The 13 Best Chanel Dresses in Oscars History

Nicole Kidman's Chanel Oscars dress — (Image credit: Getty Images)

The 98th annual Academy Awards will be held in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 15, and I have several burning questions. What will Elle Fanning wear on the red carpet? Will Emma Stone win Best Actress? Which movie will win Best Picture? Who will turn up to the Vanity Fair Oscars after-party? Only time will tell, but rest assured, you can count on us to deliver all of the answers in due time.

In the meantime, I decided to take a walk down memory lane and revisit iconic Oscars looks from years past. I've always associated Chanel with the pinnacle of luxury fashion, so I've focused this story specifically on looks from the storied French house. What can you expect from my roundup? Well, one celebrity scored two spots on my list: Kirsten Dunst, who wore Chanel to the prestigious ceremony in 2005 and 2007. I also had to include the dress Julianne Moore wore to win her Best Actress trophy in 2015. Scroll down to see my favorite Chanel looks in Oscars history.

Kirsten Dunst, 2007

Kirsten Dunst wears a Chanel dress at the Oscars in 2007

Michelle Williams, 2023

Tessa Thompson, 2019

Nicole Kidman, 2004

Rinko Kikuchi, 2007

Diane Kruger, 2010

Kirsten Dunst, 2005

kirsten dunst wearing chanel at the oscars 2005

Sarah Jessica Parker, 2010

Penélope Cruz, 2008

Lupita Nyong'o, 2025

Margot Robbie, 2018

Margot Robbie wears a white Chanel dress at the Oscars

Julianne Moore, 2015

Sofia Boutella, 2017

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Erin got her start as a Who What Wear intern in 2011—back when the site only published a single story per day. (We have since increased that number twentyfold.) She graduated magna cum laude from USC and lives in Los Angeles. In college, she also interned at Refinery29, where she was promoted to editorial assistant and then assistant editor. After nearly three years at R29, she came back to WWW in 2015, where she is now the Associate Director of Fashion News. From the Oscars to the Met Gala, she leads the site's entire red carpet coverage strategy. She specializes in celebrity and fashion news but also enjoys writing travel features and runway reports. She frequently contributes to WWW's social accounts and has a sizable following on her personal TikTok.