Michelle Williams 2006
best dressed,celebrity fashion,michelle williams,vera wang,oscars,red carpet,Academy Awards
michelle williams
\"Michelle, ma belle\"
This brave choice of egg yolk Vera Wang, with its plunging tulle neckline and Southern Belle placed Michelle Williams firmly on the fashion radar. Worn with dazzling Chopard diamonds, simple hair waves and a flash of red lipstick, although Williams didn\'t win best supporting actress (for Brokeback Mountain which she was nominated for), she did catch the eyes of the world. This was by far one of the prettiest top-to-toe Oscar get-ups in memory, worn by one of the prettiest actresses. Not many women could have pulled off this colour, which served to illuminate Michelle\'s perfect skin. Did love have something to do with it? Remember her boyfriend at the time was the late and very lovely Heath Ledger. By Julia Robson
Anne Hathaway 2009
Anne Hathaway,best dressed,celebrity fashion,oscars,red carpet,Academy Awards,Armani Prive
anne hathaway
\"All that Glitters\"
No-one has shined quite as brightly as Anne Hathaway did in this strapless, floor-length paillette-covered Armani Privé gown. Although she failed to pick up the Best Actress trophy in 2009, (Kate Winslet in grey and black Yves Saint Laurent swiped this), Hathaway\'s old school glitzy glamour dress, which had clearly taken several hundred laboured hours of bead-sewing, announced the arrival of this former teen Disney princess as a serious Hollywood contender. Everything from her Cartier jewellery to her shimmering column gown glittered just like a superstar should.
Gwyneth Paltrow 1999
Gwyneth Paltrow,best dressed,celebrity fashion,ralph lauren,oscars,red carpet,Academy Awards
gwyneth paltrow
\"Pretty in Pink\"
This dress divided fashion critics. They either loved or hated its honest, all-American, fairytale Princess charm. Although at the time it was utterly incongruous to fashion, it suited Gywnnie, who became Cinderella for the night and, oh what a night! Some believe Paltrow will never look prettier than she did in this pink shot taffeta Ralph Lauren number offset by the ultimate red carpet accessory, a gleaming Best Actress Oscar. With hair swept back the comparisons with the ultimate icy Hollywood blonde, Grace Kelly, were inevitable... until she made that blubbering speech.
Hilary Swank 2005
Hilary Swank,best dressed,guy laroche,celebrity fashion,oscars,red carpet,Academy Awards
hilary swank
\"My Kind of Guy Laroche\"
This knockout navy blue Guy Laroche gown gave frockwatchers a reason to stay glued to Oscar night. All that training for Million Dollar Baby paid off. Swank, with a body to die for, showed off her toned back and perfect front with this striking dress that clung to every curve, except the back of course which was spectacularly bare. The story goes glamazonian Swank had been meant to wear a dress by Calvin Klein designer Francisco Costa but changed her mind at the last minute. We\'re so glad she did. Although she could have worn it in the manner of her surname she wore it with the nonchalance of a superstar. And she won Best Actress Oscar of course.
Marion Cotillard 2008
best dressed,Marion Cotillard,celebrity fashion,jean paul gaultier,oscars,red carpet,Academy Awards
marion cotillard
\"Mermaid Marion\"
When you chose a mermaid-inspired dress then win Best Actress Oscar you have got to expect headlines like, \"she was like a fish out of water\", or \"the dress was a big flop.\" Cotillard\'s striking haute couture creation by French maverick, Jean Paul Gaultier, although not classically beautiful, certainly made a bold statement which caused a sea change (sorry!) in terms of dull Oscar night dresses. The tide (?!) of insults soon turned into waves (!) of triumph when Marion\'s fabulous risk taking landed her a Chanel and a Dior campaign.
Keira Knightley 2006
Keira Knightley,best dressed,celebrity fashion,vera wang,oscars,red carpet,Academy Awards
keira knightley
\"Tale of the fishtail\"
Fact: Keira doesn\'t do cleavage. So why stick an actress who could employ a pipe cleaner as a body double in a frock clearly designed for curves? The more you study the collaboration between Vera Wang, who designed the damson dress, and celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe, who shoehorned Kiera into it, the more you see why it makes sense. Knightley\'s tiny proportions make her a natural clothes horse. This dress made her a walking movie. Without even thinking she was striking poses like a supermodel. It\'s only when you consider the consequences - Keira in a column dress, eek! - you realise the dress literally gave her a whole new dimension. The added combination of pale skin, smoky eyes, full-on diamonds ultimately led to Atonement, which led to the unforgettable emerald green dress moment which led to a Chanel contract. Geddit?
Cate Blanchett 2007
cate Blanchett,best dressed,Giorgio Armani,celebrity fashion,oscars,red carpet,Academy Awards
cate blanchett
\"One-shoulder wonder woman\"
No woman currently works the red carpet quite like Cate. She never lets any dress no matter how starry, brave or bold take over from her crucially chic, jaw-droppingly elegant style. Of the many outstanding creations she has worn to the Academy Awards none showed off her superstar quality (and fabulous body) quite like this silver crystal-mesh Giorgio Armani Privé mermaid gown. The collaboration of Armani and Blanchett (and futuristic-meets-classic bodycon trend) is a one-off, heaven on earth union we simply can\'t ever get enough of. What a pro. Just look at her rocking the one-shoulder look. What a gown. What a woman...
Penelope Cruz 2007
Penelope Cruz,best dressed,celebrity fashion,versace,oscars,red carpet,Academy Awards
penelope cruz
\"Cruz missile\"
Perhaps the true mark of a memorable Oscar frock is that a genuine star wears it? This powder puff Atelier Versace number demanded a superstar at the very least and got one in Cruz, who re-established herself as a front runner in red carpet trail-blazing by wearing it. The smouldering Spanish beauty used her dark Latin looks to great effect pulling off this dirty pink creation striking a blow for brunettes everywhere. The girl is owning the colour! Working it with her dirty pink Wag lipstick like a blonde simply could not. The combination of figure-hugging corsetry and Southern Belle romance whooshing out into a feathery skirt makes it a true Hollywood epic.
Jennifer Lopez 2007
Jennifer Lopez,best dressed,celebrity fashion,versace,oscars,red carpet,Academy Awards
jennifer lopez
\"Grecian 2007\"
We love the way Jennifer enters into the spirit of Oscar night like a kid playing dress-up. For one night a year the self-confessed control freak seems to become putty in the hands of stylists and designers. Actually J.Lo has just one designer on permanent speed-dial: Donatella Versace. I wonder was it J.Lo or Versace who suggested the famous curves and perfect bum should be hidden under a waft of buff coloured chiffon in this Atelier Versace empire line gown. Who cares? Who would have thought Jenny from the block could pull off sublime Grecian goddess with such aplomb? Or, that she would let someone go nuts on her locks using Carmen rollers? A classic case of sack the hair stylist we feel.
Nicole Kidman 2007
Nicole Kidman,best dressed,Balenciaga,celebrity fashion,oscars,red carpet,Academy Awards
nicole kidman
\"Redder than the carpet\"
And the award for best frock goes to... Nicole Kidman, yet again. Not sure what it is about the most famous red carpet in the world that makes so many normally stylish actresses have wardrobe malfunctions. Not this one. Certainly not this year. Her tomato red Balenciaga, with its dramatic neck tie and cut away shoulders complimented her long neck and svelte body. But when have you ever seen the Aussie beauty looking less than designer perfect? Whatever you might think of her acting (especially in the Chanel advert... dare we mention the knuckle-bitingly bad \"I love to dance\" bit), her dress sense is faultless.
