10 best Oscar dresses of all time
2. Halle Berry
Rare is the day that an actress can create a whole designer’s career, but that’s exactly what Halle Berry did in 2002 when she wore this remarkable, bright red Elie Saab get-up to collect her history-making Oscar for her role in Monster’s Ball. This runner-up in the list of the 10 best Oscar dresses of all time was one-of-a-kind – and hasn’t been able to be replicated in impact since. In addition to a sheer red top (with appliques to cover appropriate areas, of course), the dress was shimmering red from the waist down, and it went right down to the floor.
All of us teared up a little as a hysterical Halle accepted her Oscar – becoming the first African-American woman in history to win a Best Actress Oscar – but, perhaps, what we most remember was how beautiful she looked in her dress. The former beauty queen completed her look with understated makeup – and a glossy lip – and a pixie cut that would be imitated, but never duplicated, by countless less-worthy successors to her throne. And while Halle may be making the news for less-than-favorable reasons these days, she’ll always have this night, and that dress.