25 Iconic Red Carpet Looks

To celebrate Marie Claire's 25th birthday, we've rounded up the stars' 25 most iconic red carpet looks of all time...

From Brigitte Bardot's iconic Cannes Film Festival look, to Elizabeth Hurley's unforgettable safety pin dress, Gwyneth Paltrow's career defining gown, and Angelina's leg-baring, Atelier Versace number, there have been some seriously iconic dresses walking Hollywood's hallowed red carpets in our time.

So, to celebrate Marie Claire's 25th birthday, we have taken a look back at the 25 most memorable, iconic, and downright daring red carpet dresses, ever

Whilst you're here, why not check out our Liberty discount codes and treat yourself to a dress too.

Iconic Red Carpet Dresses

Iconic Red Carpet Dresses

Brigitte Bardot

If there's one star who's synonymous with the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, it's Brigitte Bardot, pictured here at the Cannes Film Festival in 1954. The actress wore a white full skirted dress and long gloves, in what was one of the famous event's earliest style moments. (1954)

Sophia Loren

Sophia Loren was the epitome of Hollywood glamour at the Cannes Film Festival in 1955 in this show-stopping ball gown teamed with a fur shawl, long gloves and statement jewels. Wow. (1955)

Princess Diana

Diana, Princess Of Wales was the toast of the Cannes Film Festival 1987 when she hit the red carpet with her then-husband, Prince Charles. The late style icon looked gorgeous in a pale blue chiffon gown with matching scarf by Catherine Walker, in a look that's gone down in Cannes fashion history. (1987)

Elizabeth Hurley

The safety pin dress, as it has become known, has been voted the most iconic red carpet gown of all time. After wearing the high octane Versace dress to the premiere of Four Weddings and a Funeral, the then little known girlfriend of Hugh Grant became a household name, cementing the power of a scene-stealing dress. (1994)

Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow made Oscar history not only for her pastel pink full-skirted Ralph Lauren gown but also for that near-hysterical acceptance speech when she collected the award for Best Actress in 1999. (1999)

Claudia Schiffer

Despite this photo being taken more than a decade ago, Claudia Schiffer doesn?t seem to have aged a day. The supermodel attended the 2000 Golden Globe Awards with then boyfriend Tim Jeffries in this vivid red spaghetti strap gown, paired with perfectly co-ordinating bag, shoes and lips. (2000)

Julia Roberts

Julia Roberts chose a vintage Valentino gown when she received the Oscar for Best Actress in 2001. The Italian designer later described seeing the Pretty Woman actress in his couture as one of the highlights of his career, and a trend was firmly set. (2001)

Halle Berry

Elie Saab was responsible for creating one of the most memorable Oscar dresses of all time, when he draped this burgundy creation over Halle Berry. His spectacular design combined with the actress' fantastic curves and kick-ass attitude, resulted in an unforgettable look. (2002)

Sienna Miller

Sienna Miller made one of her first major Hollywood outings on the arm of then-beau Jude Law at the 2004 Oscars. Wearing a dress by her favourite designer, and close friend, Matthew Williamson, she retained an air of her signature boho glamour in the emerald green gown, accessorising with a gold arm cuff and a Chloe beaded bag. (2004)

Keira Knightley

Not only did this fishtail Vera Wang gown create an iconic fashion moment on the red carpet at the 2006 Oscars, but the kind-hearted Keira Knightley later donated the sensational dress to Oxfam and raised £4,301 for charity. (2006)

Michelle Williams

Michelle Williams' Vera Wang 2006 Oscars dress was a real love/hate case. Making almost an equal number of worst-dressed lists as it did best-dressed ones many considered the canary yellow too garish for her pale skin tone. We thought she looked lovely, and the dress has now rightfully gone down in Academy Award style history. (2006)

Sarah Jessica Parker

The Costume Institute Gala 2006 celebrated the opening of the Anglomania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion exhibition at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. Sarah Jessica Parker chose a UK designer, for her red carpet look, in a statement strapless gown with layers of tulle and tartan by Alexander McQueen. Beautiful. (2006)

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman personifies elegance, and had millions of jaws hitting the floor when she swept down the red carpet at the 2007 Academy Awards. Ms Kidman was the ultimate scarlet woman in this breathtaking Balenciaga gown, which added a modern twist to the traditional column silhouette with a fabulous trailing bow, which tied at the back of the neck. Divine. (2007)

