The Best Chanel Red Carpet Looks of All Time

Click through to see the best Chanel red carpet looks of all time.

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As fashion editors, there’s nothing that excites us more than wearable art (read: clothes). It’s why we live for fashion week , choose our OOTD as if it were a sacred ritual, and get giddy at the mere mention of our favorite brands. At the top of that list? Chanel. The French luxury fashion house is visionary and with a legacy of couture creations that make up some of the most iconic red carpet moments of the millennium. To prove it to you, we’ve rounded up 37 of the brand’s most iconic red carpet looks as worn by our favorite celebrities.

01

of 37

Margot Robbie – 2023

Margot Robbie wearing a striped pink Chanel gown with halter neck
Margot Robbie wearing a striped pink Chanel gown with halter neck

Kevin Mazur / Getty Images

Best Actress nominee Margot Robbie made a splash at the 80th Annual Golden Globes in this custom dress from Chanel’s Fall-Winter 2022/23 Haute Couture collection.

02

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Michelle Yeoh – 2023

Michelle Yeoh in a bouclé tweed Chanel suit
Michelle Yeoh in a bouclé tweed Chanel suit

JC Olivera / Getty Images

Golden Globe winner Michelle Yeoh was the picture of sophistication wearing this classic bouclé tweed suit to the 95th Annual Oscars Nominees Luncheon at The Beverly Hilton.

03

of 37

Penelope Cruz – 2022

Penelope Cruz in a black Chanel dress, bag, and shoes
Penelope Cruz in a black Chanel dress, bag, and shoes

Stephane Cardinale – Corbis / Getty Images

Penelope Cruz attended the L’Immensita photocall in Paris decked out in a bouclé dress from Chanel’s Spring 2023 collection.

04

of 37

Janelle Monae – 2019

Janelle Monae in a regal Chanel gown at the Golden Globes After Party 2019
Janelle Monae in a regal Chanel gown at the Golden Globes After Party 2019

Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images

Janelle Monae looked like a modern-day Cleopatra (is that a crown we spot atop her head?) at the 2019 Golden Globes after-party. Taking inspiration from Ancient Greece when designing Chanel’s 2019 Pre-Fall collection — from which Monae’s outfit hails — Lagerfeld reinvented the kalasiris, a long linen dress, for the 21st-century.

05

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Tessa Thompson -2019

Tessa Thompson in a tiered black Chanel gown with gold detailing
Tessa Thompson in a tiered black Chanel gown with gold detailing

Steve Granitz / WireImage

Tessa Thompson is always a sight to be seen and her arrival at the 91st Annual Academy Awards was no exception. Her Chanel haute couture gown from the brand’s Spring/Summer 2019 collection made her the Best Dressed presenter of the night.

06

of 37

Keira Knightley – 2018

Keira Knightly wearing a white Chanel dress with feathers
Keira Knightly wearing a white Chanel dress with feathers

Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

English rose Keira Knightly dazzled at the premiere of Colette in this white Chanel number that feels both elegant and flirtatious.

07

of 37

Penelope Cruz – 2018

Penelope Cruz in a white Chanel gown with feather at the 70th Emmy Awards
Penelope Cruz in a white Chanel gown with feather at the 70th Emmy Awards

Steve Granitz/Getty Images

If Chanel ever dreamed up a haute couture princess, Penelope Cruz would be it. This gray silk tulle dress complete with bead and feather details, which she wore to the 70th Annual Emmys, is straight out of a fairytale.

08

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Keira Knightley – 2018

Keira Knightly in a Chanel gaucho tuxedo at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival
Keira Knightly in a Chanel gaucho tuxedo at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival

C Flanigan/Getty Images

Gowns can be so overrated — or so we thought upon seeing Keira Knightley at the Sundance Film Festival where she nailed menswear. Her gorgeous black velvet gaucho tuxedo is one for the books.

09

of 37

Marion Cotillard – 2018

Marion Cotillard in a strapless tiered Chanel dress at the 71st Annual Cannes Film Festival
Marion Cotillard in a strapless tiered Chanel dress at the 71st Annual Cannes Film Festival

Tony Barson/Getty Images

Academy-award-winning actress — and Chanel brand ambassador — Marion Cotillard was a vision at Cannes, wearing this tiered haute couture confection to the premiere of Sink Or Swim (Le Grand Bain).

10

of 37

Penelope Cruz – 2018

Penelope Cruz in a Chanel black sheer gown with feathers at Cannes
Penelope Cruz in a Chanel black sheer gown with feathers at Cannes

Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

The year was 2018 when Penelope Cruz wowed us in vintage 1996 Chanel. Everything about the haute couture gown — from its sheer lace details to its feathered accents, to its moody color — made her red carpet royalty at Cannes.

