What was the most beautiful Oscar dress of all time?

Q: What is the average cost of a dress at the Oscars?

The average total cost for an A-list actress outfit is $10 million. Cate Blanchetts 2014 look cost $18.1 million — the most expensive outfit in Oscars history.

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Table of Contents Show

Audrey Hepburn, 1954
Grace Kelly, 1955
Madonna, 1991
Winona Ryder, 1994
Elizabeth Hurley, 1995
Winona Ryder, 1996
Courtney Love, 1997
Sharon Stone, 1998
Celine Dion, 1999
Gwyneth Paltrow, 1999
Queen Latifah, 2000
Renée Zellweger, 2001
Halle Berry, 2002
Charlize Theron, 2004
Beyoncé Knowles, 2005
Michelle Williams, 2006
Nicole Kidman, 2007
Anne Hathaway, 2009
Cate Blanchett, 2011
Michelle Williams, 2012
Angelina Jolie, 2012
Jennifer Lawrence, 2013
Lupita Nyong'o, 2014
Zendaya, 2015
Sienna Miller, 2015
Olivia Wilde, 2016
Taraji P. Henson, 2017
Naomie Harris, 2017
Saoirse Ronan, 2018
Margot Robbie, 2018
Gemma Chan, 2019
Cynthia Erivo, 2020
Scarlett Johansson, 2020
Beanie Feldstein, 2020
Regina King, 2021
Zendaya, 2021
Do Stars pay for Oscar dresses?
How much was Jennifer Lawrence's Oscar dress?
What is the average cost of a dress at the Oscars?
What was the Oscars dress code?

Photo: NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images.

Audrey Hepburn, 1954

It never took much to make the late Audrey Hepburn look glamorous, but in this Givenchy gown, Hepburn, glowing from winning an Oscar for Roman Holiday, is nothing short of perfection.

Audrey Hepburn in Givenchy.

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Photo: Silver Screen Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty Images.

Grace Kelly, 1955

Designed by arguably the most famous costumier in history, Edith Head, Grace Kelly's Oscars look was, like most Grace Kelly looks, an absolute winner.

Grace Kelly in Edith Head.

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Photo: Ron Galella/WireImage/Getty Images.

Madonna, 1991

Dripping in Old Hollywood glamour, there's nothing we'd rather see Madonna wearing to the 63rd Annual Academy Awards than this Bob Mackie ensemble.

Madonna in Bob Mackie.

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Photo: Ron Galella Collection/Getty Images.

Winona Ryder, 1994

Who doesn't love a Gatsby-esque gown at the Oscars?

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Photo: Jim Smeal/WireImage/Getty Images.

Elizabeth Hurley, 1995

Head-to-toe white? Sweetheart neckline? Floor-length sequins? Check! Check! Check!

Elizabeth Hurley in Versace.

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Photo: Jim Smeal/WireImage/Getty Images.

Winona Ryder, 1996

While we're used to seeing '90s-era Winona Ryder donning all-black ensembles, it was an unexpected surprise to see her donning this champagne-colored vintage gown.

Winona Ryder in a vintage champagne gown.

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Photo: Jim Smeal/WireImage/Getty Images.

Courtney Love, 1997

The queen of grunge got all dolled up by Versace for the 1997 Academy Awards — and we support it 100%.

Courtney Love in Versace.

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Photo: Mychal Watts/WireImage/Getty Images.

Sharon Stone, 1998

We would normally advise against wearing Gap at the Oscars — but when it's combined with Vera Wang and draped on Sharon Stone, it's hard not to be convinced that the casual brand right where it belongs.

Sharon Stone in Gap and Vera Wang.

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Photo: SGranitz/WireImage/Getty Images.

Celine Dion, 1999

A suit on the red carpet is hardly a nuanced idea in 2021. But, in 1999, and worn backward of all things, well, let's just say our fashion minds were blown upon seeing Celine Dion in this John Galliano set.

Celine Dion in John Galliano.

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Photo: Frank Trapper/Corbis/Getty Images.

Gwyneth Paltrow, 1999

Pretty In Pink might have starred Molly Ringwald, but Gwyneth Paltrow (that year's Best Actress winner for Shakespeare in Love) looked the part in this bubblegum pink number by Ralph Lauren.

Gwyneth Paltrow in Ralph Lauren.

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Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images.

Queen Latifah, 2000

Blue is definitely Queen Latifah's color.

Queen Latifah in a blue dress.

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Photo: Chris Weeks/Getty Images.

Renée Zellweger, 2001

A long way from donning PJs all day and micro-minis at work in her role as Bridget Jones, Renée Zellweger classed up for the red carpet in a vintage yellow frock by Jean Dresses.

Renée Zellweger in a vintage dress by Jean Dresses.

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Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Getty Images.

Halle Berry, 2002

To become the first Black woman to win Best Actress, Halle Berry eliminated her competition — both on the red carpet and the stage — in this Elie Saab gown.

Halle Berry in Elie Saab.

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Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images.

Charlize Theron, 2004

Is Charlize Theron ever not glowing?

Charlize Theron in Dior.

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Photo: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images.

Beyoncé Knowles, 2005

There to perform not one, not two, but three songs, Beyoncé went with a black velvet number that was made for her. Thanks, Atelier Versace!

Beyonce Knowles in Atelier Versace.

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Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.

Michelle Williams, 2006

Accompanying her then-boyfriend, the late Heath Ledger, Michelle Williams was a shining ray of light in this yellow number by Vera Wang.

Michelle Williams in Vera Wang.

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Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.

Nicole Kidman, 2007

Nicole Kidman in Balenciaga would hardly be our first choice in 2021, but after seeing the Oscar-winning Australian actress in this red hot gown, we promise to never doubt the combination again.

