With stars often channelling old Hollywood glamour at the Oscars, it’s no surprise that vintage has been a popular choice on the red carpet over the years . In fact, it could be considered a good-luck charm: Julia Roberts won her Oscar for Best Actress in 2001 while wearing a black and white gown from Valentino’s autumn/winter 1992 couture collection; Reese Witherspoon wore a vintage Dior dress dating back to 1957 when she was named Best Actress in 2006; while Penélope Cruz won Best Supporting Actress in 2009, dressed in a 1950s Balmain gown . More recently, archival looks have become an increasingly regular occurrence, with pulling trophy vintage now seen as the ultimate red carpet flex.
In 2020, Margot Robbie wore a ’90s Chanel gown for the main ceremony, while Kim Kardashian sourced Alexander McQueen’s famous ‘Oyster dress’ from spring/summer 2003 for the Vanity Fair after-party. Meanwhile, at the 2024 ceremony, Carey Mulligan sported a recreation of a 1951 Balenciaga gown featuring a dramatic white tulle train. Below, see 21 of the best vintage dresses at the Oscars to date This story first appeared on vogue.
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