11

of 37

Yara Shahidi – 2018

Yara Shahidi in a white Chanel gown with beading and tiered skirt
Yara Shahidi in a white Chanel gown with beading and tiered skirt

Andrew Toth / Getty Images

At the Met Gala’s “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” edition, Yara Shahidi played up the three T’s: tulle, tiers, and tea-length.

12

of 37

Margot Robbie – 2018

Margot Robbie in a white Chanel column dress at the 90th Annual Academy Awards
Margot Robbie in a white Chanel column dress at the 90th Annual Academy Awards

Dan MacMedan/Getty Images

Best Actress nominee for I, Tonya, Margot Robbie, embodied the Chanel aesthetic with her chic bob and of course, simple yet elegant custom column gown with off-the-shoulder straps.

13

of 37

Tracee Ellis Ross – 2017

Tracee Ellis Ross wearing a shimmery belted Chanel gown with a feathered bottom
Tracee Ellis Ross wearing a shimmery belted Chanel gown with a feathered bottom

Gregg DeGuire / Getty Images

At the 70th Annual Emmys, Tracee Ellis Ross proved that more is more. Her haute couture dress took 1,300 hours to embroider and came with 170,000 adornments, including crystal beaded flowers, silver mirrors, and even hand-painted feathers.

14

of 37

Emma Stone – 2017

Emma Stone in a low-cut Chanel dress and slacks at the 2017 Baftas
Emma Stone in a low-cut Chanel dress and slacks at the 2017 Baftas

Barcroft Media/Getty Images

Never have we seen a dress-and-pants combo look as debonair as when Emma Stone wore this Spring/Summer 2017 Haute Couture set to the BAFTAs.

15

of 37

Kristen Stewart – 2017

Kristen Stewart with a blonde buzzcut and wearing a high-neck sparkly Chanel gown
Kristen Stewart with a blonde buzzcut and wearing a high-neck sparkly Chanel gown

Mark Sagliocco/Getty Images

Taken from the Paris Cosmopolite 2016/17 Métiers d’Art collection, Kristen Stewart wore this stunning Chanel gown to the New York premiere of Personal Shopper.

16

of 37

Elle Fanning – 2016

Elle Fanning in a short, tiered, Chanel dress with black bow at the 69th Annual Cannes Film Festival
Elle Fanning in a short, tiered, Chanel dress with black bow at the 69th Annual Cannes Film Festival

Laurent KOFFEL/Getty Images

At Cannes, Elle Fanning oozed romance in this black and white number complete with tiered lace and a giant satin bow.

17

of 37

Chloë Sevigny – 2016

Chloe Sevigny in a white strapless Chanel dress at Cannes
Chloe Sevigny in a white strapless Chanel dress at Cannes

Samir Hussein/Getty Images

Forever It-girl Chloë Sevigny owned the Cannes red carpet in this fun LWD.

18

of 37

Julianne Moore – 2015

Julianne Moore in a strapless, white Chanel gown at the 87th Annual Academy Awards
Julianne Moore in a strapless, white Chanel gown at the 87th Annual Academy Awards

Dan MacMedan/Getty Images

Not only is Julianne Moore a talented actress but she’s also an impeccable dresser. Exhibit A: this iridescent haute couture dress custom-made by Karl Lagerfeld, Moore wore to the 87th Annual Oscars.

19

of 37

Blake Lively – 2014

Blake Lively in a sheer, iridescent Chanel dress at the 67th Annual Cannes Film Festival
Blake Lively in a sheer, iridescent Chanel dress at the 67th Annual Cannes Film Festival

Jean Catuffe/Getty Images

Before holographic makeup, there was Blake Lively’s holographic dress, which simply lit up the Cannes red carpet.

20

of 37

Karlie Kloss – 2014

Karlie Kloss wearing a black and silver Chanel dress with wavy designs
Karlie Kloss wearing a black and silver Chanel dress with wavy designs

Pascal Le Segretain/amfAR14/Getty Images

At the amfAR gala, Karlie Kloss’s black and silver dress with wavy beaded designs felt like a flapper girl reimagined.

21

of 37

Keira Knightley – 2012

Keira Knightly wearing a romantic belted Chanel dress to the Anna Karenina Premiere
Keira Knightly wearing a romantic belted Chanel dress to the Anna Karenina Premiere

John Phillips/Getty Images

Keira Knightly surprised and delighted us at the London premiere of Anna Karenina wearing this embellished tulle gown with a striking silver belt.

