Oscars crimson carpet: The 17 most controversial outfits of all time

It’s that point of yr once more. This weekend, the Academy Awards is again for its 98th version, and with one other Oscars ceremony comes but extra crimson carpet style. While we wait to see what right this moment’s stars churn out, awards season additionally will get us eager about these crimson carpet appears to be like that acquired some backlash, however had been iconic nonetheless. The Academy Awards has had greater than its fair proportion of these moments, and can doubtless have extra after Sunday night time’s awards. For all our favourites from the previous, scroll down for the 17 most controversial Oscars appears to be like of all time.

In 1999, not solely did Celine Dion flout the Academy’s black tie traditions by carrying a slouchy John Galliano go well with, she additionally put it on backwards too. The singer, who was there to carry out “My Heart Will Go On” from the Titanic soundtrack, accessorised the outfit with an architectural trilby and diamantéd glasses, guaranteeing that it went down in historical past as one of many ceremony’s most polarising outfits.

Björk’s iconic swan costume wants no introduction. Created by the Macedonian designer Marjan Pejoski, the look was immediately ripped aside by critics, however has since grow to be so well-known it has its own Wikipedia page.

The controversy surrounding this Atelier Versace look was much less for the precise costume and extra for the best way Angelina Jolie displayed it, brandishing her proper leg from its thigh-high break up. For these sufficiently old to recollect, 2012 Twitter subsequently went right into a meltdown, and #AngiesRightLeg was the speak of the city for days after.

In 1986, Cher turned as much as the 58th Academy Awards in a midriff-baring, bedazzled robe by Bob Mackie, together with an infinite plumed headdress to match. As effectively as stealing the highlight and dominating headlines the subsequent day, the look was reportedly a strategy to get again on the Academy after it did not nominate her for her function in Mask that yr.

By right this moment’s requirements, it’s arduous to see what’s incorrect with this – however 1997 was a unique time. Back then Nicole Kidman’s chartreuse Dior couture robe was apparently so offensive Joan Rivers blurted out “What an ugly dress!” through the dwell broadcast. Though it was controversial on the time, Kidman’s Galliano creation is now credited with popularising Haute Couture on American crimson carpets.

The actor’s 1990 Franken-gown acquired a variety of warmth from the press for its uncommon type – a dress-tux hybrid with an embellished opera glove. Basinger took a punt by designing the look herself, but it surely was universally panned by critics.

In 1995, Lizzy Gardiner received the costume design Oscar for Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, and took to the stage in a robe fashioned of 254 American Express Gold playing cards. Gardiner didn’t assume she would win, and the costume was meant to be a little bit of enjoyable, however she later said that individuals “felt upstaged or pissed off that I wasn’t taking things as seriously as I should”.

Barbara Streisand received her Best Actress Oscar in 1969 for Funny Girl, and wore an Arnold Scaasi pantsuit whereas amassing it. Little did she know, the auditorium’s brilliant lights would flip the outfit utterly sheer, scandalising the world within the course of.

Although the Academy’s black tie stipulations are extra steering than unwavering rule, Pharrell Williams prompted a little bit of a stir when he determined to put on shorts to the ceremony in 2014. He quickly switched into that large Vivienne Westwood hat to carry out his hit “Happy”, however ended up shedding Best Original Song to “Let It Go”.

Someone else who prompted a stir for carrying shorts was Demi Moore, who layered a velvet corset over lycra cut-offs on the 1989 awards. Famously a DIY building made by Moore herself, the look was panned by critics.. “Maybe I was a little ahead of my time. Maybe I didn’t quite execute it,” she told WWD in 2026.

This is one other look that appears fairly tame by right this moment’s requirements, however proved extraordinarily controversial on the time. “The actress didn’t even try to cover up in see-through Alexander McQueen and a bucketful of eyeliner that she must have borrowed from Margot Tenenbaum,” Entertainment Weekly wrote of the black, sleeveless robe. Years later, Paltrow commented, “I should have worn a bra”.

When you invite the creators of South Park to the Oscars, you must anticipate tomfoolery – and by Jove that’s what the Academy acquired! At the flip of the millennium, Trey Parker and Matt Stone turned up in J-Lo and Gwenyth Paltrow drag, and a number of other different attendees weren’t impressed. They later admitted to being on LSD all through the ceremony.

American actress Edy Williams is named the queen of the controversial Oscars look, and has worn risqué outfits quite a few instances. The most daring, although, was when she arrived on the 1986 awards in nothing however a number of strings of pearls draped strategically throughout her physique.

Unlike many on this checklist, Tems’ 2023 Lever Couture robe wasn’t controversial for being revealing or plain ugly – it went massively viral for blocking the view of the individuals sitting behind her. Sorry to these males!

Whoopi Goldberg’s inexperienced and purple pantsuit-cum-gown has by no means been accredited to a particular designer – and possibly that’s for the most effective. The look acquired very combined evaluations when she wore it to the 1993 awards, and has gone down in historical past as one of many Oscar’s most contentious appears to be like.

Uma Thurman’s Christian Lacroix milkmaid costume landed her on worst dressed lists in 2004, but it surely was an iconic style second nonetheless. Since then Thurman has reportedly known as it her “most embarrassing experience”.

In 1992, Geena Davis misplaced out on a Best Actress award for her function in Thelma & Louise, however as an alternative went residence with the comfort prize: most controversial look of the night time. Her ruffled, high-low minidress, made by costume designer Ruth Meyers, took a lashing from the press, and Davis herself has said that she was “surprised” by the backlash.