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Nicole Kidman's best Oscar red-carpet moments

Belinda Wanis
·Contributor
·6-min read

Nicole Kidman is not only an acclaimed actress but an international fashion icon.

Her acting chops are recognised with her fifth Oscars' best actress nomination, for her role as Lucille Ball in Being the Ricardos, but we also secretly look forward to seeing what she wears on the red carpet.

After two years of cancelled and remote events (yes, celebs had to do Zoom-style award shows, just like you and me!) the traditional feast of A-list red carpets is returning with all the froth and frivolity of cutting edge fashion.

All eyes are on Nicole Kidman at the Academy Awards. What will she wear this year in LA?
All eyes are on Nicole Kidman at the Academy Awards. What will she wear this year in LA?

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Nicole will be at the forefront at the Academy Awards, showing off the best couture has to offer.

“She could wear a rope for a dress and make it look fantastic,” her stylist Julia von Boehm told the New York Times in 2017.

She's not wrong, designers have been lining up for years to dress Nicole.

It's rumoured Dior paid our Nic US $2 million to wear their gown to the 1997 Oscars, forever changing the whole red carpet/fashion couture connection.

With the 94th Academy Awards on Sunday, March 27, in Los Angeles, we look back at the top 10 Oscar looks from the Aussie actress.

1. 2018

Nic looks confident and chic in this cobalt blue Armani Privé gown at the 2018 Oscars.

The centre parting of her hair matching the centre seam on the dress is a subtle touch that brings the look together.

As is often the case, Nicole keeps her jewellery minimal so the dress can speak for itself.

Nicole Kidman arrives at the 90th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on March 4, 2018 in Hollywood, California. in a bright deep blue strapless gown with puffs at the waist over a flared skirt with split. Her blond hair is worn loose.
The bright blue of Nicole Kidman's Armani Privé gown stuns at the 90th Annual Academy Awards. Photo: Getty Images

2. 2017

This heavily sequinned Armani Privé gown looked beautiful on the red carpet, however it may not be as comfortable as it looks.

Keith Urban, Nicole Kidman arrives at the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California. He wears a black tuxedo and she is in a high-necked, shoulder-revealing gown with circular sequined motifs. Her hair is tied up and is blonde.
Nicole, pictured with hubby Keith Urban, looks ethereal in nude tones. Photo: Getty Images

Sharp fashion spotters noticed that at the beginning of the ceremony, the straps of the dress were crossed across Nicole's back.

Back view of Nicole Kidman in the sequined dress, with the straps crossed at the back. Her hair is in a bun.
The dress has its straps crossed over at the beginning of the evening. Photo: Getty Images

By the end of the night, they'd been tied behind her neck, turning it into a halter neck.

Actor Nicole Kidman backstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California. The staps of her sequined dress have been tied into a halterneck.
At the end of the night, the dress straps had been tied into a halter neck. Photo: Getty Images

3. 2015

The combination of the iridescent sequinned Louis Vuitton sheath, the poker red waistband and sharp slick bob, gives Nicole an ultra-modern, high-fashion look - a stark contrast to the often classically dressed nominees at the Academy Awards.

Nicole Kidman arrives at the 87th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 22, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. She wars a gold strapless sheaf gown with a red belt and side split and carries a clutch. Her hair is strawberry blonde and work loose and straight to her shoulders.
An edgy Nicole Kidman in Louis Vuitton at the 87th Annual Academy Awards. Photo: Getty Images

4. 2009

Nicole chose a delicately feathered L'Wren Scott gown to wear to the 2009 awards.

Scott was a close friend of Nicole's and the actress often chose her gowns for red carpet appearances.

Actress Nicole Kidman has a short blonde wavy bob and wears a lacy feathered ivory strapless gown as she presents the award for Best Actress on stage during the 81st Annual Academy Awards held at Kodak Theatre on February 22, 2009 in Los Angeles, California.
Nicole on stage presenting the award for Best Actress at the 81st Annual Academy Awards. Photo: Getty Images

5. 2006

You couldn't miss Nicole in this red Balenciaga dress with a huge accent bow around the neck.

Like it or loathe it, it commanded attention.

"That one was controversial,” Nicole told InStyle in 2016.

"Some press people didn't like it.

"But that kind of talk doesn't bother me.

"I still liked it, especially the structure.”

