We’re a week out from the Oscars which means two things for fashion lovers: anticipatory speculation about Sunday’s red-carpet runway and head-tilting nostalgia over years gone by. Each year, one or two gowns stand out as being beyond the pale of greatness, finding a perfect balance between glamour, sophistication and timelessness. They’re the forever-memorable gowns that maketh the true Hollywood fairytale.
Of course, the event is all about the films, the actors, the stories and the creatives, but as the limousine doors open and the A-listers begin their walk-pose-and-wave we can’t help but fall in love with the sartorial sensations.
But while many looks cause a flurry of excitement on the day, only a golden few will stand the test of time.
There’s Demi is her spectacular ruffled Versace, Nicole in jaw-dropping red Balenciaga (complete with bow train), Lupita in heavenly pastel Prada, Meryl in lavishly draped Lanvin and Gwyneth in her trend-starting caped column dress by Tom Ford. Even the awards of the Nineties produced a capsule of looks completely back in fashion now. Sharon in her high street white shirt with Vera Wang ball gown skirt, Claire in that oh-so-chic bias cut satin skirt and ingénue Uma in her simple Prada slip way back in 1995.
Each of these 20 looks is worthy of its own place in the Hall of Fame.
