Sideboob, see-through and strapless: The most stylish Oscars looks of the modern era

FROM J Law’s baby pink Dior dress (that she tripped over) to Nicole Kidman’s red hot Balenciaga, Oscars fashion is never dull.

Red hot Nicole Kidman — nominated for Best Supporting Actress in Lion this year — is one of the consistently best dressed stars at the Oscars. Picture: Getty Images

FROM J Law’s baby pink Dior dress (that she tripped over) to Charlize Theron’s naked Gucci gown, the Oscars are never dull when it comes to fashion.

The Academy Awards are definitely an occasion for elegance over experimentation, with Dior, Gucci, Versace and Givenchy among the designers worn by Hollywood’s most stylish stars.

Australian actors Nicole Kidman and Cate Blanchett are almost always on the best dressed list, while Angelina Jolie, Michelle Williams and even Courtney Love (in skin-tight white Versace) have delivered some of the most polished Oscars looks of the modern era.

PINK LADIES

Jennifer Lawrence had room for The Hunger Games cast under her fairy floss-pink Dior gown in 2013. Picture: Getty Images

From the back. Picture: Getty Images

Hollywood stylist Rachel Zoe said dressing J Law for the Oscars in a baby pink Dior couture gown in 2013 was a career highlight (Lawrence won Best Actress for Silver Linings Playbook that year and tripped en route to the podium).

“It was magical. She was Grace Kelly in that moment, to me,” Zoe told News Corp Australia in a 2015 interview.

RACHEL ZOE ON STYLING THE OSCARS

J Law took a trip ... up the stairs at the 2013 Oscars (at least her dressed saved the day). Picture: Getty Images

She made it. Picture: Getty Images

“I would say Jennifer Lawrence in the Dior couture ... was one of my favourite moments in my career,” Zoe said.

“She was Jennifer Lawrence, cause there is no other, but it was just a really iconic, ‘old Hollywood’ moment.

“She is such an incredible human being that it was a fun moment to create with her, you know?”

Gwyn had a lot of fans ... until she wore this pink dress. Picture: WireImage

Gwyneth Paltrow also had a pink moment at the Oscars, wearing Ralph Lauren in 1999 when she won Best Actress for Shakespeare In Love. Though the dress, like her jarring acceptance speech, was not well-received.

Style stars of the Oscars

VIEW GALLERY

WHITE HOT

Vanilla, cream, ice ... the Oscars has seen all variations of white. Courtney Love turned heads when she wore a low-cut Versace dress to the Oscars in 1997, a defining moment in her makeover from grunge to glamour after starring in The People Vs Larry Flynt (unfortunately, the transformation was short-lived).

Courtney Love looked angelic in Versace. Picture: WireImage

Oscar-winner Angelina Jolie teamed her tatts with an off-white Marc Bouwer gown. Picture: Getty Images

Angelina Jolie became an Oscars style icon in this dress. Picture: Getty Images

Charlize Theron won the red carpet, as well as the Oscar for Best Actress (for Monster), in this Gucci gown. Picture: Getty Images

Charlize even nailed the look from the back. Picture: Getty Images

BOLD STATEMENT

Unless you’re Bjork dressed as a swan (in a frock by designer Marjan Pejoski), the Oscars really isn’t the time or place to make a statement through fashion.

Though some managed to be bold through their colour choices ... while still being occasion-appropriate.

Worst Oscars outfits of all time

VIEW GALLERY

Nicole Kidman was red hot in Balenciaga in 2007, Cate Blanchett turned heads in a muted yellow Valentino in 2005, and Michelle Williams pulled off canary yellow in Vera Wang (back in 2006).

Nicole Kidman was red-y for her close up. Picture: Getty Images

Not everybody can pull off yellow (unless you’re golden girl Cate Blanchett). Picture: Getty Images

If Michelle Williams needed a fan at the 2006 Oscars, she could have just used her Vera Wang dress. Picture: Getty Imgaes