Beautiful Virgin Islands

Monday, Jul 14, 2025

Fabulous Red Carpet Outfits From the Early Academy Awards

Fabulous Red Carpet Outfits From the Early Academy Awards

From Diahann Carroll's regal pink gown to Bette Davis's feathers.

Long before the Oscars were a behemoth with a red carpet flanked by countless paparazzi and press, it was actually a pretty humble industry banquet. Distributing the awards at the first ceremony in 1929 lasted only 15 minutes. But when the Oscars became a television event in 1953, the expectations-along with the glamour-grew exponentially. In honor of the upcoming 93rd Academy Awards on April 25, Vogue looks back on the most showstopping outfits from the first 50 years of the Oscars-from the classically beautiful to the outrageously fun.

We tend to think of “Old Hollywood glamour” as a monolith of cascading waves and sweeping silk gowns. And yet to silo the best looks from award shows in the 20th century to just that would be a disservice. Yes, the early Oscars produced plenty of sophisticated dresses on the likes of Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly. But consider Cher’s bubblegum pink outfit, or Barbra Streisand’s controversial sheer tuxedo jumpsuit. Nowadays it’s common to see A-listers use the red carpet to send a message about politics or their identity, but in 1958 Miyoshi Umeki became the first Asian woman to win an Oscar in an acting category and she did so in a beautiful kimono. These deserve a place in the hall of fame as well.

See fabulous outfits from the early years of the Oscars below.



Audrey Hepburn, 1975



Diahann Carroll, 1969



Grace Kelly, 1955



Olivia De Havilland, 1950



Elke Sommer, 1968



Nat King Cole and Leslie Uggams, 1963



Ann-Margret and Roger Smith, 1965



Sonny and Cher, 1968



Audrey Hepburn and Jean Hersholt, 1954



Lauren Hutton, 1975



Bob Hope and Gina Lollobrigida, 1960

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
South African Police Minister Suspended Amid Organised Crime Allegations
Nvidia CEO Claims Chinese Military Reluctance to Use US AI Technology
Hong Kong Advances Digital Asset Strategy to Address Economic Challenges
Australia Rules Out Pre‑commitment of Troops, Reinforces Defence Posture Amid US‑China Tensions
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
U.S. Resumes Deportations to Third Countries After Supreme Court Ruling
Excavation Begins at Site of Mass Grave for Children at Former Irish Institution
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Defends Attorney General Pam Bondi Amid Epstein Memo Backlash
Renault Shares Drop as CEO Luca de Meo Announces Departure Amid Reports of Move to Kering
Senior Aides for King Charles and Prince Harry Hold Secret Peace Summit
Anti‑Semitism ‘Normalised’ in Middle‑Class Britain, Says Commission Co‑Chair
King Charles Meets David Beckham at Chelsea Flower Show
If the Department is Really About Justice: Ghislaine Maxwell Should Be Freed Now
NYC Candidate Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Antifada’ Remarks Spark National Debate on Political Language and Economic Policy
President Trump Visits Flood-Ravaged Texas, Praises Community Strength and First Responders
From Mystery to Meltdown, Crisis Within the Trump Administration: Epstein Files Ignite A Deepening Rift at the Highest Levels of Government Reveals Chaos, Leaks, and Growing MAGA Backlash
Trump Slams Putin Over War Death Toll, Teases Major Russia Announcement
Reparations argument crushed
Rainmaker CEO Says Cloud Seeding Paused Before Deadly Texas Floods
A 92-year-old woman, who felt she doesn't belong in a nursing home, escaped the death-camp by climbing a gate nearly 8 ft tall
French Journalist Acquitted in Controversial Case Involving Brigitte Macron
Elon Musk’s xAI Targets $200 Billion Valuation in New Fundraising Round
Kraft Heinz Considers Splitting Off Grocery Division Amid Strategic Review
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
EU Proposes New Tax on Large Companies to Boost Budget
Trump Imposes 35% Tariffs on Canadian Imports Amid Trade Tensions
Junior Doctors in the UK Prepare for Five-Day Strike Over Pay Disputes
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Biden’s Doctor Pleads the Fifth to Avoid Self-Incrimination on President’s Medical Fitness
Grok Chatbot Faces International Backlash for Antisemitic Content
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
×