56. Halle Berry, 2002
This is one of the most memorable dresses of the Academy Awards red carpet, and you can see why. Before we dive in on the details of this unique gown, what makes this dress so memorable is the person who wore it: 2002 was the year Halle Berry won her first and only Oscar (so far), the desired Best Actress award, for her performance in Monster’s Ball. Her emotional speech as she received the award was another reason this was Halle Berry’s night, and her impeccable dress received even more attention.
Now for the interesting part – the dress. This is a very unusual dress, designed by Lebanese fashion designer Ellie Saab, who since then became one of the hottest names in the business. The mesh and embroidery crimson gown features a see-through top and a dramatic skirt, a combination that reveals enough to complement her figure yet still leaves something for the imagination – the perfect combination between sexy and classy – a perfect balance that is hard to achieve.