1979

These awards were given out in 1979 (for 1978 movies), and look how CASUAL it all seems here. Maybe not everyone was -- Don Gummer is at least in a tux -- but Meryl looks like she could as easily be popping by a Broadway matinee, or a dinner party, or the Farmer's Market to scout out turnip prices. Meryl was nominated for The Deer Hunter, and did not win. That streak of losing would last approximately 12 months.

1980

Meryl won the next year for Kramer vs. Kramer, and I quite like this -- and in 1980, it's almost a miracle that her aesthetic doesn't look dated. She could dig that out again. 

I pulled this one just because she looks SO much like her daughters in this.

1989

Meryl also holds the record for the most Golden Globes acting nods, but sadly, I didn't have access to her inaugural Globes moment. The earliest picture we have of her there is from 1989, and her hair here -- combined with the fancy suit -- is PEAK 1989 newscaster to me. You could have told me this was Diane Sawyer attending the news Emmys, and I'd have accepted that for a second.

Meryl Streep's Inaugural Oscar Dress(es)

Webster's defines "inaugural" as "marking the beginning of an institution, activity, or period of office." And Meryl Streel, she of the 21 Oscar nominations, certainly qualifies as an institution; her first nomination, in 1978, began a very long stretch of activity and she remains in the office of Living Acting Legends. So! We thought we might, on this day, look at her inaugural Oscars -- her first appearance, and her first win, which came a year later. [Photos: Shutterstock, Getty]