'Oscars' Outfits That Still Have People Talking Today

At the Academy Awards, all the Hollywood star power gets together to celebrate the previous year's movies. The heaviest hitters in film arrive at the ceremony in their nicest outfits, looking their best or making strong statements with designer dresses and tuxedos. Throughout the decades, stars have pushed the fashion envelope, with some finding success in memorable, show-stealing outfits, and others stretching the fashion norms a little too far. For whatever reason — the good, the bad, and the ugly — these Oscars outfits kept us talking long after the statuettes were handed out.

1939 - Bette Davis

To collect her Oscar for Best Actress (thanks to her performance in Jezebel), Hollywood legend Bette Davis wore a ball gown that boasted an incredible neckline made of feathers to the 11th Academy Awards. She stood out next to Spencer Tracy, who looked quite dashing himself as he collected the Best Actor Oscar for Boys in Town.

1940 - Hattie McDaniel

At the 12th annual Academy Awards, Hattie McDaniel won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role as Mammy (right) in the now-classic film Gone with the Wind — making her the first Black actor to take home the prize. Her outfit was simple but powerful: sequins and gardenias on a blue evening gown.

1953 - Elizabeth Taylor And Michael Wilding

To present the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature (which was won by Walt Disney for The Living Desert), Taylor and her second husband were the spitting image of class. Designed by Edith Head, Taylor's corset dress with fur was unforgettable. Wilding dressed for the occasion, too — tuxedos don't get much classier than this.

1957 - Natalie Wood

At the 29th Academy Awards, Natalie Wood wore a pearl tiara and a white, off-the-shoulder gown. The outfit gave off wedding dress vibes, which may be intentional. After all, she and Robert Wagner were married earlier in the year.