $30 million Tiffany diamond necklace—she wore on the red carpet in 2019 before winning her first Oscar.
Of course, that's just skimming the surface of the Oscars' ultra glamorous sartorial history. With the 2021 ceremony officially in the history books, a few more one-of-a-kind looks have been added to the annals of Oscar fashion. Revisit the best Oscars ensembles of all time below.