100 Best Dresses of the Decade
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From barely-there figure-flaunters to sophisticated sheaths, the last 10 years have been great for gowns. Take a walk down memory lane (via the red carpet!) with InStyle fashion director Hal Rubenstein.
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Kate Hudson in Versace
WHERE
75th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "It had a level of extravagance that just had you gasping. The combination of her golden skin, golden hair and the yards of gold lace-I was stunned."
-Hal Rubenstein, Fashion Director
Anne Hathaway in Armani Prive
WHERE
81st Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "The huge, iridescent paillettes came down at a diagonal and created a great mermaid effect. This dress almost matched her skin tone and was like a burst of light underneath her."
Charlize Theron in Vera Wang
WHERE
72nd Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "Vera understands real, sexy, old-fashioned, 'knock 'em dead' glamour. The color is just great and, of course, the diamonds are perfectly placed. It's Old Hollywood without looking old."
Eva Mendes in Dior
WHERE
68th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "This look has one moment of extravagance and shows that proportion is everything. If that wonderful fold at her hip was two inches wider or longer it might have failed-but it was so right. The Van Cleef & Arpels necklace is a spectacular complement."
Penelope Cruz in Atelier Versace
WHERE
81st Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "Three things: A refined moment with her hair and makeup, a va-va-va-voom moment where the dress fits so close to her body and a big glamour moment with the intricate train that goes on forever."
Gwen Stefani in Valentino
WHERE
61st Annual Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "Here's the rocker chick wearing the most unlikely dress of the night. It's all about going against the grain and throwing people off."
Jessica Alba in Dolce & Gabbana
WHERE
58th International Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France
WHY WE LOVE IT "The movement of the fabric against her great body is sexy and, as sparkly as the dress is, there's something very withholding about it."
Kate Winslet in Atelier YSL
WHERE
81st Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "This dress shows the sexiness of a real woman who makes no apologies for her curves."
Sarah Jessica Parker in Chanel
WHERE
55th Annual Emmy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "There's something so happy about this dress. Those fabulous, weightless layers of organza-it's like cotton candy or a pink meringue souffle. They didn't bother with hair and makeup because the dress was such an eye-popper."
Drew Barrymore in Alberta Ferretti
WHERE
Grey Gardens
premiere in New York City
WHY WE LOVE IT "Drew was channeling a femme fatale with the twenties hair and bee-stung lips. It had that unabashed boudoir feel that Alberta does so well."
Joy Bryant in Donna Karan
WHERE
The Skeleton Key
premiere in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "Everything comes dead center to the waist and starbursts out from there. It's about a woman being proud of her curves."
Reese Witherspoon in Nina Ricci
WHERE
65th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "This was Reese's first moment out after her split with Ryan Philippe: Strapless, short, yellow, unadorned and showing her body. I love the unexpectedness of it. It was a brilliant strategy and it really worked."
Jennifer Lopez in Versace
WHERE
42nd Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "Her bravado is unbelievable. It's funny because you want to tear the dress apart, yet when she showed up you couldn't take your eyes off her."
Cate Blanchett in Prada
WHERE
BAFTA Awards in London
WHY WE LOVE IT "Prada took a classic flash of glamour and added the little lingerie moments against a quiet T-strap shoe."
SJP in Richard Tyler
WHERE
57th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "It was layer upon layer of beaded tulle and was this wonderful blush color that perfectly matched her skin tone."
Uma Thurman in Jean Paul Gaultier
WHERE
53rd Annual Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France
WHY WE LOVE IT "There's something very calm about the dress in the sense that it's not about the usual Hollywood drama. It's as if you took old scarves and sewed them all together."
Halle Berry in Valentino
WHERE
57th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "The red stones jump out like a shower of little roses accenting the smallness of Halle's waist. They were like two fires burning from the middle and bottom of the dress."
Charlize Theron in Narciso Rodriguez
WHERE
El Captain Theatre in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "She looked like a glamorous savage. The torn beading and asymmetrical hem gave it an element of sophisticated grunge."
Penelope Cruz in Ralph Lauren
WHERE
72nd Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "Ralph's clothes never upstage the woman wearing them. He took his classic shape, pulled it off the shoulder and added an incredibly sheer shawl."
