Every Academy Awards ceremony turns the red carpet into its own kind of spectacle, one where a single gown can outshine any envelope opened onstage later that night. From golden era classics to modern shockers, these are the dresses Hollywood still cannot stop talking about, decade after decade.
1. Kendall Jenner in a Curve-Hugging 2017 Gown
Kendall Jenner walked into the 2017 season already one of fashion’s most talked about names, having climbed the modeling ranks alongside her friends Gigi and Bella Hadid. Her gown that year clung to every curve in a single sweep of fabric, offering barely any room for imagination. It was a confident, minimal choice, built entirely on the strength of her figure rather than embellishment, and it turned heads the moment she stepped from the car.