The 23 Best Oscars Red Carpet Looks of the 1990s

The 23 Best Oscars Red Carpet Looks of the 1990s

The 1990s noticed a ton of trend innovation, throughout designer labels all the approach right down to retail types. The crimson carpet was an area of pleasure: Many celebrities didn’t yet work with stylists and put collectively their outfits themselves. As such, there was all kinds in aesthetics, and an actual sense of play and spontaneity—even at the Academy Awards, which has all the time had a comparatively strict and formal costume code. Courtney Love in punk rock princess stylish, Diane Keaton and Janet Jackson in snug fits, and Gwyneth Paltrow in a literal pink ballgown had been all appears to be like that got here from the crimson carpet. And that is solely scratching the floor of the sartorial inspiration at work.

Below, we have compiled the most daring, fashion-forward, thrilling, and simply plain joyful appears to be like from the ’90s Oscars crimson carpets.

Cindy Crawford, 1993

Cindy Crawford in white Versace and Richard Gere.

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Walking the 1993 Oscars crimson carpet with then-husband Richard Gere, Cindy Crawford was resplendent in a easy white Hervé Léger bandage costume. While it would not be as immediately iconic as the red Versace she’d worn two years prior, it could be a mode and form that many celebrities would emulate on the crimson carpet—together with Crawford’s daughter, Kaia Gerber, who wore an nearly equivalent robe in 2024.

Nicole Kidman, 1997

Nicole Kidman in a chartreuse robe at the 1997 Oscars with Tom Cruise.

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This was the chinoiserie-embroidered Dior costume that famed trend correspondent Joan Rivers actually thought was so ugly she threatened to puke. What’s humorous in hindsight is that this legendary chartreuse robe designed by John Galliano helped add somewhat bit of verve and shock to the Oscars crimson carpet. With a single selection, Kidman helped pave the approach for the trendy Oscars aesthetic.

Diane Keaton, 1997

Diane Keaton in a white swimsuit with Steve Martin.

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Posing at the 1997 Oscars together with her expensive pal Steve Martin, Diane Keaton seemed fully like herself—as all the time—in a fitted white swimsuit and metallic collar. While there have been many innovators on this crimson carpet, Keaton first wore a swimsuit to the Oscars approach again in 1976. Even when it could have been practically not possible to see a girl in something apart from a costume, she wore what she preferred.

Jennifer Lopez, 1997

Jennifer Lopez at the 1997 in a silvery glittery robe.

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It’s exhausting to recollect a time when Jennifer Lopez wasn’t gracing us together with her presence on crimson carpets, however the singer and actor was nonetheless a rising star in the ’90s. At the 1997 Oscars, she wore a fragile beaded Badgley Mischka costume; it was a extra conservative possibility than the legendary inexperienced 2000s VMAs costume that catapulted her to trend stardom, but it surely was additionally an early indicator of her type.

Kate Winslet, 1998

Kate Winslet in an extended inexperienced robe at the Oscars.

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All eyes had been on the stars of Titanic at the 1998 Oscars—and Kate Winslet, who was nominated for Best Actress, leaned into the classic glamour theme. This was a inexperienced Givenchy robe with gold embroidery designed by Alexander McQueen; Winslet later called it an “embroidered sculpture,” including, “I have to be honest, the dress was not entirely comfortable to wear. Or sit down in. But it was worth it because he had made it.”

Sharon Stone, 1998

Sharon Stone in white button-down and lilac skirt.

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At this level, Sharon Stone’s look right here is an emblem of the high-low dressing motion. If you are unfamiliar, in 1998 she paired a easy white button-down shirt from the Gap with a violet silk Vera Wang skirt. Two years earlier, she had additionally worn a Gap t-shirt to the Oscars, layered underneath an Armani tuxedo costume she already owned. So whereas this was groundbreaking, it was simply exemplary of Stone’s type.

Salma Hayek, 1997

Salma Hayek in white floor-length sequins.

