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Despite dwindling ratings and ever-growing criticisms, the Academy Awards ceremony is still one of Hollywood's grandest nights. For Oscar enthusiasts, it's like Christmas. For fashion lovers, it's a glamour fest like few others. As we look back at a decade of past ceremonies, we can't help but be dazzled again by the stylish wonders we saw parading through the red carpet each golden night. Since we love list-making, it seems fit to consider such a topic through the lenses of a top 10, elaborating on what were the most memorable and beautiful outfits of Oscar's last decade.
Before we get to the very best, we must celebrate some honorable mentions. From Billy Porter's take on a classic tuxedo to Quvenzhané Wallis' puppy purse, the last ten years were made more glamourous by these Hollywood beauties…
It's with great sadness that we don't include all of those looks above on our top 10. When it comes time to dream up our ideal Oscar ballots, it isn't easy to whittle down the list of great achievements to a limited selection and that's also the case with a top ten fashion list.
Also, to stop certain people from dominating the list, only one look per person was allowed. Without further ado, 10 Oscar red carpet queens...
10. MERYL STREEP in Lanvin
The Oscar red carpet isn't a place one should go looking for haute couture or bold sartorial choices. On the contrary, it represents one of the last paragons of old school Hollywood glamour, where a sense of traditionally beautiful looks with a sense of classy exclusivity are what's expected from the stars. That, and something that looks smashing when holding an Oscar. Meryl Streep's gold Lanvin checks all those boxes, epitomizing the universally acknowledged truth that, when winning an Oscar, one should dress like the statuette. Whatever you might think of Streep's third victory, you must concede she looked amazing, like a picture-perfect vision of a winner.
09. SANDY POWELL in Sandy Powell
Mixing fashion, costume design and savvy charity funding, Sandy Powell spent the best part of our most recent Awards Season donning a white suit of her own design. What made this outfit extra memorable were the autographs -- The Irishman's costume designer had Hollywood's brightest names sign all over her body. This tailored monument of celebrity memorabilia is set to be auctioned to raise money for the preservation of Derek Jarman's cottage. A great look and an even better cause.
08. OCTAVIA SPENCER in Tadashi Shoji
The 2010s saw no greater collaboration between star and designer than that of Octavia Spencer and Tadashi Shoji. The Japanese fashion designer may not have costumed Spencer on her big-screen adventures, but he has consistently made her one of the best-dressed actresses to walk the red carpet in the past few years. She never looked better than in 2012, when she won her Oscar wearing this sparkling dream of a gown.
07. GEMMA CHAN in Valentino
In a year when many stars walked the Oscar red carpet in 50 shades of pink, Chan still managed to stand out in this extravagant confection. Many a starlet would have been overwhelmed by the strange proportions of this Valentino piece, but Chan's poise and presence prevent the dress from wearing her. She made what could have been a goofy fashion failure into one spectacular picture of rosy elegance.
06. OLIVIA COLMAN in Prada
Here we have a potentially controversial choice, though this unusual Prada design fits Olivia Colman like a glove. We mean that in the literal sense but also the figurative, since the olive-green number with all its quirky idiosyncrasies seems like the perfect fashion visualization of Colman's offbeat persona. No one has ever won an Oscar in something even vaguely similar to this and its gauzy organza train looked great as the actress ascended the stairs to get her unexpected trophy. It's utterly memorable and totally her. What more could you want from the Best Actress winner on Oscar night?
05. TARAJI P. HENSON in Alberta Ferretti
This is the platonic ideal of what a movie star looks like. The design is classic without being boring, the textile choice is luxurious perfection, the jewelry is the sort of extravagant pick necessary to complement the décolletage and the makeup and hair are worthy of Old Hollywood's most dazzling screen sirens. Taraji has never looked better.
04. RUTH E. CARTER in Ruth E. Carter(?)
Bedecked in a sparkly navy gown complete with an ostentatious brocade train, Ruth E. Carter looked positively regal on the night she won. The costume designer managed to outshine all the famous stars around her, crowning herself the fashion queen of Hollywood with this perfect look that was later complemented by the best accessory of them all - a well-deserved Oscar.
03. CATE BLANCHETT in Givenchy
While capital F fashion isn't the norm for Oscar night, sometimes a daring celebrity brings genuine haute couture to the party. Such was the case in 2013 when Cate Blanchett graced the red carpet with this intricate Givenchy gown in a gorgeous shade of lavender with bright yellow pearls adorning the neck and back. This isn't old-school, this is as completely modern stardom in all its fashion-forward glory.
02. JANELLE MONÁE in Elie Saab
In the dictionary, next to opulence, we should find a picture of Janelle Monáe in this queenly look. From the wide paniers to the hair jewelry, going through mountains of intricate embroidery, this is a showstopper of the highest level. This is what you want to wear when appearing on live television during the most shocking Oscar moment of our lifetimes.
01.LUPITA NYONG'O in Prada
For her Oscar crowning, Lupita Nyong'o dressed like a princess in this Nairobi blue masterpiece. The skirt is perfect to twirl around in waves of pleated fabric and the jewelry brings a nice touch of elegance and whimsy. This example of sheer perfection is impossible to beat. Congratulations, Lupita!