Iconic Oscar dresses

Forget the awards, the real competition at the Oscars is who is the best dressed. Over the years we have seen some über-glam gowns that have become as legendary as the women who wore them.

Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor wore this meringue-style dress with a little bolero jacket to the 1949 Oscars. Taylor has since been recognised as one of the Oscars' biggest fashion influences, constantly making statements.

Pic: AP Images

Iconic Oscar dresses

The first iconic Oscar dress was worn by the incredibly beautiful Audrey Hepburn in 1953 when she the Best Actress Oscar for Roman Holiday. She wore a belted flower patterned Givenchy dress and became a fashion inspiration for millions of women.

Pic: AP Images

Iconic Oscar dresses

Real life princess Grace Kelly wore this elegant dress and long gloves by Edith Head to the 1955 Oscars when she won the Best Actress award for Country Girl. An absolutely timeless dress.

Pic: AP Images

Iconic Oscar dresses

Singer Barbara Streisand won an Oscar in 1969 for her movie debut, Funny Girl. Barbara wore a gown by Arnold Scassi, with it's elaborate white cuffs and bow on the sparkly sheer black, the dress was quite brave for the time.

Pic: AP Images

Iconic Oscar dresses

The original supermodel, Twiggy wore this peasant style dress and lace cap to the 1974 Oscars and defined the hippie-chic look of the decade.

Pic: AP Images.

Iconic Oscar dresses

This dress, worn by Cher to the 1988 Oscars when she won the award for Best Actress for Moonstruck, was rather risqué. The Bob Mackie black see-through black dress was slated at the time, but now is considered a thing of beauty. The epitome of the opulent eighties.

Pic: AP Images

Iconic Oscar dresses

Kim Basinger was the epitome of 90s fashion in this beautiful pale pistachio Escada gown. Her win for LA Confidential in 1998 emphasised a return to full-on glamour.

Pic: AFP

Iconic Oscar dresses

This vintage monochrome Valentino dress worn by Julia Roberts the night she won the 2001 best actress Oscar for Erin Brockowitz was absolutely gorgeous, but apparently so tight Jules could barely breathe. Beauty is pain...

Pic: Getty/Gallo Images

Iconic Oscar dresses

This dress is possibly one of the most iconic Oscar dresses ever. The luminous Halle Berry wore this Elie Saab number the night she won the 2002 Best Actress Oscar for Monsters Ball, a first for African American actresses, and her iconic dress also launched the career of Elie Saab. Glam and gorgeous.

Pic: Getty/Gallo Images.

Iconic Oscar dresses

Local lass Charlize Theron dazzled in her embellished gown by Gucci at the 2004 Oscars when she won for the Award for Best Actress for her role in Monster. The South African beauty looked like a 1940's screen siren... we were so proud!

Pic: Getty/Gallo Images

Iconic Oscar dresses

After wearing black gothic-style outfits to previous awards, Angelia Jolie cemented a new elegant look in this plunging white satin gown with matching wrap from Marc Bouwer at the 76th Academy Awards in 2004.

Pic: Getty/Gallo Images

Iconic Oscar dresses

When she won her second Best Actress Oscar in 2005 Hillary Swank wowed the fashionista's in this high-neck, backless midnight blue Guy Laroche creation. It showed off her toned body to perfection. Talk about a Million Dollar Baby.

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Iconic Oscar dresses

Sweet Southern belle Reese Witherspoon looked elegant in her pale beribboned and beaded '50s Dior dress when she won the 2006 Best Actress Award for her role in Walk the Line . Reese apparently picked out and bought the dress herself after the "vintage" fiasco from the 2006 Golden Globes when Chanel let her wear a dress Kirsten Dunst had donned for an after-party just a few years earlier. Huge faux pas.

Pic: Getty/Gallo Images.

Iconic Oscar dresses

Who could ever forget this dress worn by the gorgeous Michelle Williams at the 2006 Oscars? We loved the mustard yellow vintage inspired Vera Wang gown and we will always remember how happy Michelle looked with the late Heath Ledger.

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Iconic Oscar dresses

At the 2006 Oscars, Latino lovely Jessica Alba looked like an Oscar herself. From her elegant updo to her golden champagne coloured embroidered Versace dress, she was every inch the golden girl. Even her skin had a golden hue. A real winner in the style stakes.

Pic: Getty/Gallo Images

Iconic Oscar dresses

Penelope Cruz looked über-glam in this peach-hued Atlier Versace feathered romantic affair at the 2007 Oscars. One of the best dresses we've seen in a long time.

Pic: Getty/Gallo Images.

Iconic Oscar dresses

Love it or loathe it, Nicole Kidman's 2007 Oscar gown is an iconic one. The statuesque beauty looked radiant in her bright red halter neck Balenciaga dress. Talk about a lady in red.

Pic: Getty/Gallo Images.

Iconic Oscar dresses

Cameron Diaz looked amazing in her white shoulder baring Valentino gown at the 2007 Oscars and rightly so, it was the first time she saw her ex Justin Timberlake after their breakup. Got to show him what he's missing.

Pic: Getty/Gallo Images.
Compiled by: Jenna Shevel.