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Salma Hayek appears to be like—naturally—like a princess right here, right down to the royal tiara. Hayek was attending the 1997 Oscars, and for her first-ever look at the awards present she opted for a easy beaded Armani robe. She later noted that principally everybody warned her towards the tiara as too “pretentious;” she had the final snigger, although, since crimson carpet tiaras turned in style after she wore one.

Goldie Hawn, 1997

(*23*)

Goldie Hawn in sequins with Kurt Russell.

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With her associate Kurt Russell on her arm, Goldie Hawn seemed similar to an Oscar statue at the 1997 Oscars. The turtleneck column costume had a stunning shimmer and was peak ’90s minimalism, particularly since Hawn accessorized merely with a diamond cuff and coordinating purse. This look would not be out of place in the present day! Russell appears to be like nice in these sun shades, of course.

Geena Davis, 1990

Geena Davis in crimson with Jeff Goldblum.

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Did you understand that Geena Davis and Jeff Goldblum had been married? Well, now you do, and also you additionally know that they made for a very modern couple on the crimson carpet. This was from the 1990s ceremony—the identical yr the couple would in the end name it quits—and Davis is beautiful in a crimson off-the-shoulder robe with a crimson clutch and delicate jewellery. The crimson lipstick, a close to match to her robe, is the cherry on prime.

Janet Jackson, 1994

Janet Jackson in a cream swimsuit at the 1994 Oscars.

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Even although crimson carpet type began taking itself much less severely in the ’80s and ’90s, it was nonetheless uncommon to put on a swimsuit to the Oscars. At the 1994 Oscars, Janet Jackson was true to her type in an all-white pantsuit with outsized blazer, white bag, and lovely diamond necklace. Like Diane Keaton, Jackson’s dedication to consolation and magnificence helped usher in a long time of ladies who opted out of robes, too.

Drew Barrymore, 1998

Drew Barrymore in black floor-length sequins.

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Drew Barrymore’s signature “grunge-lite” bohemian type was on full show at the 1998 Academy Awards. She paired a glittery black robe with two daisy equipment, every pinning again a bit of her bleach-blonde hair. The Wedding Singer had simply premiered a couple of weeks prior, which helped set up Barrymore as a extra grown-up actor. The daisies, in the meantime, made her a right away ’90s type icon.

Courtney Love, 1997

Courtney Love in easy white robe.

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Speaking of grunge! Courtney Love’s sweet-but-tough type continues to be extremely emulatable, This was a fairly spectacular encapsulation of it: Walking the crimson carpet at the 1997 Oscars, Love wore a easy white satin Versace robe, matching footwear, and diamond jewellery. But the low-cut neckline, plus the trademark bob and darkish make-up, helped floor it in Love’s signature type.

Jada Pinkett Smith, 1997

Jada Pinkett Smith in inexperienced glittery two-piece.

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For the 1997 Oscars, Jada Pinkett Smith channeled her interior cool and shocked crimson carpet watchers with a naval-baring two-piece costume. Her stylist requested Gianni Versace to chop a halter costume in half, and the finish consequence was beautiful—and it turned an vital forerunner for a lot of future Oscar appears to be like with naked midriffs.

Celine Dion, 1999

Celine Dion in a white swimsuit, worn backward.

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It was each the most controversial look from the 1999 Academy Awards crimson carpet and an extremely influential trend second: Celine Dion in a John Galliano swimsuit…worn backwards. “When I wore that, everyone was wearing dresses, not pants,” Dion later said. “I was the only one with pants in a backward suit from Galliano, and if I would do this today, it would work. It was avant-garde at the time.”

Gwyneth Paltrow, 1999

Gwyneth Paltrow in lengthy pink robe.

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There are few images that say “princess vibes” greater than this one: Gwyneth Paltrow single-handedly revived bubblegum pink as a preferred coloration with this Ralph Lauren robe. She selected a skirt from their lookbook as inspiration, and the model {custom} made the costume for her. Funnily sufficient, the outfit acquired combined opinions at the time, however Paltrow additionally drew comparisons to Grace Kelly. It’s now thought of one of the finest crimson carpet appears to be like of all time.