Demi Moore in Donna Karan
WHERE
Costume Institute Gala in New York City
WHY WE LOVE IT "There's almost a deconstructed extravagance or luxury in this dress. The one shoulder gives it a goddess quality."
Kate Beckinsale in Givenchy
WHERE
Pearl Harbor
premiere in London
WHY WE LOVE IT "It has this perverse, milkmaid-hits-the-red-carpet quality that I love. Also, the belt was made of this unbelievably thick, saddle-like leather."
Michael Michele in Hermes
WHERE
Ali
premiere in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "You can imagine someone wearing it on a red carpet or while walking around barefoot at home. I think any woman who bought this dress would wear it forever."
Julianna Margulies in Oscar De La Renta
WHERE
56th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "This was a true fairy-tale princess gown. It looks as if somebody captured the heavens and wrapped it into a dress."
Nicole Kidman in Jean Paul Gaultier
WHERE
Moulin Rouge
premiere in London
WHY WE LOVE IT "I like dresses that cover up everything but one asset. In this case, it's her legs. It's just so smart and brilliantly accessorized."
Jennifer Lopez in Alexander McQueen
WHERE
MTV Video Music Awards in New York City
WHY WE LOVE IT "This was very 19th century swashbuckler. The big heavy locket and the curly hair make it a great look from top to bottom."
Jennifer Connelly in Vivienne Westwood
WHERE
BAFTA Awards in London
WHY WE LOVE IT "The dress looks classic but there's a deliberate off-centeredness. This little twist makes the dress far more interesting and idiosyncratic."
Heather Locklear in Michael Kors
WHERE
59th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "The beige and turquoise highlighted her tan while the diamonds and rhinestones lit up her hair and eyes. There's something cheeky about throwing so much onto something little."
Oprah Winfrey in Bradley Bayou
WHERE
54th Annual Emmy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "There's something queenly and regal about the dress just as there's something very regal about Oprah. She's like the Czarina of the world."
Halle Berry in Collette Dinnigan
WHERE
Die Another Day
premiere in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "There's something about the combination of the Peter Pan haircut, the uneven hem and the sheerness of the beading. She looks like a fabulous sprite!"
Kate Beckinsale in Gucci
WHERE
8th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "It was this weird mix of virginal and sensual. When she moved it was like it became a fabulous night gown."
Kate Hudson in Valentino
WHERE
60th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "This is one of my favorite Valentino dresses ever. It's not what you'd expect on a red carpet because it's so riveting and untamed. The vibrant colors evoked Kate's free spirit."
Gwen Stefani in Vivienne Westwood
WHERE
45th Annual Grammy Awards in New York City
WHY WE LOVE IT "This is just too cool for school. It's very strong and dramatic with the white cape that fit perfectly. She was definitely having a Marilyn moment."
Selma Blair in Behnaz Sarafpour
WHERE
Costume Institute Gala in New York City
WHY WE LOVE IT "There's something very modern fairy-tale princess about this dress that's simple and reserved. Selma has that natural minimalist reserve about her too."
Renee Zellweger in Carolina Herrera
WHERE
55th Annual Directors Guild of America Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "The sheer panel in the front was teasing while the red belt gave it an old-fashioned elegant structure. It's a very interesting juxtaposition."
Victoria Beckham in Dolce & Gabbana
WHERE
MTV Movie Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "This entire dress is a corset from top to bottom. It's like the greatest undergarment you've ever seen."
Diane Lane in Oscar De La Renta
WHERE
75th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "I like the idea of the fringes and that wide wrap that comes right across the arms. It's incredibly flattering on a woman."
Kate Hudson in Jean Paul Gaultier
WHERE
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
premiere in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "Sometimes it's all about the right placement of beading and gathering. This had a very Charleston moment to it—it has that sort of flapper insouciance."
Scarlett Johansson in Calvin Klein
WHERE
Costume Institute Gala in New York City
WHY WE LOVE IT "It has the neckline that someone in the court of Versailles would've worn- pushed up just enough to make it irresistible."
