Throwback Pic Of Grace Kelly From The 1955 Oscars Highlights One Of Her Chicest Looks
While Grace Kelly's lace wedding dress is still inspiring brides to this day, the gown she wore to the 1955 Academy Awards is just as timeless. One of the most talented stars from Hollywood's Golden Age, Kelly is an icon for many reasons: she's royalty, having married Prince Rainier of Monaco in 1956; she's a decorated actor, winning both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for Best Actress; and, of course, Kelly is a global style icon — she was even inducted into the International Best Dressed List Hall of Fame in 1960. One of Kelly's best looks is the pale blue-green silk gown she wore to the 1955 Oscars, where she won Best Actress for "The Country Girl."
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In one picture from that evening, Kelly looks especially modern beside fellow first-time Oscar winner Marlon Brando and Hollywood icon Bette Davis. Kelly's dress was created by costume designer Edith Head, and reportedly cost $4,000 (which made it the most expensive gown in Oscars history at the time). The dress, made of French satin, is just as stylish today as it was in 1955; it features double spaghetti straps, exquisite draping around the midsection, and a glamorous train.
Kelly wore the gown three times, which speaks to just how stunning the dress is; in addition to the 1955 Oscars, she wore it to "The Country Girl" premiere red carpet and a cover shoot for Life magazine. Kelly's dress has remained iconic ever since, with many best-dressed Oscars' lists including it as one of the greatest gowns of all time.
Many of Grace Kelly's looks were incredibly timeless
Grace Kelly, who had one of the most expensive celebrity engagement rings in the world, wore many outfits that would still be considered on-trend today. Kelly was a master of timeless dressing; in addition to her beautiful Oscars gown from 1955, the Hollywood star wore several outfits on and off-screen that had a timeless energy. Her 1956 lace wedding gown influenced bridal fashion for decades to come, with even Kate Middleton taking inspiration from the dress for her 2011 nuptials. In the 1955 Alfred Hitchcock film "To Catch A Thief," Kelly wore a stunning light blue gown that has been referenced many times in the 70 years since the film's release.
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The gown was designed by Edith Head, the costume designer behind Kelly's 1955 Oscars' dress. Underneath a dreamy blue chiffon cape, the timeless dress featured thin spaghetti straps, a draped bodice, and a flowy skirt. Like her Oscars dress, it is easy to picture Kelly's iconic "To Catch A Thief" gown on any red carpet today. In fact, dresses similar to Kelly's have appeared on red carpets as recently as July 2025; French designer Antoine Guerin put his own spin on Kelly's dress for Alexandra Laclerc, the wife of top Formula One driver Charles Leclerc. Kelly's fashion, largely due to Head's immense talent, has remained influential and cemented the film star's legacy.