Dressed for Best Actress success: Oscar gowns through the ages

Fashion critics will have their eyes peeled and pens poised tonight as the world’s biggest stars strut their stuff on the red carpet at the 88th Academy Awards in Hollywood. Rebecca McLaughlin-Duane flicks through the Oscar archives to see what the most stylish Best Actress winners have worn since the curtain first rose on the glittering ceremony in 1929. Film noir Sally Field A fresh faced Field wore a classic black strapless evening gown by designer Holly Harp when she won her Best Actress Oscar for Places in the Heart in 1985. The styling of the tiered silk-chiffon dress involved a darling-bow diamond necklace and multi-cluster diamond earrings. Shunning a clutch bag, the actress opted for a red rose instead. Nicole Kidman Kidman's portrayal of Virginia Woolf in The Hours earned her an Oscar in 2003. The Australian-born star strode the red carpet in a bespoke Jean Paul Gaultier column dress with asymmetric straps, paired with diamond chandelier earrings. The actress, who was the Gaultier's first haute couture client, said of the flamboyant Frenchman: "I was so inspired by his talent and ability to shape the body with his designs, and by the mastery with which he transformed a simple piece of black fabric into something magical." • www.jeanpaulgaultier.com Julia Roberts Roberts won the Oscar in 2001 for her lead role in the film Erin Brockovich . The star stepped out in front of the cameras in a black vintage gown with white piping and sheer-panelled fishtail by Valentino. Speaking about the actress in 2008, the Italian couturier said: "I have dressed so many people but I have to be sincere. The person that made me feel so very, very happy was Julia Roberts." Jewellery-wise, Roberts most notably wore a diamond Snowflake bracelet by Van Cleef & Arpels, made up of 22 carats. • www.valentino.com Maximum volume Elizabeth Taylor At the 33rd Academy Awards in 1961 — when she picked up her first Oscar — Taylor enlisted the help of the house of Christian Dior. The Butterfield 8 star teamed her buttercup-yellow sleeveless gown and voluminous floral skirt with white satin gloves and statement diamond-and-pearl earrings. Taylor opted for pillar-box red lipstick, which matched the shade of her sash-belt's rose corsage. • www.dior.com Jennifer Lawrence She came, she tripped and she conquered — in the Best Actress stakes for Silver Linings Playbook — at the 2013 Oscars. Our cover star Jennifer Lawrence, at the time 22 years old, stole headlines for more than one reason in her blush-pink ball gown by Christian Dior at the 85th Academy Awards. While it was no surprise that the actress, the face of Miss Dior at the time, would wear one of then-creative director Raf Simons's designs, it was unexpected that she would take a tumble climbing the stairs to the podium. The voluminous underskirts were to blame but Lawrence's recovery was, of course, Oscar-worthy. • www.dior.com Gwyneth Paltrow In 1999, Oscar winner Paltrow divided opinion with her bubblegum-pink, spaghetti-strapped Ralph Lauren princess gown. The Shakespeare in Love actress kept things feminine, if not frightfully expensive, with Harry Winston diamonds in the form of a cuff, choker necklace and starburst stud earrings. Loretta Young Actress Loretta Young's dress sent camera bulbs into a popping frenzy on Oscar night in 1948. The star of The Farmer's Daughter plumped for an emerald-green satin gown bursting with ruffles and accented with coral flower detail. It was created by costume designer Adrian Greenberg, and also featured a matching cropped jacket with oversized neck bow and long-sleeve gloves. Susan Sarandon Dolce and Gabbana debuted their first Oscar gown in 1996 when Susan Sarandon stepped onto the stage to receive her Best Actress award for Dead Man Walking . The copper couture creation was unapologetically bold, with the generous side folds of the skirt adding a touch of Victoriana. The then 49-year-old actress arrived at the ceremony also wearing a matching shawl and sunglasses. • www.dolcegabbana.com Halle Berry In 2002, Berry won the Best Actress Oscar for