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The Academy Awards are a time-honored tradition where hardworking directors, actors, sound engineers, etc. get rewarded for all they've accomplished in the past year. And that's why we watch it, right? Wrong. We watch it for the dresses. So to get you in the sartorial spirit, we dug up photos of all the dresses worn by the best actress winners from the 1930s up until last year. less
The Academy Awards are a time-honored tradition where hardworking directors, actors, sound engineers, etc. get rewarded for all they've accomplished in the past year. And that's why we watch it, right? Wrong. ... more
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Norma Shearer, 1930 
For The Divorce
Norma Shearer, 1930 
For The Divorce
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Bette Davis, 1939 
For Jezebel
Bette Davis, 1939 
For Jezebel
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Vivien Leigh, 1940 
For Gone With the Wind
Vivien Leigh, 1940 
For Gone With the Wind
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Ingrid Bergman and Jennifer Jones, 1944 
Jones for The Song of Bernadette (1944) 
Bergman won for Gaslight in 1945.
Ingrid Bergman and Jennifer Jones, 1944 
Jones for The Song of Bernadette (1944) 
Bergman won for Gaslight in 1945.
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Jane Wyman, 1949 
For Johnny Belinda
Jane Wyman, 1949 
For Johnny Belinda
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Judy Holliday, 1951 
For Born Yesterday
Judy Holliday, 1951 
For Born Yesterday
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Shirley Booth, 1953 
For Come Back, Little Sheba
Shirley Booth, 1953 
For Come Back, Little Sheba
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Audrey Hepburn, 1954 
For Roman Holiday
Audrey Hepburn, 1954 
For Roman Holiday
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Grace Kelly, 1955 
For The Country Girl
Grace Kelly, 1955 
For The Country Girl
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Dorothy Malone, Mike Todd, and Elizabeth Taylor, 1957
Dorothy Malone, Mike Todd, and Elizabeth Taylor, 1957
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Simone Signoret (pictured with Rock Hudson), 1960 
For Room at the Top
Simone Signoret (pictured with Rock Hudson), 1960 
For Room at the Top
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Sophia Loren, 1962 
For Two Women
Sophia Loren, 1962 
For Two Women
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Julie Christie, 1966 
For Darling
Julie Christie, 1966 
For Darling
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Barbra Streisand (pictured with Elliott Gould), 1969 For Funny Girl. 
Streisand tied with Katharine Hepburn, who won for The Lion in Winter.
Barbra Streisand (pictured with Elliott Gould), 1969 For Funny Girl. 
Streisand tied with Katharine Hepburn, who won for The Lion in Winter.
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Liza Minnelli (pictured with Vincente Minnelli), 1973 
For Cabaret
Liza Minnelli (pictured with Vincente Minnelli), 1973 
For Cabaret
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Louise Fletcher (pictured with Jack Nicholson), 1976 
For One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Louise Fletcher (pictured with Jack Nicholson), 1976 
For One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
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Faye Dunaway, 1977 
For Network
Faye Dunaway, 1977 
For Network
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Diane Keaton, 1978 
For Annie Hall
Diane Keaton, 1978 
For Annie Hall
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Jane Fonda (pictured with Tom Hayden), 1979 
For Coming Home
Jane Fonda (pictured with Tom Hayden), 1979 
For Coming Home
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Sally Field, 1980 
For Norma Rae
Sally Field, 1980 
For Norma Rae
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Sissy Spacek, 1981
For Coal Miner's Daughter
Sissy Spacek, 1981
For Coal Miner's Daughter
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Meryl Streep, 1983 
For Sophie's Choice
Meryl Streep, 1983 
For Sophie's Choice
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Shirley Maclaine, 1984 
For Terms of Endearment
Shirley Maclaine, 1984 
For Terms of Endearment
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Sally Field, 1985 
For Places in the Heart
Sally Field, 1985 
For Places in the Heart
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Geraldine Page, 1986 
For The Trip to Bountiful
Geraldine Page, 1986 
For The Trip to Bountiful
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Marlee Matlin, 1987 
For Children of a Lesser God
Marlee Matlin, 1987 
For Children of a Lesser God
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Cher, 1988 
For Moonstruck
Cher, 1988 
For Moonstruck
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Jodie Foster, 1989 
For The Accused
Jodie Foster, 1989 
For The Accused
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Jessica Tandy, 1990 