Natalie Portman in Stella McCartney
WHERE
Costume Institute Gala in New York City
WHY WE LOVE IT "The dress is a whole series of V's and triangles on the neck piece, daecolletage and hem that create a perfect sense of balance."
Julia Roberts in Armani
WHERE
76th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "Julia is more likely to show up on the red carpet in a tuxedo. Seeing her dressed this way was a very Hollywood moment."
Nicole Kidman in Chanel
WHERE
76th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "There's something completely weightless about this dress. It looks as if it just floated down and landed on her. It's like whipped cream!"
Kelly Rowland in Dolce & Gabbana
WHERE
18th Annual Soul Train Music Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "I've always envisioned that at the heart of Dolce & Gabbana there is a hot Sicilian woman. This is the Dolce & Gabbana dress."
Jennifer Lopez in Michael Kors
WHERE
61st Annual Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "The crisscross accents her chest and the belt accents her waist. Kors picked a summer-squash orange to play off Jennifer's golden skin tone."
Thandie Newton in Miu Miu
WHERE
The Chronicles Of Riddick
premiere in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "This dress was about pure proportion. There's a great balance in the way the dress starts wider at the top and then becomes wider at the bottom."
Kristen Davis in Prada
WHERE
61st Annual Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "This almost had the look of a dress turned inside out. It has a boudoir effect that makes it sexy without being revealing."
Sheryl Crow in Narsico Rodriguez
WHERE
32nd Annual American Music Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "Narciso is so brilliant at understanding fitting. His dresses take on a transformational sorcery that make every woman's body look their best."
Gwen Stefani in Vivienne Westwood
WHERE
Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas
WHY WE LOVE IT "There is something ramshackle and grungy about it and yet at the same time it's so 'I want to party.'"
Jennifer Garner in Valentino
WHERE
76th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "This is probably the most glamorous Jennifer has ever been on the carpet. The diagonal going across the bodice is incredibly fitted."
Kate Bosworth in Louis Vuitton
WHERE
The Louis Vuitton United Cancer Front Gala in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "It was a very unexpected collection for Vuitton. It's a modernizing of the old fashioned sense of femininity."
Bridget Moynahan in Narciso Rodriguez
WHERE
I, Robot
premiere in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "Narciso is a romantic minimalist. He took a pared down shape and used embroidery to give it great panache. This look is almost urban romantic."
Kelly Ripa in Oscar De La Renta
WHERE
American Image Awards in New York City
WHY WE LOVE IT "This is Oscar at his prettiest. The little drop waist with the big full skirt-it's like a variation on a young girl's party dress."
Ellen Pompeo in Prada, 2004
WHERE
Prada store opening in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "The fabric had a beautiful movement. You could actually see the intricacies of the hand painting."
Hilary Swank in Guy Laroche
WHERE
77th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "This was a really smart move on Hilary's part. There are few things sexier than a dress with a very high front and a low back. It's a deliberate attention-getter."
Kate Hudson in Roberto Cavalli
WHERE
The Skeleton Key
premiere in London
WHY WE LOVE IT "The slightest sway made the whole dress vibrate with light. It was incredible on the red carpet because it was reflecting and splashing light all over the place."
Gwyneth Paltrow in Stella McCartney
WHERE
77th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "Between the train and Stella's simple tailoring this dress is incredibly glamorous."
Salma Hayek in Prada
WHERE
77th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "There's something about this dress that's so siren-like and very Latin. A woman would go out to dance the cha-cha wearing this."
Eve in Louis Vuitton
WHERE
Louis Vuitton Boutique in Paris, France
WHY WE LOVE IT "This dress just screams innocence with the white eyelet lace plus the peep-toes. It beautifully plays against type."
Kristen Scott Thomas in YSL
WHERE
58th Annual Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France
WHY WE LOVE IT "She looked like a knockout yet there's a certain level of reserve to the dress. You could wear it in a 19th century costume drama."
Scarlett Johansson in Roland Mouret
WHERE
62nd Annual Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "This dress is all about the bodice. It has a very '50s movie star, Lana Turner feel."
Sienna Miller in Dior
WHERE
Venice Film Festival in Venice
WHY WE LOVE IT "This was a perfect example of how a beautifully draped dress should move. I think every woman in the world would look good in this dress."