her performance in Monster's Ball . She also won over the fashion pack when she wore an aysmetrical gown by Lebanese couturier Elie Saab. The dress featured a claret sheer top half — strategically embroidered with flowers — and a full taffeta skirt. Celebrity-favourite Harry Winston came up trumps with the bling, loaning Berry matching ruby-and-diamond studs and bracelet, in addition to a "pumpkin diamond" ring, reported at the time to be worth about US$3 million (Dh11m). • www.eliesaab.com Audrey Hepburn Hepburn picked up an Oscar for her role in Roman Holiday at the 26th Academy Awards in 1954. The actress wore a cream, floral-lace, ballerina-length gown that was belted at the waist. The dress, which was dreamed up by Hubert de Givenchy, was to become a style that Hepburn would continue to favour. The actress kept accessories simple, with a pair of clip-on pearl earrings. • www.givenchy.com Bygone Era Janet Gaynor The American silent-era star became the first recipient of an Academy Award, in 1929, for her performances in three films — 7th Heaven, Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans and Street Angel . It remains the only time the Academy has rewarded anyone for multiple movies. Contrasting with today's glamorous standards, the star collected her Oscar wearing a conservative off-the-rack A-line skirt, jumper and silk scarf. No risk of tripping on stage either, thanks to a sensible pair of brogues and turndown socks. Bette Davis Two-time Oscar winner Bette Davis received her first Best Actress Award from the Academy in 1936. Her second came 1939, for her role in Jezebel, and she wore a headline-grabbing outfit to collect it. While the designer of her gown is unknown, from photographs it appears to be a raw-silk strapless creation with a collier of white feathers. Going for gold Meryl Streep Three-time Oscar winner Streep stepped out in a gold llamé Lanvin gown to collect her Best Actress gong for The Iron Lady in 2012. The then 62-year-old — who has been nominated for 19 Academy Awards — accessorised the draped, eco-friendly, Grecian number with a Lanvin mother-of-pearl minaudière, Salvatore Ferragamo sandals and Fred Leighton earrings. • www.lanvin.com Hilary Swank When she received her Oscar for Best Actress for Boys Don't Cry in 2000, the then 25-year-old Swank wore a molten-bronze ball gown by American designer Randolph Duke. She completed the look with an Asprey & Garrard necklace dating back to the 1890s. Rumoured to be worth more than $250,000 (Dh918,237), the piece — which can also be worn as a tiara — was created for one of Queen Victoria's daughters. • www.randolphduke.net Helen Mirren Not one to shy away from leopard-print, lace or even leather on the red carpet, Dame Mirren dazzled at the Oscars in 2007 in a gown by Christian Lacroix. The champagne chiffon and bead-encrusted bodice did much to flatter the then 61-year-old's skin tone and hourglass figure. Despite having won Best Actress for portraying The Queen , Mirren swapped her tiara for an understated diamond bracelet, matching diamond-shaped earrings and a cream clutch on the night. • www.christian-lacroix.com Cate Blanchett Two-time winner Blanchett made a very expensive statement in 2014, as she scooped Best Actress for her part in Blue Jasmine . The then 44-year-old's tulle and crinoline Armani Privé gown — said to be worth about US$100,000 (Dh367,295) — was adorned with gold-hued pearls, clusters of crystals and iridescent sequins. Further sparkle was added by Chopard, with a multi-diamond-strand bracelet, ring and earrings worth about $18million. The precious jewels — including 62 opals — ensured that security was never far away. • www.armani.com Charlize Theron Dressing like an Oscar statuette was an inspired idea from leading lady Theron in 2004. The South African actress shone bright in her unglamorous role as real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the film Monster, and dazzled on the crimson catwalk in a strappy number by Tom Ford for Gucci. The then 28-year-old wore a diamond-grid cuff, cocktail ring and drop earrings by the luxury maison Chopard. • www.gucci.com