Nicole Kidman in Balenciaga.

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Photo: John Shearer/WireImage/Getty Images.

Anne Hathaway, 2009

Is it just us, or does Anne Hathaway look like an actual Oscar in this fitted Armani Privé dress?

Anne Hathaway in Armani Privé.

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Cate Blanchett, 2011

In this lavender Haute Couture gown by Givenchy, Cate Blanchett wasn't just an award-winning actress — she's a damn fashion icon.

Cate Blanchett in Givenchy Haute Couture.

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Photo: Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images.

Michelle Williams, 2012

Wearing red on the red carpet isn't for the faint of heart. Nonetheless, Michelle Williams, nominated for her role as Marilyn Monroe in My Week With Marilyn, made it look like the easiest task in the world, thanks to one hell of a pixie cut and 300 hours of work in the Louis Vuitton Paris atelier.

Michelle Williams in Louis Vuitton.

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Photo: Donato Sardella/WireImage/Getty Images.

Angelina Jolie, 2012

No one does a high slit quite like Mrs. Smith herself, Angelina Jolie, who generated one of the greatest Oscar memes ever with this pose.

Angelina Jolie in Atelier Versace.

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Photo: Gregg DeGuire/WireImage/Getty Images.

Jennifer Lawrence, 2013

En route to accept her Oscar for Silver Linings Playbook, Jennifer Lawrence had all eyes on her in this pastel-colored Dior gown. It was pretty chill, even for her.

Jennifer Lawrence in Dior.

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Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic/Getty Images.

Lupita Nyong'o, 2014

Lupita Nyong'o — who won Best Supporting Actress for her role in 12 Years a Slave — lit up the sky in this baby blue Prada gown.

Lupita Nyong'o in Prada.

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Photo: Dan MacMedan/WireImage/Getty Images.

Zendaya, 2015

For an Oscars newbie, Zendaya looked anything but out of place in this Vivienne Westwood stunner of a gown.

Zendaya in Vivienne Westwood.

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Photo: Gregg DeGuire/WireImage/Getty Images.

Sienna Miller, 2015

For his red carpet debut designing for Oscar de la Renta, Peter Copping made quite the impression with this bow-embellished, square neck gown on Sienna Miller.

Sienna Miller in Oscar de la Renta.

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Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage/Getty Images.

Olivia Wilde, 2016

Olivia Wilde going backless in Valentino Haute Couture? We'll take it.

Olivia Wilde in Valentino Haute Couture.

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Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.

Taraji P. Henson, 2017

Taraji P. Henson blew us back to the 1950s in this Alberta Ferretti Old Hollywood-esque velvet gown. And that necklace? Whew, we're getting excited just thinking about it.

Taraji P. Henson in Alberta Ferretti.

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Photo: George Pimentel/FilmMagic/Getty Images.

Naomie Harris, 2017

Of the four Moonlight stars dressed by Raf Simons for Calvin Klein, this white sequin frock on Naomie Harris took home the prize (for best-dressed) in our book.

Naomie Harris in Raf Simons for Calvin Klein.

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Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images.

Saoirse Ronan, 2018

A long way from dress shopping at a Sacramento thrift shop! This bubblegum pink frock on Lady Bird lead actress Saoirse Ronan is one for the record books.

Saoirse Ronan in Calvin Klein By Appointment.

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Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images.

Margot Robbie, 2018

Margot Robbie was a breath of fresh air in this showstopping white gown courtesy of Chanel.

Margot Robbie in Chanel.

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Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images.

Gemma Chan, 2019

Hot pink came out running at the 91st Annual Academy Awards. But if you ask us, Gemma Chan won the marathon in this neon, tiered Versace dress.

Gemma Chan in Versace.

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Photo: Rick Rowell/Getty Images.

Cynthia Erivo, 2020

From the extra-high slit to the asymmetric neckline, this custom Versace gown includes everything that's good in the world.

Cynthia Erivo in custom Versace.

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Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty Images.

Scarlett Johansson, 2020

It's the peek-a-boo corset for us.

Scarlett Johansson in Oscar de la Renta.

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Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty Images.

Beanie Feldstein, 2020

We'll never grow tired of Beanie Feldstein wearing Miu Miu on the red carpet.

Beanie Feldstein in custom Miu Miu.

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Photo: Chris Pizzello-Pool/Getty Images.

Regina King, 2021

According to styling duo Wayman Bannerman and Micah McDonald, Regina King's winged, custom Louis Vuitton gown includes 6,000 crystals. (Casual.)

Regina King in custom Louis Vuitton.

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Photo: Chris Pizzello-Pool/Getty Images.

Zendaya, 2021

Between the midriff cut-out, the 183 carats of Bvlgari diamonds, and the homage to Cher, Zendaya's 2021 Oscars look will go down in history. Did we mention that it glows in the dark? Yeah, it's that good.

Zendaya in custom Valentino.

Do Stars pay for Oscar dresses?

Awards ceremonies like the Oscars are a showcase for designers and most are happy to pay to dress stars like Cate Blanchett and Jennifer Lawrence.

How much was Jennifer Lawrence's Oscar dress?

The dress reportedly cost $4 million, but Dior were happy to hand it to Lawrence as she was the brand ambassador at the time.

What is the average cost of a dress at the Oscars?

The average total cost for an A-list actress' outfit is $10 million. Cate Blanchett's 2014 look cost $18.1 million — the most expensive outfit in Oscars history.

What was the Oscars dress code?

“Actresses are requested to wear formal evening gowns either maxi or floor length, preferably pastel shades since the setting is very formal and done entirely in white and gold,” she wrote. “As you know, long dresses (no mini or day length) are more graceful on stage and on camera in this type of background.”