The 98th annual Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday, March 15, is the most-anticipated event from this year’s awards season. And if the Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards, and other events from the past few months are any indication, the 2026 Oscars are bound to be a night filled with memorable fashion looks.
In anticipation of the big night, Vogue is taking a look at some of the most controversial choices in Oscars red carpet history—specifically, the looks we can’t help but discuss year after year.
Past award ceremonies have spurred some of the most debated moments in fashion. Was Bjork’s swan dress genius or plain mad? Did Angelina Jolie’s #RightLeg social media moment overshadow her Atelier Versace gown? Was Jennifer Lawrence’s Dior gown worth the stumble it caused?
Many of the style choices have rich backstories, such as the reason why Billy Porter wore a gown and not a tux in 2019, which add context and depth to the red carpet moments. Other moments—such as Emma Stone in 2024, when her Louis Vuitton dress broke while accepting her award—remind us that stars are just like us. (Because even Oscar winners suffer wardrobe malfunctions.)
The truth is fashion is subjective. What is best dressed to one person may be worst dressed to another. But one thing is clear: These looks had people talking.
Below, 18 Oscar fashion moments that caused a big stir, in chronological order.
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