The most daring Oscars red carpet looks from the past 50 years

Gabbi Shaw,Frank OlitoApr 23, 2021, 19:45 IST

Cher.Credit: Bettmann / Getty

For the past 50 years, celebrities have been wearing daring looks to the Academy Awards.
Sometimes the bold looks are considered the worst in history, like Björk's swan dress in 2001.
Other daring looks are considered the best, like Halle Berry's see-through gown.

1971: Petula Clark was hard to miss in this matching beaded beanie and dress.

Petula Clark. Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

1972: Isaac Hayes accepted an Oscar in this baby blue, fur-lined suit with a matching ruffled shirt.

Isaac Hayes. Bettman/Getty Images

1973: Cher bared her abs in this yellow two-piece.

Cher. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

1974: Edy Williams made her Oscars debut in a luxurious fur coat ... and leopard print bikini.

Edy Williams. Michael Montfort/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

1975: Gena Rowlands wore a glitzy pink dress with a matching Little Red Riding Hood-esque cape to accompany John Cassavetes.

John Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands. Michael Montfort/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

1976: Diane Keaton matched a bright white suit with a striped shirt, a polka dot tie, and a giant carnation in her lapel.

Diane Keaton. Frank Edwards/Fotos International/Getty Images

1977: Edy Williams once again stole the show with this look that defies explanation.

Edy Williams. Fotos International/Archive Photos/Getty Images

1978: Farrah Fawcett took golden goddess to a whole new level with this dress - but one wrong move would've led to a wardrobe malfunction.

Farrah Fawcett. Walt Disney Television/Getty Images Photo Archives

1979: Raquel Welch wore a skintight, royal blue sequined jumpsuit to walk the carpet.

Raquel Welch. Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

1980: Dolly Parton wore a revealing look to the Academy Awards this year.

Dolly Parton. ABC Photo Archives / Getty

1981: Edy Williams also wore a low-cut dress to the Oscars red carpet.

Edy Williams. Ron Galella / Getty

1982: Although Liberace only performed at the Academy Awards, his look certainly was bold.

Liberace. Michael Ochs Archives / Getty

1983: Genie Francis stood out on the red carpet in this ruffled look.

Genie Francis. Michael Ochs Archives / Getty

1984: Joanna Pacula turned heads with a daring yellow bomber jacket.

Joanna Pacula. Ron Galella / Getty

1985: Prince wore a hooded, bedazzled cape this year.

Prince. Time & Life Pictures / Getty

1986: Cher stopped the show with her large headdress and matching black ensemble.

Cher. Credit: Bettmann / Getty

1987: Helena Bonham Carter turned the iconic Oscars black gown on its head.

Helena Bonham Carter. Ron Galella, Ltd. / Getty

1988: Cher had another memorable look when she took home the Academy Award for best actress.

Cher. Ron Galella / Getty

1989: Angie Dickinson made a daring choice with this all-white feathered ensemble.

Angie Dickinson. Ron Galella, Ltd. / Getty

1990: Kim Basinger mixed menswear and red carpet glam in this ... interesting gown.

Kim Basinger. Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

1991: Debbie Allen wore an iridescent rainbow skirt with a fully beaded top featuring multiple suns.

Jasmine Guy and Debbie Allen. Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

1992: Geena Davis' poofy white high-low dress resembles a wedding dress, but the black straps, tights, and ribbons give it an edge.

Geena Davis. Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

1993: Whoopi Goldberg's lime green and purple look was impossible to miss at that year's ceremony.

Whoopi Goldberg. Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Getty Images

1994: Prince accessorized a sheer white jumpsuit with a lollipop and a thick gold chain.

Prince. Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

1995: Lizzy Gardiner wore a dress entirely made of American Express gold cards.

Lizzy Gardiner. KMazur/WireImage/Getty Images

1996: Susan Sarandon's bronze gown made her look like one of the Oscars.

Susan Sarandon. Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Getty Images

1997: Juliette Binoche channeled a vampire with this dramatic collar.

Juliette Binoche. Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty Images

1998: Cher opted for a completely see-through dress dripping in crystals with a matching crystal hat and choker.

Cher. Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

1999: Celine Dion wore a backwards white satin tuxedo with no shirt and a giant white hat.

Celine Dion. Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Getty Images

2000: Cate Blanchett wore a backless gown to her second-ever Oscars red carpet.

Blanchett in 2000. KMazur/WireImage/Getty Images

2001: Björk made headlines when she showed up on the red carpet with a swan around her neck.

Björk. Steve Granitz / Getty

2002: When accepting her Academy Award, Halle Berry showed off one of the most iconic and most daring Oscars dresses in history.

Halle Berry. Steve Granitz / Getty

2003: Hilary Swank went with a lopsided, pink ombre gown for this red carpet.

Hilary Swank. Kevin Winter / Getty

2004: Uma Thurman made the daring decision to be the worst dressed on the Oscars red carpet this year.

Uma Thurman. L. Cohen / Getty

2005: Melanie Griffith showed off her broken foot and a cane on the Oscars red carpet.

Melanie Griffith. Dan MacMedan / Getty

2006: Charlize Theron's emerald gown was boldly accentuated with a large bow on her shoulder.

Charlize Theron. Jeff Kravitz / Getty

2007: Kelly Preston opted for head-to-toe cheetah print.

Kelly Preston. Jeff Kravitz / Getty

2008: Marion Cotillard accepted her Academy Award in a memorable white gown.

Marion Cotillard. Jeff Kravitz / Getty

2009: Instead of going with the traditional Oscars gown, Tilda Swinton chose a daring top and bottom ensemble.

Tilda Swinton. Kevin Mazur / Getty

2010: Zoe Saldana's Givenchy feathered gown clashed with the jeweled top ... but in the best way.

Zoe Saldana. Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Getty Images

2011: Madonna chose a black bodysuit with a sheer lace overlay and a fur stole for the red carpet.

Madonna. Christopher Polk/VF11/Getty Images for Vanity Fair

2012: Sacha Baron Cohen rolled up to the red carpet dressed as his character from "The Dictator," complete with the "ashes" of Kim Jong-il.

Sacha Baron Cohen. Michael Buckner/Getty Images

2013: Nicole Kidman's gold and black sequined gown looked like it was made of liquid - until you see the bottom's golden swirls.

Nicole Kidman. Jason Merritt/Getty Images

2014: Lupita Nyong'o made her Oscars debut with a robin's egg blue gown that became a statement for her red carpet style in the years to come.

Lupita Nyong'o. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images

2015: Irina Shayk's slinky black dress was actually a mesh jumpsuit with a one-sided skirt.

Irina Shayk. Alberto E. Rodriguez/WireImage/Getty Images

2016: Kate Winslet quite literally shimmered on the red carpet with this silk lamé look.

Kate Winslet. Gregg DeGuire / Getty

2017: Janelle Monáe made her Oscars red carpet debut in a show-stopping number.

Janelle Monáe. Steve Granitz / Getty

2018: Actress Haley Bennett chose a gown that prominently featured a large patch of grass.

Haley Bennett. Frazer Harrison / Getty

2019: Billy Porter broke boundaries when he wore a tuxedo top and a large velvet skirt.

Billy Porter. Dan MacMedan / Getty

2020: Janelle Monáe returned to the Oscars wearing a stunning bedazzled, hooded look that turned heads on the red carpet.