10+ Avant-Garde Outfits That Redefined Red Carpet Glamour

Traditionally, the dress code for the red carpet is highly regulated, with men required to wear black tuxedos and women expected to don elegant ball gowns. However, over the years, the rules have become less strict, with celebrities opting for more casual and sometimes unconventional outfits. Today, it’s not uncommon to see celebrities showing up in T-shirts, sneakers, and even Crocs, challenging the traditional expectations of what it means to dress for the occasion.

1. Billy Porter, 2020

Actor and singer Billy Porter donned an eye-catching outfit that included a motorized crystal fringe hat. The entire disco-inspired ensemble was impressive, but the hat stood out as the centerpiece of the outfit. With its intricate design and unique functionality, the fringe of the hat moved to reveal and hide Porter’s face as he strutted down the red carpet. The hat was a true testament to the power of fashion and its ability to make a statement

2. Halle Berry, 2002

In 2002, Halle Berry made history by becoming the first Black woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress for her powerful performance in the film Monster’s Ball. However, it wasn’t just her incredible talent that caught people’s attention that night. Berry made a statement with her daring fashion choice, stepping onto the Oscars red carpet in one of the sexiest outfits the event had ever seen

3. Sharon Stone, 1996 and 1998

Sharon Stone violated the unwritten red carpet rules twice. In 1996, it happened by accident. The actress planned to appear at the ceremony in a Vera Wang evening gown. However, upon delivery, the box with the dress fell out of the truck. A few seconds later, the hapless courier backed up over it. The incident happened the day before the Oscars.

The actress was helped by Ellen Mirojnick, who was her Basic Instinct costume designer. She came up with a gorgeous ensemble of an Armani tuxedo dress, a Valentino skirt, and a simple black turtleneck by Gap.

The outfit made a splash, and 2 years later, Stone decided to combine luxury clothes with mass market items again. She complimented a long Vera Wang skirt with a classic white shirt by Gap. By the way, the shirt belonged to Stone’s then-husband, Phil Bronstein.

4. Jennifer Aniston, 1999

Jennifer Aniston is an established style icon. Her outfits combine simplicity and charm, and they are easy to create. In 1999, the actress appeared at the Emmy Awards in a luxurious dress, the top of which was decorated with sequins.

It’s worth mentioning that she skillfully combined her evening dress with a beachy hairstyle. This combination created a trend of combining evening gowns with loose hairdos.

5. Helen Mirren, 2013

In 2013, Helen Mirren arrived at the premiere of the film RED 2 in a modest emerald dress with huge platform heels that peeked out flirtatiously. The 76-year-old actress has long had a love for such shoes. Later, she confessed that she bought these shoes for just $39 at a Hollywood boutique.

Mirren’s looks prove the fact that age boundaries have been widened. Just a couple of decades ago, ladies of an elegant age would prefer more classic outfits. The fashion industry has to follow these trends.

6. Hilary Swank, 2005

Hilary Swank got her Oscar for her role in Million Dollar Baby, directed by Clint Eastwood. She also impressed fashion critics and fans with her image. The luxurious dark blue dress from Guy Laroche was chastely closed in the front and very open in the back and became a standard of refined sexuality. This dress is always at the top of the best images from the Oscars.

7. Irina Shayk, 2014

For important events, many celebrities often choose clothes and jewelry valued at tens of thousands of dollars. But some celebrities, like model Irina Shayk, challenge this rule.

At the 2014 Liga de Futbol Profesional Awards, she appeared in a red, floor-length dress from the mass market brand, Love Republic. In the past, ordinary women tried to make dresses similar to those they saw on celebrities. Now anyone can afford to buy an exact copy of the dress that was worn by recognized trendsetters like this model.

8. Nicole Kidman, 2017

Not so long ago, wearing mismatched shoes or earrings could lead to whispers and jokes behind your back. But nowadays, it’s become a trend thanks to the efforts of celebrities and fashion designers. Many celebrities have already worn mismatched shoes to different events.

The Calvin Klein fashion brand designed a collection of shoes with mismatched elements. So Nicole Kidman appeared in such shoes at the 2017 Emmy Awards.

9. Rita Ora, 2017

Wearing a literal bathrobe and a towel on the red carpet and still looking stunning and stylish requires a lot of talent, and Rita Ora has proven she can easily pull that off. The outfit was complete with a pair of white sparkly high heels and $7.8 million worth of diamonds. This “chic meets comfort” outfit was definitely the star of the show.

10. Chloé Zhao, 2021

Nowadays, you’ll hardly be surprised by anyone who combines a fancy dress and sporty shoes. Many people know that Chloé Zhao received her golden statuette wearing an ensemble featuring these exact elements. As it turns out, she made this choice not because she loves comfort. There is an important message hiding behind her Hermès dress and white sneakers.

According to the creative director of Hermès, the purpose of clothes is to provide confidence and resilience, which corresponds to Zhao’s personality. Chloé Zhao decided to stick to a simple style at the ceremony: she wore 2 braids and wore barely any makeup at all.

11. Celine Dion, 2019

Celine Dion rocked this sheer dress when she attended an Iris Van Herpen haute couture fashion show in 2019. The gown has a 3D pattern that consists of wavy red strands which create the effect of an elaborate optical illusion and makes you wonder if you see the legendary singer in reality or is it all just a dream.

12. Questlove, 2021

The musician and DJ, Questlove, attracted a lot of attention due to one detail of his outfit. His loose black trousers and the shirt of the same color were complemented by golden Crocs. This provocative footwear made the look appear less official and added some freedom to it.