A tangled web. The Bob Mackie-designed Mohawk headdress that Cher wore in 1986 marked the peak of her individuality. Unfortunately, there was little else to her costume. (Here, she poses with actor Don Ameche after presenting him with the Oscar for best supporting actor. Poor man was probably desperately missing Alice Faye.)
All eyes were on Nicole Kidman when she wore an Asian-inspired chartreuse gown by Christian Dior to the 1997 Oscars. (Back when she was married to Tom Cruise...)
Fairytale princess. Gwyneth Paltrow was the belle of the ball in a pink Ralph Lauren gown in 1999.
On the other hands, Paltrow was almost equally as memorable in 2002, this time for this misguided Goth gown.
Hardly a drag. Matt Stone and Trey Parker, the creators of "South Park," provided comic relief when they showed up at the 2000 Oscars dressed like Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Lopez. (Parker, wearing a JLo-style dress, is at left, and Stone is at right. In the middle is somgwriter Marc Shaiman.)
Wrong way on the runway. Celine Dion's backward white coat by John Galliano for Christian Dior in 1999 was perhaps too fashion-forward. Maybe the fedora she wore with the outfit was pulled too far down over her eyes.
Swan song. Singer Bjork hasn't been seen at the Oscars since she wore that white feather bomb in 2001.
"Funny Girl" is a sexy girl. Barbra Streisand put the world on notice that she'd be a strong woman in a man's world when she wore a see-through pantsuit designed by Arnold Scaasi to the 1969 ceremony.
Often imitated, never duplicated. Ask today's A-listers who inspired their look and they'll likely say Grace Kelly, proving that elegance - and, yes, grace - is always in style. The blue silk spaghetti-strap gown and evening coat by costume designer Edith Head that Kelly wore to the Oscars in 1955 remains a classic.
Casual chic. Sharon Stone made Gap glamorous when she paired a $22 turtleneck with a Giorgio Armani velvet coat and a long skirt in 1996.
Two years later, in 1998, Stone wore a crisp white men's shirt to complement a lavender Vera Wang skirt. (Here, she smiles as Mike Van Diem of the Netherlands faces photographers backstage after winning the Oscar for best foreign-language film.
Going for the gold. Lizzy Gardiner, who won the Oscar for costume design in 1994 for "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert," used dozens of American Express Gold Cards - all with invalid numbers - and metallic links to create her gown. (Here, she and Tim Chappel show off their Oscars along with presenter Sharon Stone.)