• Michelle Williams, in Vera Wang, attends the 78th annual Academy Awards on March 5, 2006. EPA
    Michelle Williams, in Vera Wang, attends the 78th annual Academy Awards on March 5, 2006. EPA
  • Mila Kunis, in Elie Saab, attends the 83rd annual Academy Awards on February 27, 2011. EPA
    Mila Kunis, in Elie Saab, attends the 83rd annual Academy Awards on February 27, 2011. EPA
  • Marion Cotillard, in Jean Paul Gaultier, attends the 80th annual Academy Awards on February 24, 2008. EPA
    Marion Cotillard, in Jean Paul Gaultier, attends the 80th annual Academy Awards on February 24, 2008. EPA
  • Audrey Hepburn, in Givenchy, attends the 26th annual Academy Awards on March 25, 1954. Getty Images
    Audrey Hepburn, in Givenchy, attends the 26th annual Academy Awards on March 25, 1954. Getty Images
  • Nicole Kidman, in Balenciaga, attends the 79th annual Academy Awards on February 25, 2007. AFP
    Nicole Kidman, in Balenciaga, attends the 79th annual Academy Awards on February 25, 2007. AFP
  • Julia Roberts, in Valentino, attends the 73rd annual Academy Awards on March 25, 2001. Getty Images
    Julia Roberts, in Valentino, attends the 73rd annual Academy Awards on March 25, 2001. Getty Images
  • Amy Adams, in Atelier Versace, attends the 91st annual Academy Awards on February 24, 2019. EPA
    Amy Adams, in Atelier Versace, attends the 91st annual Academy Awards on February 24, 2019. EPA
  • Amy Adams, in Proenza Schouler, attends the 80th annual Academy Awards on February 24, 2008. EPA
    Amy Adams, in Proenza Schouler, attends the 80th annual Academy Awards on February 24, 2008. EPA
  • Kate Winslet, in Ben de Lisi, attends the 74th annual Academy Awards on March 24, 2002. FilmMagic
    Kate Winslet, in Ben de Lisi, attends the 74th annual Academy Awards on March 24, 2002. FilmMagic
  • Elizabeth Taylor, in Dior, and Eddie Fisher attend the 33rd annual Academy Awards on April 17, 1961. Getty Images
    Elizabeth Taylor, in Dior, and Eddie Fisher attend the 33rd annual Academy Awards on April 17, 1961. Getty Images
  • Hilary Swank, in Guy Larochem attends the 77th annual Academy Awards on February 27, 2005. Getty Images
    Hilary Swank, in Guy Larochem attends the 77th annual Academy Awards on February 27, 2005. Getty Images
  • Reese Witherspoon, in vintage Dior, attends the 78th annual Academy Awards on March 5, 2006. EPA
    Reese Witherspoon, in vintage Dior, attends the 78th annual Academy Awards on March 5, 2006. EPA
  • Penelope Cruz, in Armani, attends the 84th annual Academy Awards on February 26, 2012. EPA
    Penelope Cruz, in Armani, attends the 84th annual Academy Awards on February 26, 2012. EPA
  • Janelle Monae, in Ralph Lauren, attends the 92nd annual Academy Awards on February 9, 2020. EPA
    Janelle Monae, in Ralph Lauren, attends the 92nd annual Academy Awards on February 9, 2020. EPA
  • Viola Davis, in Michael Kors, attends the 90th annual Academy Awards on March 4, 2018. EPA
    Viola Davis, in Michael Kors, attends the 90th annual Academy Awards on March 4, 2018. EPA
  • Natalie Portman, in vintage Dior, attends the 84th annual Academy Awards on February 26, 2012. EPA
    Natalie Portman, in vintage Dior, attends the 84th annual Academy Awards on February 26, 2012. EPA
  • Jennifer Lawrence, in Dior, attends the 85th Academy Awards on February 24, 2013. EPA
    Jennifer Lawrence, in Dior, attends the 85th Academy Awards on February 24, 2013. EPA
  • Lady Gaga, in Brandon Maxwell, attends the 88th annual Academy Awards on February 28, 2016. EPA
    Lady Gaga, in Brandon Maxwell, attends the 88th annual Academy Awards on February 28, 2016. EPA
  • Brad Pitt and Gwyneth Paltrow, in a sequin slip dress, attend the 68th annual Academy Awards on March 25, 1996. WireImage
