Red carpet retrospective: 55 of the greatest Oscar gowns of all time

In lieu of the Academy Awards taking place this month, we've rifled through the archives to round up the ceremony's most memorable fashion moments

Michelle Williams, in Vera Wang, attends the 78th annual Academy Awards on March 5, 2006. EPA

Mila Kunis, in Elie Saab, attends the 83rd annual Academy Awards on February 27, 2011. EPA

Marion Cotillard, in Jean Paul Gaultier, attends the 80th annual Academy Awards on February 24, 2008. EPA

Audrey Hepburn, in Givenchy, attends the 26th annual Academy Awards on March 25, 1954. Getty Images

Nicole Kidman, in Balenciaga, attends the 79th annual Academy Awards on February 25, 2007. AFP

Julia Roberts, in Valentino, attends the 73rd annual Academy Awards on March 25, 2001. Getty Images

Amy Adams, in Atelier Versace, attends the 91st annual Academy Awards on February 24, 2019. EPA

Amy Adams, in Proenza Schouler, attends the 80th annual Academy Awards on February 24, 2008. EPA

Kate Winslet, in Ben de Lisi, attends the 74th annual Academy Awards on March 24, 2002. FilmMagic

Elizabeth Taylor, in Dior, and Eddie Fisher attend the 33rd annual Academy Awards on April 17, 1961. Getty Images

Hilary Swank, in Guy Larochem attends the 77th annual Academy Awards on February 27, 2005. Getty Images

Reese Witherspoon, in vintage Dior, attends the 78th annual Academy Awards on March 5, 2006. EPA

Penelope Cruz, in Armani, attends the 84th annual Academy Awards on February 26, 2012. EPA

Janelle Monae, in Ralph Lauren, attends the 92nd annual Academy Awards on February 9, 2020. EPA

Viola Davis, in Michael Kors, attends the 90th annual Academy Awards on March 4, 2018. EPA

Natalie Portman, in vintage Dior, attends the 84th annual Academy Awards on February 26, 2012. EPA

Jennifer Lawrence, in Dior, attends the 85th Academy Awards on February 24, 2013. EPA

Lady Gaga, in Brandon Maxwell, attends the 88th annual Academy Awards on February 28, 2016. EPA

Brad Pitt and Gwyneth Paltrow, in a sequin slip dress, attend the 68th annual Academy Awards on March 25, 1996. WireImage

Rachel Weisz, in Vera Wang, attends the 79th annual Academy Awards on February 25, 2007. Getty Images

Margot Robbie, in Chanel, attends the 90th annual Academy Awards on March 4, 2018. EPA

Cameron Diaz, in Emanuel Ungaro, attends the 74th annual Academy Awards on March 24, 2002. ImageDirect

Jennifer Lopez, in Valentino, attends the 75th annual Academy Awards on March 23, 2003. Getty Images

Helen Mirren, in Schiaparelli, attends the 91st annual Academy Awards on February 24, 2019. EPA

Halle Berry, in Elie Saab, attends the 74th annual Academy Awards on March 24, 2002. FilmMagic

David Lean and Sophia Loren, in a satin floral dress, attend the 30th annual Academy Awards on March 26, 1958. Getty Images

Charlize Theron, in Dior, attends the 77th annual Academy Awards on February 27, 2005. Getty Images

Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, in a textured ballgown, attend the 27th annual Academy Awards on March 30, 1955. Getty Images

Grace Kelly, in Edith Head, attends the 27th annual Academy Awards on March 30, 1955. Getty Images

Julianne Moore, in Chanel, attends the 88th annual Academy Awards on February 28, 2016. EPA

Nicole Kidman, in Dior, and Tom Cruise attend the 69th annual Academy Awards on March 24, 1997. WireImage

Naomi Watts, in Versace, attends the 76th Annual Academy Awards on February 29, 2004. EPA

Cate Blanchett, in Givenchy, attends the 83rd annual Academy Awards on February 27, 2011. EPA

Gwyneth Paltrow, in Tom Ford, attends the 84th annual Academy Awards on February 26, 2012. EPA

Lupita Nyong'o, in Prada, attends the 86th annual Academy Awards on March 2, 2014. EPA

Diane Kruger, in Elie Saab, attends the 78th annual Academy Awards on March 5, 2006. EPA

Emma Stone, in Elie Saab, attends the 87th annual Academy Awards on February 22, 2015. EPA

Gemma Chan, in Valentino, attends the 91st annual Academy Awards on February 24, 2019. EPA

Charlize Theron, in Gucci, attends the 76th Annual Academy Awards on February 29, 2004. EPA

Alicia Vikander, in Louis Vuitton, attends the 88th annual Academy Awards on February 28, 2016. EPA

Michelle Williams, in Louis Vuitton, attends the 84th annual Academy Awards on February 26, 2012. EPA

Salma Hayek, in Versace, attends the 78th annual Academy Awards on March 5, 2006. EPA

Maggie Gyllenhaal, in Proenza Schouler, and Peter Sarsgaard attend the 79th annual Academy Awards on February 25, 2007. EPA

Amy Adams, in Oscar de la Renta, attends the 85th Academy Awards on February 24, 2013. EPA

Sandra Bullock, in Marchesa, attends the 82nd annual Academy Awards on March 7, 2010. EPA

Cate Blanchett, in Armani, attends the 86th annual Academy Awards on March 2, 2014. EPA

Julianne Moore, in Chanel, attends the 87th annual Academy Awards on February 22, 2015. EPA

Emily Blunt, in Prada, attends the 88th annual Academy Awards on February 28, 2016. EPA

Jennifer Lawrence, in Dior, attends the 90th annual Academy Awards on March 4, 2018. EPA

Helen Mirren, in Vivienne Westwood, attends the 83rd annual Academy Awards on February 27, 2011. EPA

Anne Hathaway, in Armani, attends the 81st annual Academy Awards on February 22, 2009. EPA

Natalie Portman, in Dior, attends the 92nd annual Academy Awards on February 9, 2020. EPA

Saoirse Ronan, in Calvin Klein, attends the 88th annual Academy Awards on February 28, 2016. EPA

Kate Hudson, in Versace, attends the 86th annual Academy Awards on March 2, 2014. EPA

Penelope Cruz, in Chanel, attends the 80th annual Academy Awards on February 24, 2008. EPA

Should Covid-19 not have wrapped its grip around the world, we would be gearing up for a glitzy end to the year's awards season.

The Golden Globes would have already feted Hollywood's finest, the Baftas would have seen the A-list descend on London on Valentine's Day, and we'd be looking towards the creme de la creme of cinematic ceremonies, the Academy Awards, on February 28.

However, as we are all more than aware, this has been no ordinary year.

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the awards season calendar has been shuffled, refined and rescheduled over several months, with the Golden Globes taking place on Sunday, February 28, followed by the Baftas on Sunday, April 11, culminating in the Oscars on Sunday, April 25.

So, we still have some weeks to go until we can lose ourselves, even just for a few minutes, in golden trophies, tearful acceptance speeches and the dreamiest of gowns.

However, to bring a little sartorial escapism to the week, we've dug back through the fashion archives to pay tribute to some of the most memorable and magical dresses to grace the Oscars red carpet.

From Michelle Williams's canary Vera Wang to Mila Kunis's lilac Elie Saab, Julia Roberts's monochrome Valentino and Gwyneth Paltrow's caped Tom Ford, you'll find plenty of froth, feathers and a full spectrum of hues.

Scroll through the gallery above to see our pick of the 55 best red carpet gowns from Academy Awards past.