This '90s Sharon Stone Outfit Was Controversial At The Time, But Now It's Legendary

Breaking style rules on the red carpet has fast become a trend, with celebrities serving headline-making looks like Kim Kardashian's wet-look gown, Rihanna's Pope-inspired ensemble, and Lady Gaga's meat dress – one of Lady Gaga's most over-the-top outfits of all time. In fact, if you're not method dressing or making some kind of bold statement at the Oscars or the Met Gala, you're sure to get overlooked or labeled boring. There was a time, however, when celebrities followed strict style guidelines at these prestigious events. Then came rule-breaking '90s screen icon Sharon Stone – one of the pioneers to challenge traditional red carpet dress codes – who raised eyebrows in an unconventional high-low style combo that didn't sit well with critics at the time.

Donning a gender-fluid ensemble at the 70th Academy Awards in 1998, Stone turned heads when she arrived in a crisp white button-down Gap shirt paired with a floor-length, ruched satin Vera Wang skirt. The oversized blouse with its collar propped and sleeves rolled up was unbuttoned to the waist, just where it was tucked into the high-waist skirt. At the time, the "Basic Instinct" actor's look was deemed inappropriate for such a glamorous event. Over the years, however, the chic, high-low ensemble has become widely regarded as one of the most memorable fashion moments in history. The outfit completely redefined red carpet etiquette by embracing a fashion-forward gender-fusion aesthetic.

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Stone had always marched to the beat of her own drum when it came to style, taking risks in risqué illusion-detailed designs and leaving lasting impressions with theatrical concept dressing. Few would have expected her understated Oscars outfit to become such a controversial look, much less a legendary red carpet moment.

Stone's Oscars outfit has resonated with fellow celebrities over the last two decades, so much so that many have recreated the look. Such was the case at the 2022 Oscars, when "Euphoria" star Zendaya wore a custom Valentino ensemble, pairing a white satin cropped shirt with a floor-length silver sequined skirt featuring a train — part of Zendaya's jaw-dropping style transformation. Media outlets were quick to draw comparisons to Stone's iconic high-low look, celebrating the refashioned ensemble as an homage to her era-defining 1998 Oscars moment.

Katie Holmes was another star to revive Stone's legendary red carpet formula while attending the Brunello: The Gracious Visionary gala screening in 2026. Her interpretation was slightly closer in likeness to the original getup. While the "Dawson's Creek" star paired a minimalist white buttoned-up shirt and a glitzy gray embroidered maxi skirt, she styled the pieces differently. Unbuttoned halfway down, the shirt slouched over one shoulder, creating an asymmetrical silhouette, while the sleeves remained fully extended. Despite the subtle styling differences, the outfit still captured the essence of Stone's iconic '90s fashion moment.

A close comparison also came from Julia Roberts back in 2014 at the Golden Globes, when she wore a black Dolce & Gabbana gown designed with a sewn-in white shirt detail. Though the look didn't exactly land her on the best-dressed lists, it immediately brought back memories of Stone's infamous Gap and Vera Wang ensemble, proving just how influential the '90s red carpet moment had become years later.