The list of celebrity fashion mishaps is seemingly endless. Every entertainment news broadcast spends hours before, during, and after awards ceremonies discussing, praising, and critiquing the wardrobe choice of celebrities. Magazines feature lists upon lists of worst dressed celebrities, from casual to formal. Even with such a long list of celebrity fashion failures, there are a few that stand out from the crowd, earning a spot in the top 5 worst fashion disasters.
Björk: At the 71st Annual Academy Awards in 2001, Björk was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Björk arrived at the Academy Awards dressed in what would become known as the “swan dress”. The dress certainly fit Björk’s quirky personality and creative edge, but it wasn’t quite Oscar material. Ellen DeGeneres wore a similar dress in jest at the Emmy Awards later that year. If imitation is indeed the sincerest form of flattery, then Björk ‘s infamous swan dress may not deserve a place on this list. Unfortunately, in Björk’s case, imitation is merely mockery, even if in good taste.
Lara Flynn Boyle: Actress Lara Flynn Boyle arrived at the 2003 Golden Globe Awards dressed as a ballerina. I use the term “ballerina” lightly. To compare Boyle with a ballerina, is actually pretty offensive to ballerinas. After all, a ballerina is the definition of style and grace. Her ensemble looked more like it was suited for an after hours halloween party than a formal awards show. If that was the look she was going for, she certainly succeeded.
Gwyneth Paltrow: In 2002, the usually impeccably dressed Gwyneth Paltrow, appeared at the Academy Awards wearing a goth inspired look. What made this ensemble all the more shocking, was how sharp a departure it was to her awe inspiring dress a few short years earlier, in 1999, when she won an Academy Award for her performance in Shakespeare in Love. Perhaps she was trying to channel her darker side, but a little advance warning that a dark side existed would’ve been nice. Also, a venue other than the Academy Awards may have been a better place to debut such a look.
Cher: While this red carpet blunder happened over a decade ago, Cher wore what can only be described as “Las Vegas Showgirl Sheek” to the 1986 Academy Awards. Unlike Gwyneth, it was a look that wasn’t exactly out of the ordinary for Cher. In fact, if there was anyone at the time that stood a chance of pulling this look off, it was Cher. If there were any decade outside of the 70’s where this look stood a chance, it was the 80’s. And still, even Cher, and even in 1986, this ensemble is a spectacular failure.
Rose McGowan: When Actress Rose McGowan showed up at the MTV VMA Awards in 1998 with then boyfriend Marilyn Manson, her “dress” left little to the imagination. Actually, it left nothing to the imagination. It takes talent to stand out at a music awards show, where stars are often dressed quirky and risque. Congratulations are in order, because the only thing that could top this look would be to show up wearing absolutely nothing.
Everyone makes mistakes, especially when it comes to fashion. When you’re a celebrity, every wardrobe choice is subject to public scrutiny. The celebrities on this list, from Björk to Rose to Gwyneth, have one thing in common- their fashion mishaps weren’t merely disasters- they were a strange combination of bizarre and absurd.
