Halle Berry at the Oscars

1996 in Valentino

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Bei/Shutterstock (5135542a) Halle Berry Vanity Fair 1996 Oscars Party 03/25/96 - Beverly Hills, CA. Halle Berry Vanity Fair hosts their annual Oscars party for the 1996 Academy Awards at Mortons. Photo®Berliner Studio/BEImages

Here is Halle's first Oscars -- technically, the Vanity Fair party. She'd had a good number of credits and had just done Losing Isaiah, which I think was her first major serious role. Mostly I think people were still blown away by her at this point as one of the industry's greatest beauties, and man... it's obvious why. She's a dream. This looks great on her.

1998

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Chris Pizzello/AP/Shutterstock (6500521n) BERRY Actress Halle Berry arrives at the 70th Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles OSCARS, LOS ANGELES, USA

This is... less successful, shall we say. Not her face; that part is always successful in the extreme.

2001

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Stewart Cook/Shutterstock (334497ew) Halle Berry The arrivals for the 73rd Academy Awards/ Oscars Ceremony at the Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, America, 25 Mar 2001

I don't have a dress credit on this, but I wish I did, because it is gorgeous on her.

2002 in Elie Saab

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Laura Rauch/AP/Shutterstock (6449369ar) BERRY Actress Halle Berry waves as she arrives for the 74th annual Academy Awards, in Los Angeles. Berry is nominated for Best Actress for her role in "Monster's Ball." Berry is wearing a gown designed by Elie Saab OSCARS, LOS ANGELES, USA

And here, of course, is the big one. I think Elie Saab was primarily known for bridal work before this; that certainly changed. What's magic about this is that it's absolutely one of the most artful use of sheers you can imagine. Nothing about it is salacious; it is careful and perfectly crafted. Her body is celebrated, not simply randomly exposed.

OSCARS, LOS ANGELES, USA

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Kevork Djansezian/AP/Shutterstock (5946234at) BERRY Halle Berry accepts her Oscar for best actress for her role in Monsters Ball during the 74th annual Academy Awards, in Los Angeles OSCARS, LOS ANGELES, USA

And it made for some great photos. Interestingly, a lot of the shots of her winning are from above, as if the people photographing this wanted to make absolutely sure they got the top of the skirt in the shot -- I suspect so that in the ensuing magazine spreads it was very clear that Halle was fully clothed.

2003

I THINK she also gave Elie Saab the nod the following year, when she returned to hand out Best Actor. And it is ALSO artful.

2005

The one thing about this that gets to me is the angled bodice; would it have looked better if it were straight across the top? I know it somewhat reflects the way the rest of the top of the dress is angled, but only a little. It's a pretty gown, though.

2009

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Peter Brooker/Shutterstock (854548fe) Halle Berry 81st Annual Academy Awards Vanity Fair Party, Los Angeles, America - 22 Feb 2009

This... is not a successful experiment. I just feel like a lot of little decisions sent this off-kilter.

Halle Berry in Marchesa

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Picture Perfect/Shutterstock (1289490q) Halle Berry 83rd Annual Academy Awards, Arrivals, Los Angeles, America - 27 Feb 2011

Originally this was just a column gown but she walked through a BUNCH of cobwebs and they just sort of... stayed.

2013 in Versace

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Startraks/Shutterstock (2165828eg) Halle Berry 85th Annual Academy Awards Oscars, Arrivals, Los Angeles, America - 24 Feb 2013 WEARING VERSACE

YES. (Also, look at the two dudes behind her, one of whom is admiring her and the other of whom is talking to his date while probably also being very aware that Halle Berry is RIGHT THERE. Those two dudes look like brothers to me.)

2017 in Versace

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Invision/AP/Shutterstock (9241592df) Halle Berry arrives at the Oscars, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles 89th Academy Awards - Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 26 Feb 2017

This didn't need all these ideas. The tied-up bodice and the feathery-looking sparkly skirt each seem to belong to a dress that doesn't include the other. It's like Donatella had too many ideas and couldn't kill one of her darlings.

2017 in Versace

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Broadimage/Shutterstock (8436369gl) Halle Berry Vanity Fair Oscar Party, Los Angeles, USA - 26 Feb 2017 WEARING ATELIER VERSACE

Her afterparty look, however, is disco perfection. This woman came to DANCE.

2018 in Zuhair Murad

Mandatory Credit: Photo by John Salangsang/Shutterstock (9446189fn) Halle Berry Vanity Fair Oscar Party, Arrivals, Los Angeles, USA - 04 Mar 2018 WEARING ZUHAIR MURAD SAME OUTFIT AS CATWALK MODEL *9328022bd

She has amazing legs, it's true. But she is at the Defcon 1 of slits here.