The Academy Awards is one of the biggest nights in fashion, with designers vying for the opportunity to dress Hollywood’s biggest stars in the most glamorous and daring gowns. The event celebrates the best in film, and the red carpet serves as a platform for actresses to showcase their personal style.
Over the years, the awards ceremony has seen a number of iconic looks from women who are over the age of 50. These actresses have proven that style and beauty have no age limit, and have served as inspiration for aspiring fashionistas.
In 1992, Audrey Hepburn, then 62, stunned in a hot pink, one-shouldered dress with bold pearl earrings. The Breakfast at Tiffany’s star looked effortlessly chic and elegant, and her outfit remains an enduring style inspiration.
Ruby Dee, then 85, stood out at the 2008 Academy Awards in a ruby-red long-sleeved belted gown from Kevan Hall. Nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in American Gangster, Dee chose the gown to complement her petite 5-foot frame. She looked stunning in the dress, telling The New York Times “I like to look tall, thin and young. He (Hall) can stretch me.”
Sophia Loren, then 74, was a vision of beauty at the 2009 Oscars. The Italian actress turned heads in a yellow-gold tiered dress with ruffles and sheer sleeves paired with a pearl choker necklace and chunky pearl-drop earrings.
Helen Mirren, then 64, looked regal in a Badgley Mischka gown with a straight neckline and tulle sequin overlay at the 2010 ceremony. She paired the ensemble with eye-catching Chopard jewelry.
Meryl Streep, then 62, picked up her third Best Actress Oscar for The Iron Lady in 2012 wearing a custom-made gold Lanvin gown with an elegantly draped train and deep V neckline. She looked every bit the award-winning actress that she is.
The ever-beautiful Goldie Hawn, then 68, selected a champagne-hued Versace gown with off-the-shoulder beaded sleeves for the 2014 awards show. She looked effortlessly stylish and sophisticated in the ensemble.
In 2021, Angela Bassett, then 62, made a statement in a red Alberta Ferretti gown with oversize organza sleeves, a leg-baring slit, and dramatic train. The Black Panther actress looked stunning and couldn’t be missed in her colorful and voluminous outfit.
The unstoppable EGOT winner, Rita Moreno, then 89, stunned on the red carpet in 2021 wearing a strapless burgundy gown with a mermaid-style skirt and matching coat. She completed the ensemble with a chunky burgundy beaded necklace.
These actresses have proven that age is just a number and that timeless style can be achieved at any stage of life. Their fashion choices serve as inspiration for women of all ages looking to express themselves through fashion.
The Academy Awards is a night of glitz, glamour, and fashion, and these women have proven time and again that they are among Hollywood’s most stylish and admired fashion icons. Their looks continue to inspire designers and women around the world to push the boundaries of style and embrace their own personal sense of fashion.
