13 Times Celebrities Rocked “Optical Illusion” Dresses That Challenge Perception

Jessica Wilson
Dec 18, 2023
Dec 18, 2023

In the eyes of the public, red carpets are seen as a special runway where all celebrities flaunt their eye-catching outfits. To attract huge attention, stars and their stylists have to spend hours and hours to choose dresses elaborately designed.

Among dozens of stunning gowns, there are some extremely extraordinary that have broken the norms. Some of them have tricked our eyes and pushed the boundaries of fashion to new heights. We call them “optical illusion” dresses.

To learn more about them, in this article, we introduce 13 gowns worn by celebs that escape the ordinary. They became more memorable than others that many people still talk about until now.

#1. Björk's Infamous Swan

Source: Steve Granitz/Getty Images

The swan dress Björk wore at the 73rd Academy Awards (March 25, 2001) is one of the most memorable dresses that appeared on the red carpet.

#2. Heidi Klum's moving water design

Source: Adore Luxy/Youtube

Heidi Klum’s eye-catching dress to Avatar 2: The Wave of Water stole the spotlight. It was a Lever Couture dress that showcased sculptural sleeves and an asymmetrical lower half, featuring excess tulle material fashioned into thick fringe strips and a daring thigh-high slit.

#3. Joey King's hypnotizing number

Source: Rachel Murray/Getty Images

At the 2020 Golden Globes red carpet, Joey King’s appearance got huge attention as she wore a black and white Iris Van Herpen dress that gave optical illusion vibes.

#4. Keira Knightley's tiny waist

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When being Chanel’s muse, Keira Knightley impressed everyone by her look in a waist-whittling getup at a runway show in Paris.

#5. Fishy Emma Corrin

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Emma Corrin appeared in a special dress showing a goldfish was in a bag at the 2022 London Film Festival red carpet. The unusual dress was designed by JW Anderson.

#6. Céline Dion’s red dress

Source: celinedion/Instagram

For the Iris van Herpen show during Paris Couture Week in 2019, Céline Dion dressed up a long-sleeved see-through gown featuring 3D-esque wavy red strands. As a result, they made a serious optical illusion that we couldn't take our eyes off.

#7. Emma Watson's levitating dress

Source: emmawatson/Instagram

In a shot with Tom Felton, Emma Watson wore a Loewe sky-blue dress in June that easily trick others’ eyes.

#8. Double trouble with Elsa Hosk

Source: Reinson Robertson Media

Elsa Hosk turned heads at the La Passion De Dodin Bouffant screening in a mesmerizing gown from Viktor & Rolf spring/summer 2023 collection. The dress, playfully named “Late Stage Capitalism Waltz,” offers a quirky twist on the traditional couture ball gown, giving it a unique 21st-century flair.

#9. Bella Hadid's sprayed dress

Source: Dezeen/Instagram

Coperni, the Parisian fashion brand, took innovation to a new level by literally spraying a dress onto Bella Hadid during its Spring/Summer 2023 show at Paris Fashion Week.

#10. Jennifer Lawrence's 2D-3D dress

Source: Pablo Cuadra/Getty Images

Jennifer Lawrence wore a strapless Loewe dress to the "Sin Malos Rollos" Madrid, Spain premiere in June 2023. It looked 2D from the front and 3D from the side.

#11. Kim Kardashian's People Choice Award dress

Source: NBCUniversal/Getty Images

Kim Kardashian graced the red carpet at the 2018 E! People's Choice Award in a vintage 1996 Jean Paul Gaultier dress. It was seemingly mixed by the optical illusion design and the classic naked dress one.

#12. Emily Ratajkowski’s anthurium leaf dress

Source: Jacopo Raule/Getty Images

Emily Ratajkowski made a statement at the Loewe Womenswear Fall/Winter 2023-2024 show during Paris Fashion Week in March, donning a stunning ensemble featuring a giant anthurium leaf.

#13. Free the nipple with Kendall Jenner

In May, Kendall Jenner turned heads on a yacht, rocking a daring little black dress that strategically showcased her breasts. The eye-catching dress, a creation from David Koma's fall/winter 2023 collection, cleverly utilized a mesh effect to give the illusion of a naked top.

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