22

of 37

Nicole Kidman – 2013

Nicole Kidman in a white Chanel dress with black detailing
Nicole Kidman in a white Chanel dress with black detailing

Tony Barson/Getty Images

If you’re looking to make a statement, black and white might not be the first color combo you reach. However, for Nicole Kidman, it’s chef’s kiss.

23

of 37

Diane Kruger – 2013

Diane Kruger in a strapless black Chanel dress with a colorful design
Diane Kruger in a strapless black Chanel dress with a colorful design

Fernanda Calfat/Getty Images

At the Chanel Little Black Jacket event, the classic LBD gets a major upgrade with nothing more than a splatter of colorful floral designs — not to mention, Diane Kruger as its model.

24

of 37

Kirsten Dunst – 2013

Kirsten Dunst in a high-neck black Chanel dress with white detailing at Cannes
Kirsten Dunst in a high-neck black Chanel dress with white detailing at Cannes

Tony Barson/Getty Images

At the Cannes premiere of Inside Llewyn Davis.

25

of 37

Michelle Williams – 2011

Michelle Williams in a beaded, sheer, Chanel gown at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards
Michelle Williams in a beaded, sheer, Chanel gown at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards

Steve Granitz/Getty Images

At the Oscars.

26

of 37

Blake Lively – 2011

Blake Lively in a white, sheer, floral embellished Chanel dress
Blake Lively in a white, sheer, floral embellished Chanel dress

Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images

At the premiere of Green Lantern.

27

of 37

Kirsten Dunst – 2011

Kirsten Dunst in a Chanel dress with metallic silver top and ruffled tulle skirt
Kirsten Dunst in a Chanel dress with metallic silver top and ruffled tulle skirt

Anthony Harvey/Getty Images

At the 2011 Cannes closing ceremony.

28

of 37

Blake Lively – 2011

Blake Lively in a sheer Chanel gown with drape and metallic details at the Met Gala
Blake Lively in a sheer Chanel gown with drape and metallic details at the Met Gala

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images

Blake Lively’s Met Gala sheer number at the “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty” Met Gala was a head turner.

29

of 37

Diane Kruger – 2010

Diane Kruger in a black and white Chanel dress at the 82nd Annual Academy Awards
Diane Kruger in a black and white Chanel dress at the 82nd Annual Academy Awards

Brian To/Getty Images

At the 2010 Academy Awards.

30

of 37

Sarah Jessica Parker – 2010

Sarah Jessica Parker in a strapless Chanel column gown with neck scarf at the 82nd Annual Academy Awards
Sarah Jessica Parker in a strapless Chanel column gown with neck scarf at the 82nd Annual Academy Awards

Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images

At the 2010 Oscars.

31

of 37

Chloe Sevigny – 2010

Chloe Sevigny in a black and white Chanel top and pants
Chloe Sevigny in a black and white Chanel top and pants

Jeff Vespa/Getty Images

At “The Artist’s Museum Happening” MOCA Los Angeles Gala.

32

of 37

Blake Lively – 2010

Blake Lively in a deep red, fitted Chanel dress
Blake Lively in a deep red, fitted Chanel dress

George Pimentel/Getty Images

At the Toronto International Film Festival premiere of The Town in 2010.

33

of 37

Cate Blanchett – 2007

Cate Blanchett in an off-the-shoulder black lace Chanel mullet dress
Cate Blanchett in an off-the-shoulder black lace Chanel mullet dress

Patrick McMullan/Getty Images

At the Golden Globes.

34

of 37

Nicole Kidman – 2004

Nicole Kidman in a strapless sea green Chanel mermaid gown at the 76th Annual Academy Awards
Nicole Kidman in a strapless sea green Chanel mermaid gown at the 76th Annual Academy Awards

Jeffrey Mayer/Getty Images

At the Academy Awards.

35

of 37

Jennifer Aniston – 2004

Jennifer Aniston wearing a strapless white and gold Chanel dress to the Emmys
Jennifer Aniston wearing a strapless white and gold Chanel dress to the Emmys

Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

At the 2004 Emmys.

36

of 37

Sarah Jessica Parker – 2003

Sarah Jessica Parker in a strapless, ruched, Chanel dress at the Emmys
Sarah Jessica Parker in a strapless, ruched, Chanel dress at the Emmys

Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images

SJP at the Emmys.

37

of 37

Jennifer Lopez – 2001

Jennifer Lopez in a Chanel Haute Couture gown at the 2001 Oscars
Jennifer Lopez in a Chanel Haute Couture gown at the 2001 Oscars

SGranitz / WireImage

JLo during The 73rd Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles.