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The 25 Best Golden Globes Dresses of all Time

Including sequins, silk and a baby bump

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Honoring the top movies, music and TV shows is well and good, but my favorite part of awards season is ogling the stunning dresses. So, I patiently wait for the 82nd annual Golden Globe Awards—it'll take place on Sunday, January 5 and comedian Nikki Glaser is set to host.

This ceremony, the kick-off to awards season, is nicknamed "the party of the year" and has a Hollywood reputation as being the place where stars relax and hobnob, thanks to the more casual dinner theatre vibe in which stars cluster at tables overflowing with food and drink. And what a crowd this year: 2024 noms have major star power, including the cast of Wicked, Gladiator II and Emilia Pérez. But perhaps the biggest update is that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) no longer runs the Golden Globes. In 2023, it was purchased by Dick Clark Productions and Eldridge Industries.

Last year's ceremony included 72 live cameras to give CBS audiences an unprecedented look at the goings-on. And per usual, the stars dressed to impress. (Remember Taylor Swift's dazzling Gucci gown?) I expect that there will be several more unforgettable 'FITS this time around. But for now, let's indulge in a quick recap of the 25 best Golden Globes dresses of all time.

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1. Marilyn Monroe, 1962

The blonde bombshell collected the “Henrietta” award at the 1962 Globes wearing a sequined Norman Norell gown that’d be just as stylish now as it was then. 

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2. Audrey Hepburn, 1990

The effortlessly chic 60-year-old Hepburn won the Cecil B. DeMille Award while wearing an elegant white silk sheath with exaggerated shoulders, courtesy of an unknown designer.

Christine Baranski at Golden Globes 1997
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3. Christine Baranski, 1997

The veteran actress looked so glamorous at the 54th Golden Globe Awards. Baranski stunned in black velvet mermaid gown, featuring a sweetheart neckline and a sparkly mermaid flare. She paired the number with matching elbow-length gloves and accessorized with silver bracelets.

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4. Jennifer Aniston, 2004

The same year Aniston said goodbye to Friends, she donned a stunning black Valentino gown that was both classic and daring. (Remember, this was, like, ten years before “side boob” was a thing.)

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5. Nicole Kidman, 2005

Kidman peacocked, both literally and figuratively, when she snagged the award for Best Actress in a Drama Motion Picture in a slinky bias-cut Gucci number. The plume details and rich hue were an unexpected choice for an actress who typically goes neutral.

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6. Keira Knightley, 2006

I love how Knightley’s crepe satin Valentino pairs a simple column silhouette with a flashy kimono belt and tassels.

Beyonce at Golden Globes 2007
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7. Beyoncé, 2007

Queen Bey looked like a trophy in her shimmery gold-and-silver gown by Elie Saab, complete with a plunging neckline.

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8. Eva Mendes, 2009

Mendes frequently gravitates toward feminine pieces with flourish. This Christian Dior is proof that all-white plus oversize bows need not look bridal.

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9. Angelina Jolie, 2011

Angie stole the show back in ’11 when she appeared like a Kelly green (Versace) goddess in a sea of black and white.

Jennifer Lopez Golden Globes red carpet 2013
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10. Jennifer Lopez, 2013

J.Lo knows how to make a statement, and she certainly didn't disappoint with this ensemble. The "Marry Me" singer stole the show in her sheer Zuhair Murad white gown, which features some intricate white embroidery.

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11. Lupita Nyong'o, 2014

Fact: Red is definitely Nyong'o's color. And who says you have to have superpowers to flaunt a cape? 

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12. Julianne Moore, 2015

Sequins, feathers, sass…this Givenchy gown truly has everything. 

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13. Jennifer Lawrence, 2016

I love the way this Dior number plays with proportion and sex (those side cutouts!) and nods to the crop-top trend that seemed to be everywhere that year.

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14. Jessica Biel, 2017

It takes guts to rock a décolleté, and Jessica Biel did just that in this stunning Elie Saab ensemble.

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15. Natalie Portman, 2017

When Natalie Portman walked the red carpet in support of her nomination for Jackie, the biopic about Jackie Kennedy, she wore a yellow dress by Prada that channeled a famous gown that the First Lady wore in 1961. But I'm seeing even older fashion echoes in the long-sleeved gown, which has an Empire waist that skillfully flatters the actress's baby bump: Portman is giving Elizabethan era elegance.

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16. Catherine Zeta-Jones, 2018

Although everyone wore black dresses to the 75th annual Golden Globes, Catherine Zeta-Jones’s sheer gown was undoubtedly memorable. 

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17. Lady Gaga, 2019

Decked out in a lengthy train and matching bolero, a star was born in Lady Gaga’s Valentino Couture number at the 2019 Globes

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18. Sandra Oh, 2019

Not only did Oh take home the award for Best Actress in a Drama TV Series for Killing Eve, but she also looked incredible in this white Atelier Versace.

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19. Zoë Kravitz, 2020

Zoë Kravitz stepped out in a stunning gown by Saint Laurent and proved there’s no such thing as too many polka dots.

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20. Scarlett Johansson, 2020

ScarJo not only lived up to her name in a crimson silk faille strapless gown from Vera Wang at the 2020 Globes, but also she gave us all a glimpse at her back tattoos, which show a branch of roses and a lamb.

Best Golden Globs dresses ever: Billy Porter in white dress over pants
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21. Billy Porter, 2020

This Alex Vinash suit was custom-made for Billy Porter and took three months to design. It featured a custom feathered train that required an assistant to carry and arrange on the red carpet and that zipped off to allow the actor and singer to sit down.

22. Anya Taylor-Joy, 2021

The Queen’s Gambit star turned heads in Dior Haute Couture—and I can see why. However, she didn’t get to walk the red carpet because it was a virtual ceremony.

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23. Jennifer Coolidge, 2023

Accepting her award for best supporting actress in a limited series, the White Lotus star delivered a heartful speech that made show creator Mike White cry. Her sequin Dolce & Gabbana dress with a slightly off-the-shoulder neckline was a dignified yet snazzy backdrop to the engaging star's winning night.

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24. Margot Robbie, 2024

Robbie pretty much nailed all of her Barbie-inspired looks, but this custom Giorgio Armani hot pink gown—inspired by the 1977 SuperStar Barbie Doll—is easily a standout. (Fun fact: She accessorized with $3 million worth of jewelry.) 

Selena Gomez Golden Globes red carpet 2024
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25. Selena Gomez, 2024

Gomez lit up the red carpet in this vibrant red dress with an asymmetrical hemline, courtesy of Giorgio Armani. It features multiple cutouts with black detailing, and she completed the look with matching Christian Louboutin heels.


lex

Cat mom, yogi, brunch enthusiast

Lex is an LA native who's deeply obsessed with picnics, Slim Aarons, rosé, Hollywood history and Joan Didion. She joined PureWow in early 2017.

dana dickey

Senior Editor

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