10 best Oscar dresses of all time
10. Nicole Kidman
In 1997, when she was still married to Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman stepped up her Oscars game properly with a light-green/yellow, Asian inspired dress chosen for her by the late L’Wren Scott. (Scott, as many will recall, was best known as the girlfriend of Mick Jagger, though she was a respected stylist in her own right.) Kidman made a splash on the red carpet with this floor-length get up, which may look a little dated today, but still ranks on this list of the 10 best Oscar dresses of all time because it looked so stunning on her.
The dress was made by John Galliano, who had just begun his tenure at Dior. This dress was also the night that the red carpet was “democratized,” shifting from “fashion driven” to “statement making.” We can not only thank Nicole Kidman and this dress, but we can thank Joan Rivers and her response to this dress. (That sounds a little confusing, so click here to read the full story.)
What made the dress even more remarkable than its attention to applique detail was that it literally outshined Tom Cruise, who – for what it’s worth – looked rather dapper in his suit. Of course, it didn’t help matters much that Kidman towered over Cruise – even without heels. Fortunately, the couple was still in the throes of their lovey-dovey marriage. Unfortunately, this would end less than four years later, as Tom and Nicole divorced in 2001. They may not be married anymore, but Nicole Kidman will always have that gorgeous dress, and all the memories, to live by.