Anne Hathaway

When it comes to red carpet dressing, Marchesa has been one of the most talked about design houses of the past few years. Its ethereal gowns became a regular fixture on red carpets, and at premieres and parties, seen on the likes of Dita Von Teese, Jessica Alba and Jennifer Lopez, to name but a few. But in our opinion, it was Anne Hathaway who really stood out from the sea of Marchesa-clad celebrities in 2008, stealing the show at the Oscars in 2008 in a stunning draped asymmetric gown. (2008)

Cameron Diaz

Letting her simply divine pink satin Chanel gown do the the talking, Cameron Diaz kept her beauty notes to a minimum on the Oscars red carpet in 2009, leaving her long blonde locks loose, just as we love them best. Our favourite red carpet look of hers. Ever. (2009)

Kate Winslet

Kate Winslet looked picture perfect in a custom-made asymmetric grey/blue gown by Yves Saint Laurent as she scooped the Best Actress Oscar in 2009 for her performance in The Reader. Not only was her win one of the most memorable of all time, her dress was, too. (2009)

Sandra Bullock

Best Actress winner Sandra Bullock didn't just score a little gold statue at the Oscars in 2010, she triumphed on the red carpet, too. Oozing elegance, the star wowed in a floor-skimming metallic Marchesa gown, that was perfectly set off with a hot pink pout and slick, side-swept locks. All-in-all, Sandra won on every count. (2010)

Sarah Jessica Parker

In a look that would have made her stylish Sex and the City alter-ego more than proud, Sarah Jessica Parker jumped straight to the top of the Oscar best-dressed list in 2010, in stunning pale yellow Chanel Haute Couture. Getting every element just right, she wore her hair in a neat, high bun and added a stack of bracelets to complete her look. (2010)

Natalie Portman

It's safe to say 2011 was Natalie Portman's year. Pregnant with her first child, the yummy mummy-to-be was radiant as she swept down the red carpet at the Golden Globes in a pretty pale pink Viktor and Rolf dress, teamed with coordinating scarlet Stella McCartney heels, a Dior clutch and Tiffany & Co. gems. Oh, and if all that wasn't enough, she scooped the best actress statue for Black Swan, too. (2011)

Rachel McAdams

Rachel McAdams has had some scene-stealing red carpet moments in her time - but none quite so stunning as her Cannes 2011 look. The actress stopped traffic and oozed Hollywood glamour as she promoted Woody Allen flick Midnight In Paris in an embellished red Marchesa dress. Wow. (2011)

Gwyneth Paltrow

After a series of Oscars looks that left the public divided (her sugary pink Ralph Lauren number in 1999) and shielding their eyes (the sheer gothic McQueen gown in 2002), the 2012 Academy Awards was Gwyneth's time to shine. It was certainly daring to wear a high fashion minimalist white Tom Ford gown and a matching cape to the Oscars, but it worked, big time,and became standout look on the famous red carpet. (2012)

Angelina Jolie

No awards ceremony is complete without an appearance from Angelina Jolie. Angie exuded old school Hollywood glamour in a structured black Atelier Versace gown, Salvatore Ferragamo heels and a smattering of Neil Lane jewels at the 2012 Oscars, yet somehow we think it will be remembered for her leg flashing exploits instead. (2012)

Kate Middleton

The Duchess of Cambridge made one of her most stylish turns to date at the royal premiere of War Horse in London, wowing in a glam full-length black gown by Alice Temperley. A royal style moment, for sure. (2012)

Diane Kruger

In 2012, Diane Kruger took up a place on the Cannes Film Festival jury, and was in town for the duration of the festival. Cue a string of gorgeous gowns. While the actress wowed in everything from Chanel to Chalayan, her striking, old Hollywood-esque structured Christian Dior ball gown was by far our favourite - and our favourite look of hers to date. (2012)

Jennifer Lawrence at the Oscars 2013

Jennifer Lawrence had a fairytale moment at the Academy Awards in 2013, in a princess-worthy pale pink Dior Haute Couture dress and glittering Chopard jewels -  a look that will undoubtedly go down in history. (2013)