16 Iconic Celebrity Outfits That People Still Talk About Today

When 2022 ended, we assessed our mental health, reflected on the tasks we've accomplished, and, for fun, recalled some of the year’s most memorable fashion moments. After all, 365 orbits of the sun equal at least 365 stunning celebrity ensembles. Now that we’re nearly reaching a quarter of 2023, it's time to thoroughly appreciate the various styles and perhaps even take some cues from them.
Celebrities have a tremendous impact on American fashion, whether they are on the red carpet, in a movie, or on stage. Fashions like Marilyn Monroe's renowned white dress from "The Seven Year Itch" have become cultural touchstones that symbolize the time period's art throughout the history of Entertainment.
We’ve gathered 16 iconic celebrity outfits that we can find. From Lady Gaga's contentious meat dress, which was predictably made up entirely of chunks of meat, to Jennifer Lopez's gorgeous green dress, which she wore to the 42nd annual Grammy Awards in 2000, iconic celebrity dresses span the spectrum. Read on to know the rest.

#1 Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake’s Double Denim

Source: TheThings Celebrity/YouTube

Remember when Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake were in love and the world was simpler? It's been more than two decades since the popstars and celebrity couple attended the American Music Awards in 2001 dressed alike in double denim. Both were dressed in full patchwork denim ensembles that will make you long for the days when boy bands dominated the airways and Britney Spears was the top vocalist in the world.

#2 Jennifer Lopez’s Green Dress

Source: Everett Collection/Shutterstock

Jennifer Lopez was never one to back down from donning anything eye-catching in the early years of her career. She wore a provocative green dress to the 42nd Grammy Awards in 2000, and that's precisely what she did. The dress, which was created by Donatella Versace, has a plunging neckline that reaches Lopez's waist. It's a noteworthy effort that she somehow made it through the entire event without showing off her assets.
During Milan Fashion Week in 2019, Lopez donned an upgraded version of the Versace outfit since she adored it so much. She maintains her youthful appearance.

#3 Audrey Hepburn’s Little Black Dress

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On the red carpet, not every legendary celebrity outfit gets worn. In Breakfast at Tiffany's, Audrey Hepburn's portrayal of Holly Golightly upended the way people thought about fashion. Hepburn is seen in one of the film's most iconic images standing in front of the Tiffany & Co. skyscraper on Fifth Avenue in New York City. Hepburn looks stunning in a fitted Givenchy black dress, Oliver Goldsmith sunglasses, and three strands of pearls around her neck.
The tiny black dress was made popular by Hepburn's appearance and would later come to dominate women's fashion for many years. In addition, she contributed to the popularity of wide-lens black sunglasses and the chignon hairdo. truly legendary.

#4 Cher’s Oscar-Winning Outfit

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The vocalist of "Turn Back Time" was undoubtedly at her best in the late 1980s, and as a result, she was honored with the Academy Award for Best Actress for her work in Moonstruck. Cher sparkled in a stunning black dress with mesh and sequins at the award ceremony. In addition to Cher's victory, the dress, which was designed by Bob Mackie, is still one of the most enduring memories of the event.

#5 Timothee Chalamet Sparkly Suit

Source: ET Canada/YouTube

Timothee Chalamet, one of the new wave of young stars sweeping Hollywood, is also making waves on the red carpet. He has an uncommon sense of style and never hesitates to do something out of the ordinary. Consider the Louis Vuitton sequined black suit he sported to the 2022 Oscars. Not only did Chalamet remove his top, but the outfit also sparkles. That's correct, just a pair of jeans and a jacket. There is definitely a vibe.
The ensemble was chosen from Nicolas Ghesquière's spring 2022 womenswear collection, demonstrating that gender is not a factor in Chalamet's sense of style. But, Chalamet did add a small touch by wearing the dress with a pair of black ankle boots and silver jewelry.

#6 Lady Gaga’s Meat Dress

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Lady Gaga was still in the middle of her artistic experimentation in the mid-2000s. She showed up to the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards wearing a dress made of flesh since she's always eager to push the envelope. The outfit, which was created by Franc Fernandez with styling assistance from Nicola Formichetti, featured shoes, a hat, and even a meat purse.
Gaga clarified that the garment was more than simply a marketing gimmick and stood up for one's rights. During the awards ceremony, Gaga spoke with Ellen Degeneres and stated, “If we don’t stand up for what we believe in and if we don’t fight for our rights, pretty soon we’re going to have as many rights as the meat on our bones.”
Despite the good intentions, animal advocates weren't in favor of the outfit, which has been preserved and is now housed in Cleveland, Ohio's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

#7 Bjork’s Swan Dress

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Bjork has always had a distinctive style, so her attire at the 73rd Academy Awards in 2001 wasn't entirely unexpected. The Icelandic artist arrived dressed as a swan in a frock. Even the swan's neck and head were incorporated into the crystal-covered bodysuit and were draped across Bjork's shoulders.
The dress, created by Macedonian designer Marjan Pejoski, received harsh criticism when it was first worn, but more than 20 years later, it is now regarded as a daring fashion statement and an absolutely classic ensemble. Björk was perplexed by the response she received while wearing the garment. “They wrote about it like I was trying to wear a black Armani and got it wrong like I was trying to fit in,” she told The New York Times in a 2007 interview. “Of course, I wasn’t trying to fit in.”

