12 Red-Carpet Outfits That Started a Fashion Revolution and Changed All the Rules Forever

In the past, the dress code for the Oscars was regulated. Men had to wear black tuxedos, and women had to wear ball gowns. However, the rules have become less strict over the years. Today, celebrities can come to the event wearing T-shirts and Crocs, and without their hair done.

At Bright Side, we decided to find out what red-carpet outfits from different years changed the rules of the game.

1. Julia Roberts, 1990

Julia Roberts calls herself unfashionable, however, she often appears in spectacular and memorable outfits at red carpet events. The actress is distinguished not only by her lush hair and signature smile but also by her courage. At the 1990 Golden Globes, she arrived wearing an oversized Armani suit. “It doesn’t matter how much you dress it up or bejewel it, it’s still you, and I feel like at the end of the day I have to feel like I’m myself,” Roberts commented on her choice.

2. Juliette Binoche, 1997

Juliette Binoche’s outfit in 1997 can hardly be called a dress. The velvet robe was something in between a dress and a coat. Binoche’s unusual look was remembered by guests and journalists who attended the event and was even ranked among one of the worst Oscar dresses of all time. However, Binoche deserves credit for her courage.

3. Sharon Stone, 1996 and 1998

Sharon Stone violated the unwritten red carpet rules twice. In 1996, it happened by accident. The actress planned to appear at the ceremony in a Vera Wang evening gown. However, upon delivery, the box with the dress fell out of the truck. A few seconds later, the hapless courier backed up over it. The incident happened the day before the Oscars.

The actress was helped by Ellen Mirojnick, who was her Basic Instinct costume designer. She came up with a gorgeous ensemble of an Armani tuxedo dress, a Valentino skirt, and a simple black turtleneck by Gap.

The outfit made a splash, and 2 years later, Stone decided to combine luxury clothes with mass market items again. She complimented a long Vera Wang skirt with a classic white shirt by Gap. By the way, the shirt belonged to Stone’s then-husband, Phil Bronstein.

4. Jennifer Aniston, 1999

Jennifer Aniston is an established style icon. Her outfits combine simplicity and charm, and they are easy to create. In 1999, the actress appeared at the Emmy Awards in a luxurious dress, the top of which was decorated with sequins.

It’s worth mentioning that she skillfully combined her evening dress with a beachy hairstyle. This combination created a trend of combining evening gowns with loose hairdos.

5. Halle Berry, 2002

Many actresses appear at the Oscars with lifted hairstyles or neat curls. At the 2002 Academy Awards, Halle Berry attracted attention not only with her bright dress but also with a short pixie haircut that became iconic.

6. Helen Mirren, 2013

In 2013, Helen Mirren arrived at the premiere of the film RED 2 in a modest emerald dress with huge platform heels that peeked out flirtatiously. The 76-year-old actress has long had a love for such shoes. Later, she confessed that she bought these shoes for just $39 at a Hollywood boutique.

Mirren’s looks prove the fact that age boundaries have been widened. Just a couple of decades ago, ladies of an elegant age would prefer more classic outfits. The fashion industry has to follow these trends.

7. Irina Shayk, 2014

For important events, many celebrities often choose clothes and jewelry valued at tens of thousands of dollars. But some celebrities, like model Irina Shayk, challenge this rule.

At the 2014 Liga de Futbol Profesional Awards, she appeared in a red, floor-length dress from the mass market brand, Love Republic. In the past, ordinary women tried to make dresses similar to those they saw on celebrities. Now anyone can afford to buy an exact copy of the dress that was worn by recognized trendsetters like this model.

8. Nicole Kidman, 2017

Not so long ago, wearing mismatched shoes or earrings could lead to whispers and jokes behind your back. But nowadays, it’s become a trend thanks to the efforts of celebrities and fashion designers. Many celebrities have already worn mismatched shoes to different events.

The Calvin Klein fashion brand designed a collection of shoes with mismatched elements. So Nicole Kidman appeared in such shoes at the 2017 Emmy Awards.

9. Timothée Chalamet, 2019

It seems that men don’t want to wear classic suits anymore, and Timothée Chalamet is one of them. At the 2019 Venice Film Festival, the actor appeared in an elegant silver Haider Ackermann suit with a belt. Together, the designer and actor looked for more bold and free forms of elegance that reflected his personality.

10. Chloé Zhao, 2021

Nowadays, you’ll hardly be surprised by anyone who combines a fancy dress and sporty shoes. Many people know that Chloé Zhao received her golden statuette wearing an ensemble featuring these exact elements. As it turns out, she made this choice not because she loves comfort. There is an important message hiding behind her Hermès dress and white sneakers.

According to the creative director of Hermès, the purpose of clothes is to provide confidence and resilience, which corresponds to Zhao’s personality. Chloé Zhao decided to stick to a simple style at the ceremony: she wore 2 braids and wore barely any makeup at all.

11. Frances McDormand, 2021

Frances McDormand, who starred in Nomadland, is known for her easy attitude toward her red carpet looks. In 2019, she presented an Oscar to Olivia Coleman wearing a pair of yellow Birkenstocks. The actress stays true to her principles: this year, McDormand appeared on the red carpet in a laconic black dress without any makeup (she doesn’t ever use it) and without her hair styled.

12. Questlove, 2021

The musician and DJ, Questlove, attracted a lot of attention due to one detail of his outfit. His loose black trousers and the shirt of the same color were complemented by golden Crocs. This provocative footwear made the look appear less official and added some freedom to it.

Do you like to break fashion rules? How do you do it? Tell us in the comments below.

Subscribe to our podcast on Spotify or Apple podcasts to enjoy our best stories and give a real treat to your ears.