Hilary Swank in Calvin Klein
WHERE
62nd Annual Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "The square neckline is like a picture frame while the darting and bodice pushes everything up. I love the strong bronze color against her skin."
Halle Berry in DvF
WHERE
On the USS Kearsager to kick off Fleet Week in New York City
WHY WE LOVE IT "It looks fresh, simple and happy. I can't imagine a woman putting this dress on and not being in a good mood."
Amy Adams in Carolina Herrera
WHERE
78th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "To pick chocolate brown for your first red carpet is very unconventional but it has these wonderful ribbons that framed her body beautifully."
Sienna Miller in Burberry
WHERE
Costume Institute Gala in New York City
WHY WE LOVE IT "It looks like a shower of gold coins. It's the personification of retro, cool and English."
Kyra Sedgwick in Bottega Veneta
WHERE
64th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "On a night where everyone else would be wearing glitter, there's something very reserved and almost contrary about this dress."
Nicole Kidman in Balenciaga
WHERE
78th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "The incredible ornate beading gives it a romantic feel yet the dress itself is very tightly wound. I love the juxtaposition."
Maria Bello in Donna Karan
WHERE
5th Annual Awards Season Diamond Fashion Show in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "It's such a happy yellow without being gooey. It's a lot more intricate and sophisticated than it looks at first glance."
Anne Hathaway in Marc Jacobs
WHERE
63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "It's as if he stole the stars from the sky for this dress. It's a clear, summer night blue and is just completely garnered with stars."
Joy Bryant in Ralph Lauren
WHERE
31st Annual Toronto International Film Festival
WHY WE LOVE IT "This shows the quiet luxury of a cashmere dress. There's so much hidden it makes you want to know the woman more."
Keira Knightley in Gucci
WHERE
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
premiere in London
WHY WE LOVE IT "She looked like a siren from the golden age of Hollywood. The whole thing draped so beautifully."
Sienna Miller in Marchesa
WHERE
Marchesa's Bergdorf Goodman Anniversary Dinner in New York City
WHY WE LOVE IT "There's something very neat about the dress. The design is so feminine and light-hearted that it looks more innocent than it is."
Natalie Portman in Lanvin
WHERE
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council's Annual Spring Benefit in New York City
WHY WE LOVE IT "It's a perfect choice for a young actress who's transitioning. It's young but still very urban."
Rachel Weisz in Vera Wang
WHERE
79th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "This may have been one of the most beautiful necklines I have ever seen. It's strapless but it swoops."
Ellen Pompeo in Versace
WHERE
64th Annual Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "It looks like a dress that you'd wear to a New Year's Eve party on the Starship Enterprise. I love the futurism."
Helen Mirren in Alexander McQueen
WHERE
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
in New York City
WHY WE LOVE IT "You see just enough of her arms, legs and neck. We all know there's aging gracefully-this is aging beautifully."
Sandra Bullock in Alberta Ferretti
WHERE
Costume Institute Gala in New York City
WHY WE LOVE IT "We don't always think of Sandra as a girlie girl. Alberta's unabashed femininity works for her and softens her in a beautiful way."
Drew Barrymore in Donna Karan
WHERE
Music and Lyrics
premiere in New York City
WHY WE LOVE IT "There's such a womanly air to this look with the beautiful draping and the complement of that huge stone necklace. The combination of the two gave her an elegance that I'd never seen in her before."
Katie Holmes in Lanvin
WHERE
13th Annual Critics' Choice Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "I love the grazing yet sculptural quality of the dress and the fact that it's not the standard, bodice-hugging chiffon. It's a modernized Grecian gown."
Cate Blanchett in Armani Prive
WHERE
80th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "It's tight, dense and drenched in these wonderful gunmetal crystals. It's the intensity of that dark sparkle and the sheer density of the dress that made it so great."
Kate Bosworth in Jil Sander
WHERE
The 11th Hour
premiere in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "Simple clothes are the hardest to pull off. There's a beautiful sort of pristine quality to the dress and I love the way the top of it folds."
Rihanna in Gucci
WHERE
Nickelodeon's 20th Annual Kids' Choice Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "It's young and cute yet it doesn't look childlike. A bold graphic is a hard thing to pull off."