    Brad Pitt and Gwyneth Paltrow, in a sequin slip dress, attend the 68th annual Academy Awards on March 25, 1996. WireImage
  • Rachel Weisz, in Vera Wang, attends the 79th annual Academy Awards on February 25, 2007. Getty Images
    Rachel Weisz, in Vera Wang, attends the 79th annual Academy Awards on February 25, 2007. Getty Images
  • Margot Robbie, in Chanel, attends the 90th annual Academy Awards on March 4, 2018. EPA
    Margot Robbie, in Chanel, attends the 90th annual Academy Awards on March 4, 2018. EPA
  • Cameron Diaz, in Emanuel Ungaro, attends the 74th annual Academy Awards on March 24, 2002. ImageDirect
    Cameron Diaz, in Emanuel Ungaro, attends the 74th annual Academy Awards on March 24, 2002. ImageDirect
  • Jennifer Lopez, in Valentino, attends the 75th annual Academy Awards on March 23, 2003. Getty Images
    Jennifer Lopez, in Valentino, attends the 75th annual Academy Awards on March 23, 2003. Getty Images
  • Helen Mirren, in Schiaparelli, attends the 91st annual Academy Awards on February 24, 2019. EPA
    Helen Mirren, in Schiaparelli, attends the 91st annual Academy Awards on February 24, 2019. EPA
  • Halle Berry, in Elie Saab, attends the 74th annual Academy Awards on March 24, 2002. FilmMagic
    Halle Berry, in Elie Saab, attends the 74th annual Academy Awards on March 24, 2002. FilmMagic
  • David Lean and Sophia Loren, in a satin floral dress, attend the 30th annual Academy Awards on March 26, 1958. Getty Images
    David Lean and Sophia Loren, in a satin floral dress, attend the 30th annual Academy Awards on March 26, 1958. Getty Images
  • Charlize Theron, in Dior, attends the 77th annual Academy Awards on February 27, 2005. Getty Images
    Charlize Theron, in Dior, attends the 77th annual Academy Awards on February 27, 2005. Getty Images
  • Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, in a textured ballgown, attend the 27th annual Academy Awards on March 30, 1955. Getty Images
    Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, in a textured ballgown, attend the 27th annual Academy Awards on March 30, 1955. Getty Images
  • Grace Kelly, in Edith Head, attends the 27th annual Academy Awards on March 30, 1955. Getty Images
    Grace Kelly, in Edith Head, attends the 27th annual Academy Awards on March 30, 1955. Getty Images
  • Julianne Moore, in Chanel, attends the 88th annual Academy Awards on February 28, 2016. EPA
    Julianne Moore, in Chanel, attends the 88th annual Academy Awards on February 28, 2016. EPA
  • Nicole Kidman, in Dior, and Tom Cruise attend the 69th annual Academy Awards on March 24, 1997. WireImage
    Nicole Kidman, in Dior, and Tom Cruise attend the 69th annual Academy Awards on March 24, 1997. WireImage
  • Naomi Watts, in Versace, attends the 76th Annual Academy Awards on February 29, 2004. EPA
    Naomi Watts, in Versace, attends the 76th Annual Academy Awards on February 29, 2004. EPA
  • Cate Blanchett, in Givenchy, attends the 83rd annual Academy Awards on February 27, 2011. EPA
    Cate Blanchett, in Givenchy, attends the 83rd annual Academy Awards on February 27, 2011. EPA
  • Gwyneth Paltrow, in Tom Ford, attends the 84th annual Academy Awards on February 26, 2012. EPA
    Gwyneth Paltrow, in Tom Ford, attends the 84th annual Academy Awards on February 26, 2012. EPA
  • Lupita Nyong'o, in Prada, attends the 86th annual Academy Awards on March 2, 2014. EPA
    Lupita Nyong'o, in Prada, attends the 86th annual Academy Awards on March 2, 2014. EPA
  • Diane Kruger, in Elie Saab, attends the 78th annual Academy Awards on March 5, 2006. EPA
    Diane Kruger, in Elie Saab, attends the 78th annual Academy Awards on March 5, 2006. EPA