Uma Thurman, 1995

Uma Thurman in strappy robe and off-the-shoulder wrap.

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Another occasion of excessive trend showing on the Oscars crimson carpet, Uma Thurman wore a lilac Prada robe to the 1995 ceremony, with a contrasting stole and strappy sandals (very ’90s!). Thurman walked the carpet together with her father, educational and creator, Robert Thurman, then took the stage as a presenter for Best Makeup. This lovely, easy look helped Thurman, who had simply starred in Pulp Fiction, cement herself as a serious trend presence.

Daryl Hannah, 1990

Daryl Hannah in a gold mermaid robe at the 1990 Oscars.

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Daryl Hannah combined Old Hollywood glam with a bit of rock-and-roll in her crimson carpet type. Nowhere is that extra evident than this take a look at the 1990 Oscars. The lengthy metallic mermaid robe is extremely basic, as are the white boa and gold mesh opera gloves. But the golden cat-eye sun shades and lengthy curls assist hold this from being too costume-y.

Halle Berry, 1996

Halle Berry in lilac contrasting robe.

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You probably keep in mind Halle Berry’s 2002 Oscar look: a semi-sheer Elie Saab rose-embroidered robe. But years earlier than, at her first Oscars, Berry was already leaning in direction of avant-garde type. She attended the 1996 ceremony in a velvet purple costume that had contrasting silky cloth at the waist. She topped the complete factor off with a coordinating scarf round her neck.

Madonna, 1991

Madonna in white stole and sequined robe.

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Madonna’s ’80s and ’90s type was continuously altering, from punk to excessive trend and every little thing in between. For the 1991 Oscars, she went with an Old Hollywood vibe: custom-made Bob Mackie strapless costume, fur stole, tons of diamonds, and basic crimson lipstick. The costume has lived on: Sabrina Carpenter wore it on the crimson carpet at the 2024 MTV VMAs.

Juliette Lewis, 1992

Juliette Lewis in white with Brad Pitt at the 1992 Oscars.

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Let this photograph be your yearly reminder that Juliette Lewis and Brad Pitt dated for a number of years in the early ’90s. This is the 1992 Oscars, and it is one of Lewis’ most memorable appears to be like. While the option to type her hair in cornrows hasn’t aged effectively, the embellished ivory robe, opera gloves, and strappy heels are very a lot ’90s perfection; the lengthy strand of pearls looped twice casually round her neck provides a touch of spontaneity.

Helen Hunt, 1998

Helent Hunt in blue posing together with her Oscar.

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Helen Hunt’s ice blue Gucci column robe is nice proof that generally easiest is finest in the case of Oscar robes. The costume truly got here with an identical stole, which gave Hunt a regal vibe as she walked down the crimson carpet. But she opted to go with out it when she posed together with her Best Actress statue for As Good As It Gets.

Jennifer Tilly, 1995

Jennifer Tilly in blue sequins at the 1995 Oscars.

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Jennifer Tilly is giving Old Hollywood glam at the 1995 Oscars in a halter-neck sequin Isaac Mizrahi robe. Tilly later noted that she hadn’t labored with a stylist, and opted to borrow this attractive Mizrahi over a proposal from Prada to make her a robe. “But [Mizrahi] wanted it back afterwards! I was really disappointed I didn’t get to keep it,” she informed Vogue.

Claudia Schiffer, 1994

Claudia Schiffer in pink Versace with David Copperfield at the 1994 Oscars.

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Posing with then-fiancé David Copperfield, Claudia Schiffer wore a security pin costume by Versace to the 1994 Oscars and (seen right here) the Vanity Fair afterparty. While this model would not turn out to be fairly as well-known as the one which Elizabeth Hurley donned for the Four Weddings and a Funeral premiere later that very same yr, this was nonetheless however one of the extra iconic Oscar appears to be like from the ’90s—and all time, to be sincere.

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