Oscars fashion: A look at the biggest style hits in Academy Awards history

Unless you're a major moviebuff, chances are you can'tname which filmwon best picture at the Oscars in 2001without Googling it.

You canprobably remember who wore a swan around her neck to walk down the red carpet that year, though.

Awards show fashion has more of an effect on our memories, our cultureand even our economy than many people realize. For some Oscars viewers, the red carpet is more important than the ceremony itself.

The88thAnnualAcademy Awards are taking place this Sunday, no doubt ushering in a new, rainbow-coloured crop of gorgeousgowns for us to admire.

In preparation for this year's Oscars fashion spread,we took some time to reflect on the past.

Below are 10 of the mosticonic looks from the Academy Awards in recent history based on critical acclaim, media attentionand how long audiences continued to buzz after the show was done.

Apologies to the gentlemen of Hollywood who, while always dapper, somehow fail to make as much of a statement with their suitsasactresses do with their annualparadeof daringdesigner dresses.

(It was Gladiatorthat took homebest picture in 2001, by the way.)

10.AngelinaJoliein Versace, 2012

It was the dress that launched a thousand tweets as well as hundreds of news articles,dozens of Photoshop funniesandat least oneparody Twitter account dedicated toAngelina Jolie'srightleg. When the actress and her husband, actor Brad Pitt,arrived to the 84th Academy Awards in 2012, heads turned but they always do. What nobody could have predicted was that Jolie's strapless black Versace gown would become a genuineinternet sensation thanks to onehigh-cut slit.

9.ZoeSaldanainGivenchy Couture, 2010

Avatarstar Zoe Saldanapolarized the style set in 2010 with this straight-off-the-runway purple ombrgownby Riccardo Tisci forGivenchy Couture. Some felt that it was a bit over the top, what with the sparkles, the colour gradationandthe layers upon layers of ruffles. Others put Saldanaat the very top of that year's best-dressed list, praising herfor picking such a pretty and expressive gown. Regardless of the reaction, it stood out by leaps and bounds. It'sbeen six years and we're still talking about it, right?

8.NicoleKidmaninDiorCouture, 1997

Australian actress NicoleKidmantook a bold risk with the colour of herbespoke ChristianDiorCouture gown at the69thAcademy Awards. Fortunately, it paid off and not just for her."I was the new boy at the big House ofDior, and there were people who didn't think I would cut it," said designerJohnGallianoafterKidman'sdresswas deemeda fashionhit. "Nicole looked like a goddess and showed the world she believed in me [she]trusted usand let us suggest a new direction and the striking chartreuse colour, which was controversial at that point becauseeveryone was using primaries or pastels."

7. Michelle Williams in Vera Wang, 2006

Arriving on the arm of her thenpartner actor Heath Ledger, who died in 2008, actress Michelle Williams didn't win thebest supporting actress award she'd been nominated for at the Oscars in 2006. Her vintage-inspiredVera Wang gown, on the other hand, brought home the honour of being thatevening's most widelyhailed style choice.

8.Bjork inMarjan Pejoski, 2001

Another namethat continues to dominateconversations aboutOscarfashion is that of Icelandic artistBjork,who famously hit the red carpet ahead of 2001's Academy Awards ceremony in what appeared to be a swan costume. CreatedbyMacedonian fashion designerMarjanPejoski, her"swan dress" is currently ondisplay at New York'sMuseum of Modern Art.

5. Jennifer Lawrence inDiorHautCouture, 2013

How does a Hollywood it-girl maintain therelatable image her fans love her for while wearing Dior Haute Couture? Trip on the train of that billowing, expensive gown as you accept your Academy Award for best actress. Jennifer Lawrence was the picture of elegance when she arrived at the Oscars in 2013, and thanks to ashow-stopping fall while climbing on stage,she was the talk of the night as well.

4. Julia Roberts in Valentino, 2001

Speaking of American sweethearts, Julia Roberts still holds strong as an all-time Oscars fashion icon particularly when people think of thevintage Valentino column gown she wore to accept her Academy Award for Erin Brockovich in 2001. This simpleblack and white dresshas been credited forhelpingtopopularizevintage clothing in the 2000s, and its Italiandesigner has said that seeing Roberts wear it to the Oscars wasthe high point of his 45-year career.

3.LupitaNyong'oinPrada, 2014

Mexican-Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong'o epitomized Tinseltown glamour at the Oscars in 2014 with a look that was classic, yet stunning in its execution. The Yale grad, who won best supporting actress for her role in 12 Years a Slave, indulged photographers by swishing and swaying around in her floaty chiffon skirt all night and the world was grateful to watch that ethereal Prada gown in action.floatychiffonskirt all night and theworld was grateful to watch thatetherealPradagown in action.

2. GwynethPaltrowin Ralph Lauren, 1999

Pretty in pink was the name of the game forShakespeare in LovestarGwynethPaltrowatthe71stAcademy Awards in 1999.Fromherred carpet entrance to thetearfulacceptance speech she gave after receiving the Oscar for best actress,Paltrow, then 26,commanded every eyein the house with herRalph Lauren gown andprincess-perfectstyling.

1. HalleBerry inElieSaab, 2002

In 2002,HalleBerry became thefirst black woman to win anOscar for best actress thanks to her work inMonster's Ball. The achievement, as well asthe actress's performance itself,were celebrated widely that year, but thesheer-bodiceElieSaab dressBerry worethat eveningtops new lists ofhistory's mosticonicred carpetlooksto this day.