Kim Cattrall, 2002
I actually did not remember this gown, but look how sexy Kim Cattrall was in this orange dress. So many people wore black, per the archives, that picking this hue was quite dramatic.
Heather Locklear, 2002
I can't really ding her for the shoes, because if there is anything I've learned, it's that the Early Aughts were a rotten time for footwear. Instead let's enjoy that the rest of her is in Top Special Guest Star Heather Locklear Form.
Rachel Griffiths, 2003
I just thought this was unusual, and we almost NEVER like what she wears, so hooray for her.
Cate Blanchett, 2003
Initially I had this in the "bad" slideshow, but then I decided it's not BAD, per se, and even though I don't LOVE it, I just wanted to share it. It's loopy but pleasingly so, somehow.
Charlize Theron, 2004
I didn't love this at the time, honestly, and I still don't, but a) it was hard to find great stuff in this time period, and b) in retrospect she does look so innocent and gilded and golden and it was fun to see.
Zhang Ziyi, 2006
She is deeply unafraid of color, that's for sure.
Evangeline Lilly, 2006
The dress doesn't have much to it, but the simplicity paired with the bright green is kind of what makes it sing. That, and her face.
Keira Knightley, 2006
It sits low, and it does have Ye Olde Nippledart Syndrome, but I like the tie around the waist. And again: I was hurting for material here.
Kyra Sedgwick, 2006
She is the grooviest.
Emma Thompson and Colin Firth, 2006
Also, these two need a roadshow together. And another bottle of Champagne.
Emma Thompson and Colin Firth
He looks a bit scruffy and her dress is a wee low cut, but this photo delights me.
Jennifer Lopez, 2007
This was a Marchesa back when Marchesa felt like a revelation, and I just love J.Lo looking like she's wearing a magic carpet or something. It was effective on her.
Sienna Miller, 2007
I hated the milkmaid braids, but that dress is so pretty.
Felicity Huffman, 2007
That is some fabulous green drama.
Chloe Sevigny, 2007
Terrible shoes -- there's always a caveat! -- but the gown is nice. Especially when you compare it to the one I'm using in the "Bad" slideshow.
Olivia Wilde, 2009
This is from back when she showed up first to everything, to get maximum red-carpet time, and she always wore giant skirts. She was good at giant skirts.
Melissa George, 2009
This is the best thing she's ever worn.
Laura Linney, 2009
She's so lovely.
Miley Cyrus, 2009
Flashback! She's a different person now. At the time people were very divided on this, but I thought it was elegant and sweet and appropriate.
Kyra Sedgwick, 2009
I repeat: She is the grooviest.
Jennifer Garner, 2010
Crazy flattering.
Jayma Mays, 2010
This, I picked because even though it reminds me in very vague ways of Julia Roberts' Oscar gown when she won (that one had some skirt interest in the back and the white straps on the front), it's still wholly its own.
Zoe Saldana, 2010
I really like the Saucy Boudoir effect of the skirt.
Olivia Wilde, 2011
And we're back to Olivia Wilde, who this year was FOR SURE the first person on the carpet because we were live-blogging it that year and we both commented on it. It's a very princess-y and awesome dress, and seems like NOTHING she would do today because she gets so much press now.
Catherine Zeta-Jones, 2011
Fug Nation loved this, and so do I.
SWINTON, 2012
I mean. One cannot argue with this. It's majestic.
Emma Stone, 2012
Delish.
Laura Dern, 2012
SO delish.
Evan Rachel Wood, 2012
This one confused me a little at the time, because I liked it, but I wasn't sure if it was also an insane amount of details. It's always, always stuck in my memory, though, and she looked SO good in it, so let's call it a win.
Lucy Liu, 2013
It will be hard to forget this. She looks like a beautiful tapestry.
Odette Annable, 2013
I can't explain why I love this so much, but I do and that's that.
Jennifer Garner, 2013
The bloom has not dropped off this rose for me.
Julianne Moore, 2013
I love it when she looks sophisticated and foxy.
Marion Cotillard, 2013
The shoes with this are metallic gold, which is totally perfect. I forgot about this dress until right now, and it's great. I shall miss her this season.