#8 Harry Styles’ Black Blouse

Source: Vogue/YouTube

The theme of the 2019 Met Gala was camp, and everyone's favorite former member of One Direction, Harry Styles, completely nailed the brief. The British singer-songwriter stunned everyone with a translucent black top by Alessandro Michele for Gucci. When he strolled the red carpet outside the event, Styles outshone several of his female competitors with manicured nails, sleek black work shoes, and a pearl earring.

#9 Kim Kardashian’s All-Black Ensemble

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Kim Kardashian has worn a number of memorable costumes, but it's difficult to top her Met Gala gown from 2021. She is completely covered by the all-black costume by Balenciaga, a brand now making headlines for all the wrong reasons. It consists of an enormous T-shirt dress with a pleated train, jersey boots, and matching gloves underneath a long-sleeve turtleneck bodysuit. Then there is the full-face mask that she is wearing.
“I fought against it. I was like, I don’t know how I could wear the mask. Why would I want to cover my face?” Kim Kardashian told Vogue. “But Demna [creative director at Balenciaga] and the team were like, ‘This is a costume gala. This is not a Vanity Fair party where everyone looks beautiful. There’s a theme and you have to wear the mask. That is the look.'” Mission accomplished.

#10 Marilyn Monroe’s White Dress

Source: Published by Corpus Christi Caller-Times-photo from Associated Press, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Marilyn Monroe's white outfit from The Seven Year Itch is stunning, and it is now regarded as a cultural benchmark. The cocktail dress was designed by William Travilla and includes a ballerina-like bottom half and a plunging neckline.
The outfit was made famous by Monroe's appearance in a scene where she stands over a subway grate and says, “Ooh, do you feel the breeze from the subway?” when the garment is blown up, revealing her naked legs. These days, it might not seem all that thrilling, but when the movie was released in the 1950s, seeing a woman's legs was considered scandalous. Despite this, the film was a huge success, establishing Marilyn Monroe as a leading lady, and giving pop culture one of its most memorable moments.

#11 Lil Nas X’s

Source: Recording Academy GRAMMYs/YouTube

Since making his debut with "Old Town Road" in 2019, rapper Lil Nas X's style has clearly changed. Cowboy-themed clothing was the standard, but X has evolved into a trailblazer who never fails to impress on the red carpet. X isn't hesitant to wear unique clothing, as seen by his 2021 Met Gala gold Versace outfit and his 2021 MTV Awards off-the-shoulder purple attire.
One example is the hot pink cowboy costume he wore to the 2020 Grammys. The bright pink boots and cowboy hat that came with the Versace suit were also included. When discussing the attire selection with CR Men in 2020, X commented, “I’ve been trying to deviate from the norm that most guys wear – suit, tie … So when I saw the [Grammys] look, even as a sketch, I was like, That’s crazy. That’s a talking point. I want to get more in tune with that flamboyant side as well. It’s an ongoing journey.”

#12 Madonna’s Cone Bra

Source: Medium

During her career, Madonna was never shy about expressing comments. Madge, who was not afraid to push the envelope and anger traditionalists, unveiled a cone-shaped bra and corset created by Jean Paul Gaultier during her 1990 "Like a Virgin" tour. The tour went on to become one of the biggest and most successful in the world at that time, but it undoubtedly helped keep Madonna's name in the public eye and aided ticket sales.

#13 Diana, Princess of Wales’ Wedding Dress

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Several ladies have donned famous wedding gowns throughout the years, but none have generated as much controversy as Princess Diana. And not in a bad sense, but more so since her nuptials to Prince Charles were among the largest occasions in royal history. The two were married in front of some 750 million people, and Diana dazzled in a gown created by David and Elizabeth Emanuel.
The ivory silk taffeta garment included 10,000 pearls, lace, sequins, and hand needlework, and was believed to be worth $186,000 at the time. Also, it included the 25-foot-long royal wedding train, which was the longest in history.

#14 Elizabeth Hurley’s Black Dress

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It might not seem that exciting these days, but at the time Elizbeth Hurley had everyone forgetting her partner Hugh Grant and focusing on her revealing black dress. Showing a good amount of cleavage and plenty of leg, the Versace dress overshadowed everything else that happened at the Four Weddings and a Funeral 1994 premiere.

#15 Rose McGowan’s See-Through Dress

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Actress Rose McGowan attended the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards sporting a hardly there at all outfit while dating musician Marilyn Manson. With just her lower body covered by a g-string, the entirely transparent costume doesn't leave much to the imagination. The ensemble created quite a stir, but not in a positive manner, as McGowan received a lot of negative press.
Nonetheless, McGowan told Jameela Jamil for her I Weigh interview series that she doesn't regret wearing the garment. “I [wore] that for a reason. It was my first public appearance after being raped. And I thought, it was kind of like Russell Crowe and Gladiator when it comes out in the ring and he’s like, ‘Are you not entertained?’ And that was why I did that. That was my response to being assaulted.”

#16 Lil Kim’s Free the Boob Dress

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Speaking of controversy, in 1999, rapper Lil Kim made headlines when she came at the VMAs sporting a purple outfit that showed off one of her breasts, save for a little shell-shaped pastie that covered her nipple. As a result, Diana Ross famously touched Kim's boob while accepting an award on stage. Many still talk about the legendary outfit and occasion today.