15 Most Epic Red Carpet Dresses Of All Time

With thousands of choices to consider and more gowns making their way onto our screens every year, picking out the top 15 dresses of all time was a little overwhelming. After a long and grueling process of elimination, we have managed to narrow it down to those gowns which have a little extra something! The Oscars, the Golden Globes and the MET Gala red carpets have certainly provided the perfect environment for some fashion magic over the past 60 years, and will no doubt have more epic gowns for us to drool over in the coming award seasons. These nights saw actresses transform into everything from sirens with curves on full display to elegant princesses ready for the ball. Wearing the likes of designer royalty such as Tom Ford, Vera Wang, and Marchesa, the following 15 women had the 15 most epic red carpet dresses of all time. Be prepared to swoon!

15 Penélope Cruz

The first on our list is Penélope Cruz in Atelier Versace at the 2007 Oscars. Not everyone would be able to pull off this stunning color, but the pale pink totally worked with the complexion of her skin and dark hair! The silk chiffon bodice was strapless, which might have been risky with a bustier lady, but it fit Penélope perfectly. The standout aspect to the gown was definitely the feathered train, which turned up the drama a few notches and drew all eyes to her that night. We absolutely loved it! She actually looked a little lost in our world and needed help getting back to the fairytale she stepped out of. The Spanish beauty didn't win her award that night, but it's all good because she won a place on this list of most epic red carpet dresses, so hey, she's a winner in our books. We love you, Penelope!

14 Sofia Vergara

We knew Sofia Vergara was smoking hot way before she turned up on the red carpet looking like this, but this gown established her as a queen of fashion as well as a queen of beauty! At the Golden Globes in 2014, Vergara rocked this timeless Zac Posen dress and had jaws hanging all along the carpet. The black and strapless gown was striking and simple at the same time. Pairing the dress with the turquoise necklace, her luscious blonde hair, and dark pink lip, some critics have stated that the star ruined the mood of the intense dress. We think she brought a bit of fun to it and reflected her bouncy, energetic personality. The Modern Family actress told Ryan Seacrest on the red carpet that she felt like she was wearing a tent, which can only be a good thing when your pre-show snack is a piece of chocolate cake.

13 Nicole Kidman

When it's done properly, a red gown is pretty hard to beat! The 2007 Oscars were certainly the scene of some major fashion iconic moments because Nicole's amazing Balenciaga gown also comes in as one of the top red carpet dresses ever. There's seriously nothing wrong with this look! The bow around her neck could have been a disaster, but it actually added another dimension to this otherwise simple dress, and went on to inspire other celebrities' fashion choices! Emma Stone wore a very similar halter dress with an even bigger bow to the Oscars five years later in 2012, but we think Nicole deserves the credit for doing it first. The gown really highlighted her tiny waist and lean frame, and the color complemented her peaches-and-cream skin without camouflaging her into the carpet itself! We also have major hair envy regarding those silky blonde locks which flowed over her bare shoulder.

12 Mila Kunis

Mila Kunis in Elie Saab Couture at the 2011 Oscars was a sight not to be missed! Lavender and lace has never looked so good, and the Forgetting Sarah Marshall star's gown managed to resemble both an elegant princess's dress and the prettiest lingerie you've ever had. Everything from the ribbon around her waist to the lace detail to the flowy chiffon was gorgeous, and we think the dress actually suited Mila better than the runway model! The neckline actually plunged much lower than it seemed at first glance and was still classy and tasteful despite being so daring. The silver bling also added a little more elegance to the look, and the Ukrainian-born actress completely pulled off the matching lavender shoes! Mila was definitely on fire that night. Aside from pleasing all the fashion gods, the girl was nominated for supporting actress for her role in Black Swan, and she won!

11 Gwyneth Paltrow

With a bod as tall and slender as GP's, it really shouldn't come as a shock that she is able to wear some of the most gorgeous pieces we've ever seen! She did just that at the Oscars in 2012 when she arrived at the red carpet in this white gown by Tom Ford. The Iron Man actress matched the caped dress with a sleeker-than-sleek ponytail and limited jewelry, including a silver cuff and a couple of rings. The look was reportedly inspired by Jackie Kennedy and had Gwyn standing out among the crowd that night. According to the star's stylist, she only secured the dress a week before the Oscars, and it was the first dress that Gwyn tried on. Sometimes it really is love at first sight! As we've pointed out, she has the figure of a model so she and the sophisticated dress were the perfect match, and we pretty much wish we could try this dress on ourselves (but we don't think we would look as good).

10 Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence was the subject of one of the most memorable Oscar moments ever in 2013. Wearing this Christian Dior Haute Couture gown that literally looks fit for a duchess, poor Jen went for a bit of a tumble as she was climbing the few steps to the stage to accept her award. Of course, The Hunger Games actress laughed it off and Hugh Jackman was nearby to offer to help her up like the perfect gentleman! Anyway, it seems that though the dress is so beautiful that we can't stop looking at it, it may have been a pain to wear. The blush-pink, strapless gown looks heavy, but is stunning nonetheless, and wearing it would make any girl feel like royalty. As much as we'd love the chance, we seriously doubt that's going to happen because well, we have nowhere to wear it, and oh yeah, it cost $4 million.

9 Lupita Nyong'o

It appears that the 2014 Golden Globes was the place to be if you were going to be wearing one of the best red carpet gowns ever! In dashing scarlet Ralph Lauren, few others shone as brightly as Lupita Nyong'o. The cape accompanying the off-the-shoulder dress was a stunning touch that the world is not quite finished obsessing over! The Kenyan-born actress took home her well-deserved award that night, which she won for her work in 12 Years A Slave. Her natural hair and crimson lip added effortless radiance to the look, and we bet you never would have guessed that this was Lupita's first time at the Golden Globes because she absolutely nailed it! Not too bad for a first-time award show right? The dress is actually available to buy from Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman if you have $7000 to spare but only comes in US sizes 6 and 8.

8 Grace Kelly

Oscar fashion was obviously show stopping long before Jennifer Lawrence, Gwyneth Paltrow and Nicole Kidman were even born! To the Academy Awards in 1955, Grace Kelly wore this icy-blue gown by Edith Head. The floor-length dress was made of duchess satin and featured crossed-over spaghetti straps and a train which began to gather around her hips. Shockingly to us in 2016, this dress was actually a repeated outfit! Grace first wore it to the premiere of her film Country Girl in 1954. Can you imagine the fashion icons of today rocking up in something they've already worn? Neither can we. She also sported her own jewelry, which is something else that's not really done these days. The beloved actress wore a matching shawl with elbow-length sleeves by the same designer that night, and also paired the dress with white opera gloves reminiscent of those worn by Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman.

7 Angelina Jolie

Really, can Ange ever get it wrong? On the Golden Globes red carpet in 2012, she got it all right in Atelier Versace. The gown was floor length, cream satin and best of all, had a thigh-high slit that stole all the attention. Another nice touch was the red fold across her chest, which together with her red lipstick and matching red clutch, added a splash of color to save this dress from seeming totally boring and forgettable. Her smooth bun and cream peep-toe high heels completed the glamorous look, which totally accentuated her pint-sized frame. Unfortunately, Angelina did not take home a Golden Globe that night, despite having the film she directed, In the Land of Blood and Honey, nominated in the Best Foreign Language Film category. But she did look amazing so that counts for something right? Brad lost his best actor nom for Moneyball, so it was a good thing the couple topped many best-dressed lists!

6 Halle Berry

Halle Berry in this frilly gown, dusted with beads and a theatrical tulle train was one of the highlights of the Academy Awards in 2011. The strapless Marchesa dress was perfectly fitted, and showed off Halle's tight and toned body beautifully! She chose to forget the necklace, which actually worked in her favor, highlighting those to-die-for collar bones and long, slender neck. As usual, she worked the pixie cut like a pro. Her diamond studs also complemented the diamantes on the dress, completing her look as the ultimate movie star draped from head to toe in eye-catching glitter. This masterpiece was sort of a given because the Catwoman actress rarely disappoints on the red carpet! It would simply be against her nature. She has a strong history at the Academy Awards, in particular, having been the first ever African-American woman to win a Best Actress Oscar back in 2002!

5 Michelle Williams

This yellow Vera Wang gown earned Michelle Williams a place on nearly every best-dressed list centered around red carpets there is! She turned up in this frilled dress to the Oscars in 2006, and critics and fans are still voicing their praise to this day. The dress was a bit of a risk, to say the least, especially when you consider the mustardy color, vintage style, and bright red lipstick the actress wore with it. But we're glad she took the risk because she managed to impress just about everybody. The low-cut neckline and ruffles gave this gown some extra flavor, which nearly could have been too much, but ended up working stunningly. The gown was tailored to Michelle's body after the designer spent many long hours with her getting it just right, and was finally crafted by a very talented seamstress after endless sketches and fittings with mock-up fabric.

4 Jennifer Lopez

Since she's been on top of both the film and music industries, Jennifer Lopez has literally worn an awe-inspiring amount of dazzling dresses on the red carpet, so settling on this one was a tough job. Others come close, but we just don't think she can do any better! To the Oscars in 2015, Jen wore this magical Elie Saab gown that converted her from pop star to princess. The nude, caramel color blends into her skin so that she looks almost one with the dress. It's almost like they were made for each other! Of course, in true JLo style, the gown showed off her enviable curves, had just the right amount of cleavage to keep it glamorous, and was adorned with sequins. Plus, we always love it when Jen wears her hair sleeked back, because if your face looks like that, you should display it to the world!

3 Scarlett Johansson

Did we mention how we feel about red on the red carpet? What about red on already sultry babes like Scarlett Johansson? This divine Valentino gown took the cake at the Golden Globes in 2006. Sorry to all the other attendees! We'll just quietly put it out there that her cleavage in this dress is the best thing we've ever seen. It's almost like the dress works because it's on her, and if anybody else wore it, it wouldn't have made it onto this list! The color contrasted with her ivory complexion and blonde hair, and the way the material hugs her curves is just simply amazing. The gown featured ruffles descending from its crossed-over back and a thigh slit which enhanced the hotness factor. Paired with matching red shoes and a ruby ring, and the girl made fashioned history! She didn't win the award she was nominated for that night, but her presence won't soon be forgotten.

2 Hilary Swank

Another dress to make it on several best-dressed lists is this midnight-blue Guy Laroche number, worn by Hilary Swank to the Academy Awards in 2005. It's really one you can never forget, she's so beautiful! The dress was simple enough at the front, though 'body-hugging' doesn't quite cover the scene-stealing fit. But the flowing skirt of the gown turned up the elegance. The tight-fitting front and the cascading skirt would have been sufficient on their own, but it was game over as soon as Hilary turned around and revealed her bare back. This dress really has gone on to stand the test of time, considering it is still the subject of praise from critics today. It was destined to be Hil's night anyways, as she took home an Oscar for her breathtaking work in Million Dollar Baby. Hilary made a name for herself that night as both an actress and a fashion icon.

1 Blake Lively

The top spot on our list goes to Blake Lively, who's become a certified fashion icon since her days on Gossip Girl where she portrayed Serena Van der Woodsen. In 2014, Blake stepped onto the red carpet at the MET Gala wearing this unforgettable custom gown by Gucci. Where do we even begin!? The blush color, which has featured heavily in many of our favorite looks, lured all eyes to the actress, while the rose gold sequins and tousled waves added all the old Hollywood glamor you could need. The train pouring from the scarves on her shoulders totally made the look, though the mermaid silhouette, plunging neckline and fitted waist didn't go astray either. Blake's husband Ryan also wore Gucci that night, which makes us love this even more. Her matching Gucci heels and Lorraine Schwartz bling topped it all off to earn Blake the award for most epic red carpet dress ever!