The Most Memorable Golden Globe Looks of All Time
Grace Kelly, 1956
Grace Kelly won the World’s Film Favorite Actor (Female) award in 1956, but she easily could have been named “World’s Most Stylish Woman.” Her silk cheongsam with cap sleeves was the epitome of, well, grace. Just another example of why she’s one of the most enduring — and alluring — fashion icons.
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Elizabeth Taylor, 1957
Taylor, known for her amazing jewelry and multiple husbands, wore a dainty floral print dress with full skirt when she attended the Golden Globes in 1957. She accessorized the look with a tiara, chandelier earrings, and Mike Todd (aka hubby No. 3).
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Marilyn Monroe, 1962
The often imitated, but never equaled, Monroe received her last award in 1962 in a slinky, black sequin gown that no doubt turned heads at the ceremony and— rumor has it — sparked a romance with her presenter, Glenn Ford.
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Cher, 1973
Who else but Cher could bare a taut, tanned tummy at a red carpet gala? The singer attended the ceremony with her husband, Sonny Bono, but all eyes were on her in a jacquard floral two-piece and oversize fur coat.
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Anjelica Huston, 1974
Anjelica Huston, ever the coquette, escorted her man, Jack Nicholson, to the 1974 ceremony in a rumpled silk top and matching skirt, with a fur boa casually tossed over the shoulder and a flower in her hair.
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Drew Barrymore, 1983
How could you not love little Drew Barrymore in this ruffled purple dress? The 7-year-old was attending for her role in E.T., and we were charmed to the moon and back.
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Sigourney Weaver, 1989
Sigourney Weaver had a banner year in 1989, winning Best Supporting Actress for Working Girl and Best Actress for Gorillas in the Mist, which she shared with Jodie Foster and Shirley MacLaine in a historic three-way tie. This asymmetric red dress was thoroughly modern and just the right kind of sexy. It certainly would not look out of place on a red carpet today.
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Julia Roberts, 1990
In an age before stylists were commonplace, Julia Roberts decided to dress herself. (A novel idea!) Her choice to don a man’s suit by Giorgio Armani stemmed from her desire to wear something that was just as comfortable as what her then boyfriend, Kiefer Sutherland, was wearing. A suit is always chic on a woman, but it wouldn’t have hurt if this one were at least her size!
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Kate Moss, 1995
Even when she was younger, Kate Moss knew how to command a red carpet. At the height of her ’90s heyday, she wore a vintage dress to the Globes that was purchased by her then boyfriend, Johnny Depp. The full-length sequined ensemble was originally worn by Julie Christie in Shampoo, making everything about her even more impossibly cool.
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Courtney Love, 2000
This tattered John Galliano dress was the perfect choice for a star who has confessed, “I am not a woman. I am a force of nature.”
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Halle Berry, 2000
Berry looked radiant in this feminine red and white Valentino gown. Her minimal makeup and short hair really let her beauty shine, especially when she won a Best Actress award for Introducing Dorothy Dandridge.
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Bj?rk, 2001
It’s entirely possible that Bj?rk is a creature from another galaxy. We would not expect her to wear a normal dress with ruffles or a plunging neckline, so when she showed up wearing Michael Jackson’s face on her gown, all we could do is stand back and say, “Yes, Bj?rk, Yes!”
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Kate Hudson, 2002
Kate Hudson made waves in this Versace gown. The sparkling dress with plunging neckline and bell sleeves hugged her body in all the right places and turned her into a glamorous mermaid. If there were ever a dress that perfectly captured someone’s personality, this was certainly it.
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Sharon Stone, 2003
Throughout the years, Sharon Stone has established herself as someone who does whatever the heck she wants, no matter what people think. This look certainly confirmed her self-righteous attitude. The sheer top, witchy boots, car-wash skirt, and weird Illuminati pendant are an actual challenge to human eyes.
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Salma Hayek, 2003
If you look up the word sexy in the dictionary, it should come with a photo of Salma Hayek in this red hot Narciso Rodriguez gown. The dress hit all of her curves without being too revealing.
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Lara Flynn Boyle, 2003
Lots of little girls want to be ballerinas when they grow up. It seemed that Lara Flynn Boyle never outgrew this wish and decided the red carpet was the best place to manifest her dreams. It wasn’t.
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Charlize Theron, 2004
Many think that yellow is a hard color to pull off, but Theron’s subtly ruffled Dior gown was the perfect choice to give a relaxed vibe at an upscale event. Her perfectly tousled hair actually complemented the shape of her dress, and so did the Best Actress award she took home for Monster.
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Diane Keaton, 2004
Diane Keaton is usually in a suit, a style that perhaps she should never have walked away from. This all-white look was a bit of a head-scratcher. Was it the satin gloves that put it over the top? Or the white lace Victorian boots? Or perhaps the random string of pearls? It was all too much!
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Sarah Jessica Parker, 2004
Undoubtedly the most-watched-fashionista of the early naughts, Sarah Jessica Parker stunned when she opted for this strapless gray Chanel Haute Couture dress. The look shot her straight to icon status, as did the golden statuette she took home that evening for Best Actress in a TV Series, Musical or Comedy. Carrie would have been proud.
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Nicole Kidman, 2005
Nicole Kidman’s teal Gucci gown was probably one of her finer red carpet moments. A bold statement for sure, but the color of this satin dress complemented her alabaster skin so perfectly, and the tuft of peacock plumage was an elegant touch.
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Scarlett Johansson, 2006
With her loose blond curls, the bright red, figure-hugging Valentino gown cemented ScarJo’s reputation as a total knockout.
