Best and worst Oscars dresses of all time

By marilisaraccoglobal Global News

Posted March 2, 2018 4:08 pm

2 min read

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Brie Larson attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards on Feb. 26, 2017. Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

There was a time, long ago, when the Oscars weren’t the be-all and end-all of red carpet fashion events. These were the days before celebrity stylists and glam squads, when the stars chose their own dresses or at the most, turned to their favourite designer for a special creation.

WATCH BELOW: 2017 Oscars Fashion Panel: Best And Worst Looks

While this left a lot more room for error — and refreshingly daring looks — it also more clearly highlighted each individual actress’s personal style. For every chic Givenchy creation that Audrey Hepburn wore (she had a close relationship with the designer), there was a boundary-pushing look worn by Cher or a glam statement from Diana Ross. All of which spoke directly to their individual personalities.

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“Actors [were] more in control of their wardrobes,” Bridget Foley, executive editor of Women’s Wear Daily, said to Vanity Fair. “Ironically, the result was more diversity because what celebrities wore more accurately reflected their personalities and senses of style than we see today. Someone with a casual sense of style might dress casually; someone who wanted to have fun and/or become a topic of sartorial conversation would dress for the intent.”

Of course, there are stars who take risks today — Tilda Swinton’s cerebral choices, and the edgy and age-appropriate looks worn by ingenues like Zendaya and Janelle Monae immediately pop to mind — but one can’t help to think that the overarching perfection of it all, from high-def contouring to whimsical nail art, makes it a less than thrilling affair.

On the heels of the 2018 Oscars, we take a look at the best and worst (but those are kind of the best, too) Oscars red carpet looks of all time.

Be sure to come back to GlobalNews.ca for full coverage of the 2018 Oscars on Sunday, March 4.