Nicole Kidman during The 79th Annual Academy Awards wearing a bright red high-necked flaring gown with a shoulder bow detail. Her long blonde hair is worn loose.
Nicole Kidman wore Balenciaga to the 79th Annual Academy Awards. Photo: Getty Images

6. 2004

It was a classic Chanel gown Nicole wore to the 76th Academy Awards.

The muted slate tones and froth of tulle at the décolletage and base of the dress drew attention, but many were awed at the designer's skill in keeping the dress up, given its plunging back.

Actress Nicole Kidman attends the 76th Annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theater on February 29, 2004 in Hollywood, California. She wears a silver blue strapless gown with ruched and feathered bodice and feathery skirt detail from the knee. Her hair is waved and worn tied back.
Nicole is a Greek goddess in Chanel as she arrives at the 76th Annual Academy Awards. Photo: Getty Images
Nicole Kidman during 2004 Vanity Fair Oscar Party at Mortons in Beverly Hills, California, United States. The image shows her silver blue gown with its plunging back, feathered train and Nicole's long blond curled hair tied up and flowing down.
The back of Nicole's daring Chanel dress. Photo: Getty Images

7. 2003

Nicole chose to wear avant-garde designer Jean Paul Gaultier the year that she picked up her best actress Oscar for The Hours.

“I was so inspired by (Gaultier's) talent and ability to shape the body with his designs, and by the mastery with which he transformed a simple piece of black fabric into something magical,” she told The Herald Sun of collaborating with the French designer.

Best actress winner Nicole Kidman in the press room at the 75th Annual Academy Awards. She wears a black gown with geometric slashed straps from the right bodice over her neck, arm and shoulder.
Nicole Kidman in Jean Paul Gaultier with her Oscar for The Hours. Photo: Getty Images

8. 2002

In her first post-divorce Oscar ceremony, Nicole took sister Antonia for support and chose to wear a soft pink tiered Chanel gown.

"Karl (Lagerfeld) specifically designed this Chanel Haute Couture gown for me,” Nicole told Instyle.

"I still have it.

"When I look at it now, I realize how lucky I am.

"But it makes me sad - time passing.”

Nicole Kidman and sister Antonia Kidman arriving at the 74th Academy Awards in 2002. Nicole wears her curled her long and loose and is in a pink gown with horizontal pleating and chiffon from the knee down. Her sister wears a black v-neck gown and has a bob.
Nicole Kidman armoured up in Chanel with sister Antonia for her first Oscars, post her divorce from Tom Cruise. Photo: Getty Images

9. 2000

Nicole outshone husband Tom Cruise on the red carpet in this sheer golden Christian Dior by John Galliano gown.

The actress echoed the Oscar statuette and, while the dress isn't as talked about as some of her other looks, Nicole loved it.

“There was another beautiful gold Dior that no one comments on, but was probably one of my favourites," she told Entertainment Tonight in 2016.

"And I got to wear, like, the most beautiful 24-carat gold antique gloves that I still own – fingerless gloves.”

Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. Nicole wears a geometric-pieced gold off-the-shoulder gown with a long train that is cut short above one knee. Her curled hair is piled on her head. She wears 24-carat gold antique fingerless gloves. Cruise wears a blue dinner suit.
Nicole Kidman in Christian Dior with then husband Tom Cruise at the 2000 Oscars. Photo: Getty Images

10. 1997

This dress by John Galliano for Christian Dior represented a change for Nicole Kidman – she was no longer Tom Cruise's wife, but an A-list actress in her own right.

It was also a gown worthy of an Academy Awards.

Previously, Nic tended to wear black cocktail or party dresses on the red carpet.

“I still remember Nicole Kidman showing up in the green Dior [in 1997], and that was the first true couture dress on the red carpet, and you went, ‘Wow,’” fashion correspondent Melissa Rivers told Vanity Fair in 2014.

"This Dior Haute Couture dress is a work of art that's wrapped in special paper for my daughters,” Nic has said.

Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise at the 69th Academy Awards in 1997. She wars a green-gold sheaf, with a high-neckline and embroidered, floral neck and bodice detail. It is sleeveless and has a side split. Her hair is worn high. He wears a black dinner suit.
Nicole Kidman upstaged husband Tom Cruise in a Christian Dior sheath dress at the 69th Academy Awards. Photo: Getty Images

We can't wait to see what Nicole wears to this year's Academy Awards next month!

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