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Reese Witherspoon, 2006
Witherspoon’s Chanel dress was beautiful. It had a modern silhouette and just enough sparkle at the top to make it award-show ready. Unfortunately, Kirsten Dunst had worn it to the Golden Globes in 2003, which meant that major drama ensued. But in the end, the important thing was that Witherspoon looked radiant when she received her Best Actress award for Walk the Line.
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Zhang Ziyi, 2006
Zhang Ziyi was a relative newcomer to the red carpet, but in this almost-neon Emporio Armani gown, she surely made her presence known.
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Keira Knightley, 2006
The year that she was nominated for Pride and Prejudice, Keira Knightley also made headlines for this elegant cream Valentino gown. The sexy updo and smoldering eye makeup helped to get her on every best dressed list that year.
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Hilary Swank, 2007
Hilary Swank looked like a billion-dollar baby in this Chanel Haute Couture gown. The dress showed off her slender, toned frame, and the diamond hair clips were the perfect finish to this very polished look.
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Helen Mirren, 2007
Dressing in a teal Donna Karan gown with plunging neckline, Helen Mirren proved that women are definitely still sexy in their 60s. It was a good year for her: She took home the award for her role in The Queen.
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Reese Witherspoon, 2007
This canary yellow knee-length strapless dress established Witherspoon as one of the most stylish women on the red carpet and made the repeat-dress snafu of the previous year all but forgotten. It was made by industry favorite Olivier Theyskens, who choose this moment to make his debut as Nina Ricci’s creative director. Reese’s laid-back but glam hair and red satin sandals brought the look to another level entirely.
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Cameron Diaz, 2009
This was among one of Cameron Diaz’s finest red carpet moments. Could anyone else have looked this good in this Chanel dress? Her toned arms, carefree blond hair, and subtle makeup all came together perfectly.
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Jennifer Lopez, 2009
This Marchesa dress looked like someone poured liquid gold over J.Lo’s head: It just molded to her body. Keeping the hair off her face and adding just the right amount of bronzed makeup made Lopez look like an actual goddess.
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Eva Mendes, 2009
Eva Mendes and this Dior Haute Couture gown were a red carpet magic moment. The crisp white strapless gown with exaggerated side ruffle detail was a knockout, much like the lady herself. We loved that she threw on a turquoise statement necklace from Van Cleef & Arpels. It all worked like a dream.
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Diane Kruger, 2010
Diane Kruger would look good in a sack, but this dress deserves an extra- special mention because it was not an easy look to pull off. There is a lot going on in this Christian Lacroix Haute Couture fuchsia gown, with its various tones, bow, and textured ruffle, but Kruger wore it with such grace and confidence that it fared her well.
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Emma Stone, 2012
Lanvin’s plunging V-neck dress was a major turning point for the young actress, who had previously played it safe. With her smoky eye and war-eagle buckled belt, she looked like a modern-day Grecian goddess.
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Tilda Swinton, 2012
Swinton is queen of the bold red carpet dress, and this Haider Ackermann ensemble perfectly captured her androgynous look. It was the perfect menswear-inspired style that was worn with a wink.
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Lea Michele, 2012
The Glee actress had the right idea when choosing this Marchesa silver dress, but she should have stuck with just the glitter. The cutouts and see-through mesh fabric that did not quite match her skin tone did her no favors. Next stop, Vegas?
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Angelina Jolie, 2012
Angelina Jolie channeled old Hollywood glamour in this Atelier Versace gown. Bonus points for incorporating slashes of scarlet on her dress, bag, and lips.
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Charlize Theron, 2012
This pink Dior confection could have easily overwhelmed its wearer, but on Theron, it was good, flirty fun.
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Kerry Washington, 2013
Kerry Washington has become everyone’s favorite “woman in control,” thanks to her TV show Scandal, and in this light peach, sheer Miu Miu gown with silver embroidery, she also showed that she has a keen fashion sense. The matching shoes and modern haircut confirmed her role as a boss.
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Jennifer Lawrence, 2013
Lawrence started earning her sartorial stripes a mere three years ago. This Dior Haute Couture gown is a timeless red carpet moment.
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Emma Watson, 2014
“Oh, I’m sorry. Is my back bothering you? No? OK, let’s get on with it then.” With this Dior look, Watson began to establish her daring approach to fashion. The stylish ensemble made it clear that Hermione was not playing around anymore.
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Kerry Washington, 2014
This custom Balenciaga gown helped to conceal Washington’s ever-growing baby bump. We love that she was dripping in diamonds as well.
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Lupita Nyong’o, 2014
The bright red, off-the-shoulder style and attached cape made this Ralph Lauren gown forever a winner for Nyong’o and cemented her place in red carpet history.
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Julianne Moore, 2015
When you’re as A-list as Ms. Moore, only a knockout custom gown by your good friend will do. Riccardo Tisci of Givenchy whipped up some red carpet magic for the Still Alice star with this ombré sequin and feather ensemble.
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Cindy Crawford, 2015
Versace, Versace, Versace! The supermodel mama proved that she still knows how to strut in this electric blue gown.
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Amal Clooney, 2015
Mrs. Clooney made her red carpet debut in a vintage Dior gown, white opera gloves, and a matching white clutch. The gloves spawned many memes, but with gorgeous George on your arm, who cares?
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Emma Stone, 2015
Oh, to be young and beautiful and rocking a Lanvin jumpsuit! The Birdman star looked so glam (and comfortable) in this one-piece by Alber Elbaz.
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This Sunday we will see Hollywood’s biggest and brightest celebs grace the red carpet for the 73rd annual Golden Globes. While we can’t wait to see what they will be wearing (be sure to check out our fashion predictions), we also couldn’t help but reflect on some of the most iconic outfits that have ever appeared at the ceremony. Take a sartorial tour of some of the highs and lows throughout the show’s sequin-laden history.
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