For Driving Miss Daisy
Jessica Tandy, 1990 
For Driving Miss Daisy
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Kathy Bates (with Daniel Day-Lewis), 1991 
For Misery
Kathy Bates (with Daniel Day-Lewis), 1991 
For Misery
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Jodie Foster, 1992 
For The Silence of the Lambs
Jodie Foster, 1992 
For The Silence of the Lambs
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Emma Thompson, 1993 
For Howards End
Emma Thompson, 1993 
For Howards End
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Holly Hunter, 1994
 For The Piano
Holly Hunter, 1994
 For The Piano
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Jessica Lange, 1995 
For Blue Sky
Jessica Lange, 1995 
For Blue Sky
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Susan Sarandon, 1996 
For Dead Man Walking
Susan Sarandon, 1996 
For Dead Man Walking
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Frances McDormand, 1997 
For Fargo
Frances McDormand, 1997 
For Fargo
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Helen Hunt, 1998 
For As Good as It Gets
Helen Hunt, 1998 
For As Good as It Gets
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Gwyneth Paltrow, 1999 
For Shakespeare in Love
Gwyneth Paltrow, 1999 
For Shakespeare in Love
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Hilary Swank, 2000 
For Boys Don't Cry
Hilary Swank, 2000 
For Boys Don't Cry
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Julia Roberts, 2001 
For Erin Brockovich
Julia Roberts, 2001 
For Erin Brockovich
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Halle Berry, 2002 
For Monster's Ball
Halle Berry, 2002 
For Monster's Ball
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Nicole Kidman, 2003 
For The Hours
Nicole Kidman, 2003 
For The Hours
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Charlize Theron, 2004 
For Monster
Charlize Theron, 2004 
For Monster
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Hilary Swank, 2005 
For Million Dollar Baby
Hilary Swank, 2005 
For Million Dollar Baby
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Reese Witherspoon, 2006 
 For Walk the Line
Reese Witherspoon, 2006 
 For Walk the Line
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Helen Mirren, 2007 
For The Queen
Helen Mirren, 2007 
For The Queen
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Marion Cotillard, 2008 
For La Vie en Rose
Marion Cotillard, 2008 
For La Vie en Rose
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Kate Winslet, 2009 
For The Reader
Kate Winslet, 2009 
For The Reader
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Sandra Bullock, 2010 
For The Blind Side
Sandra Bullock, 2010 
For The Blind Side
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Natalie Portman, 2011 
For Black Swan
Natalie Portman, 2011 
For Black Swan
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Meryl Streep, 2012 
For The Iron Lady
Meryl Streep, 2012 
For The Iron Lady
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Jennifer Lawrence, 2013 
For Silver Linings Playbook
Jennifer Lawrence, 2013 
For Silver Linings Playbook
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Cate Blanchett, 2014 
For Blue Jasmine
Cate Blanchett, 2014 
For Blue Jasmine
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Julianne Moore, 2015 
For Still Alice
Julianne Moore, 2015 
For Still Alice
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Brie Larson, 2016
For The Room
Brie Larson, 2016
For The Room
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Best actors aren't remembered for what they wore however, the same can't be said for the actresses.

The night an actress wins her Oscar for being the best, her achievement and the outfit she wore will forever be immortalized.

In this retrospective you will see nearly nine decades of beautiful gowns and dresses that are a reflection their time period, and the talented woman that wore them.

The Red Carpet: Throwback couples at the Academy Awards 

Can you remember Cher's 1988 Oscar look? If you can't recall the image, just think of anything that Cher would normally wear to an event. The Moonstruck actress remained completely true to her image and looked drop dead gorgeous.  

Since Norma Shearer was photographed in 1930 wearing long necklaces and sleeves trimmed in fur, some actresses have worn gold, some showed skin, some rocked pantsuits; but there's one item all of these winning women are wearing: Confidence.  

(Story continues below.)

 


On Sunday Feb. 26, 2017 a best actress for the year will be announced and her gown will join the ranks of the past greats.

Best Actress nominees are:

Emma Stone – "La La Land"
Natalie Portman – "Jackie"
Meryl Streep – "Florence Foster Jenkins"
Isabelle Huppert – "Elle"
Ruth Negga – "Loving" 

Looking back on the most memorable moments from the biggest night in Hollywood.

Media: MediaOS Video

Take a look at the gallery above above for almost all of the dresses worn by every best actress. 

Slideshow originally published on elle.com