Cameron Diaz in Dior Couture
WHERE
Costume Institute Gala in New York City
WHY WE LOVE IT "The huge turquoise stone necklace with this rollercoaster tiered dress that tumbles all over the place-she jumped in with both feet and instead of getting wet, she made a big splash."
Penelope Cruz in Chanel
WHERE
80th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "She has a wonderful sense of balance. It's a big dramatic gown with a sort of frilliness in the middle."
Marion Cotillard in Jean Paul Gaultier
WHERE
80th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "This was like Bottecelli's 'The Birth of Venus.' It was a great introduction for Cotillard. No one is going to repeat this dress."
Maggie Gyllenhaal in Dries Van Noten
WHERE
The Dark Knight
premiere in New York City
WHY WE LOVE IT "It's a floral yet there's something dark and mysterious about it. It's not the kind of glamour that jumps out and screams at you."
Natalie Portman in Christian Lacroix
WHERE
The Other Boleyn Girl
premiere in London
WHY WE LOVE IT "It's a wonderfully sensuous color on her and the embroidery only enhances the 19th century appeal. I love the off-the-shoulder romance about it."
Cate Blanchett in Dries Van Noten
WHERE
80th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "It was an unbelievable deep, rich, royal purple with extraordinary beading on the bottom and a neckline made out of sterling silver."
Rihanna in Zac Posen
WHERE
50th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "This is what you call a real party dress. It moves, it flares, it spins-it's just what you'd want to wear dancing all night."
Tilda Swinton in Lanvin
WHERE
80th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "It's deliberately asymmetrical. It's deliberately unbalanced. The black velvet draped around her ghostlike skin gave the look a haunting, gothic sexiness."
Cate Blanchett in Balenciaga
WHERE
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
premiere in Sydney, Austrailia
WHY WE LOVE IT "It's the uniqueness of the fabric that's so stunning because it's doing sparkle in a completely modern way. The technology of this dress is extraordinary."
Keira Knightley in Rodarte
WHERE
65th Annual Golden Globes in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "The innocence of this dress coupled with Keira's hair and makeup made her look incredibly virginal. She looked like a girl going to her first party."
Amy Adams in Proenza Schouler
WHERE
80th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "It's so sculpted and you can see the construction of the dress when it fully fans out. The color plays against the milky quality of Amy's skin."
Linda Evangelista in Lanvin
WHERE
Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France
WHY WE LOVE IT "It would've been a spectacular gown in the '20s, it's a spectacular gown now and it will be a spectacular gown in 50 years. It's a traffic-stopping dress."
Kyra Sedgwick in L'Wren Scott
WHERE
60th Annual Emmy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "This is a great formfitting dress that doesn't look like she's trying too hard. The beading from the straps across the chest gave it a sexy element without being too revealing."
Keira Knightley in Vera Wang
WHERE
81st Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "It's intricately draped and gathered then splashes out with just enough train. In this dress, a woman shows up on the red carpet a new-comer and walks away a star."
Freida Pinto in Christian Lacroix
WHERE
66th Annual Golden Globes in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "It was a completely unexpected and surprisingly mature choice. You need a really cool sense of self to wear a dress like this and pull it off."
Julianne Moore in Tom Ford
WHERE
66th Annual Venice Film Festival in Venice
WHY WE LOVE IT "I love the deep 'V' on the decolletage and then the full V in the skirt. Also, the color is just perfect."
Kate Moss in Marc Jacobs
WHERE
Costume Institute Gala in New York City
WHY WE LOVE IT "Marc can be elaborate, romantic, grunge or hard, but when he does minimal I think he excels. You really see the power of his dress-making."
Emma Watson in Burberry Prorsum
WHERE
London Fashion Week
WHY WE LOVE IT "You don't want to overdress or dress beyond your years on the red carpet. I love that this dress is so kicky and young!"
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Camilla Belle in Alexander McQueen
WHERE
Push
premiere in Los Angeles
WHY WE LOVE IT "There is an absolute fabulousness about this print. It's this Rorschach pattern that V's in two directions coming exactly into her waist. The print, as extravagant as it is, is incredibly flattering."
