The Greatest Gucci Red Carpet Looks of All Time

With House of Gucci headed to theaters this week, the entire world is talking about the Italian luxury brand and its complicated history. Ridley Scott’s film deep dives into the dynasty behind the house—and the scandal that rocked it in 1995. Still, Hollywood has always been interested in all things double G. Whether it was Elizabeth Taylor carting around a bamboo tote or Grace Kelly tying down her hair with one of the iconic floral silk scarves, cinema’s elite have long embraced Gucci’s unique perspective on luxury. 

Despite the ubiquity of Gucci’s accessories lineup, the brand’s red carpet dominance wouldn’t begin until Tom Ford became creative director in 1994. Ford’s slinky designs struck a chord with celebrities, who, in the years before stylists became the norm, were eager for alternatives to the era’s minimalism. Sure, Ford could create a slip dress with the best of them—the leather bias-cut number Jennifer Lopez wore to a 1997 cocktail party proves as much—but his ability to bring irreverence, sensuality, and occasionally controversy to his collections elevated his work. 

As a designer, Ford provided performers with bold new ideas. For stars like Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Lopez, and Beyoncé, who rose to prominence in the 90s, his aesthetic allowed them to craft the personas they’ve relied on ever since. His greatest hits—Paltrow in red velvet at the MTV Movie Awards, Charlize Theron collecting her Oscar in a glittering flapper-style gown—are burned into our memories.  

Ford’s successors had hits of their own.  Frida Giannini amped up the glamour creating the disco-inspired liquid metal number Keira Knightley wore at the premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean and the black and white gown Blake Lively chose for her appearance at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival. 

These days, a new generation of stars is addicted to the eclecticism of Alessandro Michele’s creations. Awash with color, pattern, and references to the 1960s and 1970s, Michele’s work has helped Hollywood’s old souls nod to the past while shaping the future. Vintage lovers Dakota Johnson, Lucy Boynton, and Florence Welch have flocked to Michele’s work, and artists like Harry Styles and ASAP Rocky have used his pieces to challenge ideas about gender. 

The Gucci faithful are a devoted bunch—Jared Leto appears to have tossed out all his other clothes in favor of an entire Michele wardrobe—but their obsession connects to decades of memorable style. A look back at the most extraordinary Gucci pieces to ever grace the red carpet shows the way the brand has evolved, and why its attention-grabbing signatures will never go out of style.