  • Emma Stone, in Elie Saab, attends the 87th annual Academy Awards on February 22, 2015. EPA
    Emma Stone, in Elie Saab, attends the 87th annual Academy Awards on February 22, 2015. EPA
  • Gemma Chan, in Valentino, attends the 91st annual Academy Awards on February 24, 2019. EPA
    Gemma Chan, in Valentino, attends the 91st annual Academy Awards on February 24, 2019. EPA
  • Charlize Theron, in Gucci, attends the 76th Annual Academy Awards on February 29, 2004. EPA
    Charlize Theron, in Gucci, attends the 76th Annual Academy Awards on February 29, 2004. EPA
  • Alicia Vikander, in Louis Vuitton, attends the 88th annual Academy Awards on February 28, 2016. EPA
    Alicia Vikander, in Louis Vuitton, attends the 88th annual Academy Awards on February 28, 2016. EPA
  • Michelle Williams, in Louis Vuitton, attends the 84th annual Academy Awards on February 26, 2012. EPA
    Michelle Williams, in Louis Vuitton, attends the 84th annual Academy Awards on February 26, 2012. EPA
  • Salma Hayek, in Versace, attends the 78th annual Academy Awards on March 5, 2006. EPA
    Salma Hayek, in Versace, attends the 78th annual Academy Awards on March 5, 2006. EPA
  • Maggie Gyllenhaal, in Proenza Schouler, and Peter Sarsgaard attend the 79th annual Academy Awards on February 25, 2007. EPA
    Maggie Gyllenhaal, in Proenza Schouler, and Peter Sarsgaard attend the 79th annual Academy Awards on February 25, 2007. EPA
  • Amy Adams, in Oscar de la Renta, attends the 85th Academy Awards on February 24, 2013. EPA
    Amy Adams, in Oscar de la Renta, attends the 85th Academy Awards on February 24, 2013. EPA
  • Sandra Bullock, in Marchesa, attends the 82nd annual Academy Awards on March 7, 2010. EPA
    Sandra Bullock, in Marchesa, attends the 82nd annual Academy Awards on March 7, 2010. EPA
  • Cate Blanchett, in Armani, attends the 86th annual Academy Awards on March 2, 2014. EPA
    Cate Blanchett, in Armani, attends the 86th annual Academy Awards on March 2, 2014. EPA
  • Julianne Moore, in Chanel, attends the 87th annual Academy Awards on February 22, 2015. EPA
    Julianne Moore, in Chanel, attends the 87th annual Academy Awards on February 22, 2015. EPA
  • Emily Blunt, in Prada, attends the 88th annual Academy Awards on February 28, 2016. EPA
    Emily Blunt, in Prada, attends the 88th annual Academy Awards on February 28, 2016. EPA
  • Jennifer Lawrence, in Dior, attends the 90th annual Academy Awards on March 4, 2018. EPA
    Jennifer Lawrence, in Dior, attends the 90th annual Academy Awards on March 4, 2018. EPA
  • Helen Mirren, in Vivienne Westwood, attends the 83rd annual Academy Awards on February 27, 2011. EPA
    Helen Mirren, in Vivienne Westwood, attends the 83rd annual Academy Awards on February 27, 2011. EPA
  • Anne Hathaway, in Armani, attends the 81st annual Academy Awards on February 22, 2009. EPA
    Anne Hathaway, in Armani, attends the 81st annual Academy Awards on February 22, 2009. EPA
  • Natalie Portman, in Dior, attends the 92nd annual Academy Awards on February 9, 2020. EPA
    Natalie Portman, in Dior, attends the 92nd annual Academy Awards on February 9, 2020. EPA
  • Saoirse Ronan, in Calvin Klein, attends the 88th annual Academy Awards on February 28, 2016. EPA
    Saoirse Ronan, in Calvin Klein, attends the 88th annual Academy Awards on February 28, 2016. EPA
  • Kate Hudson, in Versace, attends the 86th annual Academy Awards on March 2, 2014. EPA
    Kate Hudson, in Versace, attends the 86th annual Academy Awards on March 2, 2014. EPA
  • Penelope Cruz, in Chanel, attends the 80th annual Academy Awards on February 24, 2008. EPA
    Penelope Cruz, in Chanel, attends the 80th annual Academy Awards on February 24, 2008. EPA

Fashion

Red carpet retrospective: 55 of the greatest Oscar gowns of all time

In lieu of the Academy Awards taking place this month, we've rifled through the archives to round up the ceremony's most memorable fashion moments

Emma Day
Emma Day

February 18, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Should Covid-19 not have wrapped its grip around the world, we would be gearing up for a glitzy end to the year's awards season.

The Golden Globes would have already feted Hollywood's finest, the Baftas would have seen the A-list descend on London on Valentine's Day, and we'd be looking towards the creme de la creme of cinematic ceremonies, the Academy Awards, on February 28.

However, as we are all more than aware, this has been no ordinary year.

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the awards season calendar has been shuffled, refined and rescheduled over several months, with the Golden Globes taking place on Sunday, February 28, followed by the Baftas on Sunday, April 11, culminating in the Oscars on Sunday, April 25.

So, we still have some weeks to go until we can lose ourselves, even just for a few minutes, in golden trophies, tearful acceptance speeches and the dreamiest of gowns.

However, to bring a little sartorial escapism to the week, we've dug back through the fashion archives to pay tribute to some of the most memorable and magical dresses to grace the Oscars red carpet.

From Michelle Williams's canary Vera Wang to Mila Kunis's lilac Elie Saab, Julia Roberts's monochrome Valentino and Gwyneth Paltrow's caped Tom Ford, you'll find plenty of froth, feathers and a full spectrum of hues.

Scroll through the gallery above to see our pick of the 55 best red carpet gowns from Academy Awards past.

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo

Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm

Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km

Price: from Dh94,900

On sale: now

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

FIVE%20TRENDS%20THAT%20WILL%20SHAPE%20UAE%20BANKING
%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20The%20digitisation%20of%20financial%20services%20will%20continue%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Managing%20and%20using%20data%20effectively%20will%20become%20a%20competitive%20advantage%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Digitisation%20will%20require%20continued%20adjustment%20of%20operating%20models%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Banks%20will%20expand%20their%20role%20in%20the%20customer%20life%20through%20ecosystems%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20The%20structure%20of%20the%20sector%20will%20change%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Day 4, Dubai Test: At a glance

Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage appeared to have been hard done by when he had his dismissal of Sami Aslam chalked off for a no-ball. Replays suggested he had not overstepped. No matter. Two balls later, the exact same combination – Gamage the bowler and Kusal Mendis at second slip – combined again to send Aslam back.

Stat of the day Haris Sohail took three wickets for one run in the only over he bowled, to end the Sri Lanka second innings in a hurry. That was as many as he had managed in total in his 10-year, 58-match first-class career to date. It was also the first time a bowler had taken three wickets having bowled just one over in an innings in Tests.

The verdict Just 119 more and with five wickets remaining seems like a perfectly attainable target for Pakistan. Factor in the fact the pitch is worn, is turning prodigiously, and that Sri Lanka’s seam bowlers have also been finding the strip to their liking, it is apparent the task is still a tough one. Still, though, thanks to Asad Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed, it is possible.

World record transfers

1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m

The National Archives, Abu Dhabi

Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Wicked: For Good

Director: Jon M Chu

Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater

Rating: 4/5

School uniforms report
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Letswork%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202018%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EOmar%20Almheiri%2C%20Hamza%20Khan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20co-working%20spaces%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%242.1%20million%20in%20a%20seed%20round%20with%20investors%20including%20500%20Global%2C%20The%20Space%2C%20DTEC%20Ventures%20and%20other%20angel%20investors%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20about%2020%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH

Directed by: Shaka King

Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Lakeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons

Four stars

Fashion