STYLE EVOLUTION

Frances McDormand Has Always Taken Risks on the Red Carpet

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Frances McDormand smoking a cigarette and holding her Oscar
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Frances McDormand has won three BAFTAs, two Emmys, a Tony, and two Oscars, and this year, with her Best Actress nomination for Nomadland, she might receive a third. The actress has never seemed motivated by the pomp and circumstance of awards season, and when it comes to her appearance on the red carpet, her go-to looks over the years can best be described as devil-may-care. McDormand has worked steadily over the years, appearing in Fargo, Olive Kitteridge, and Burn After Reading, but she experienced a bit of a renaissance a few years ago, when she starred in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri in 2017, and implored everyone attending the 2018 Oscars to incorporate inclusion riders in their Hollywood contracts. That year, McDormand was invited seemingly everywhere, and appeared to have stepped up her style game for the ceremonies, too. She showed up at the Met Gala in 2018 (wearing Valentino Couture) for the “Heavenly Bodies” event and wore custom Valentino Birkenstocks at the 2019 Oscars. Every time McDormand arrives on the scene, it’s clear that even if she were to wear something elegant and ornate, her whimsical personality and penchant for comfort will always peek through.

2021: The Academy Awards
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Frances McDormand, wearing Valentino, poses with fellow Oscar winner Yuh-Jung Youn at the 93rd Academy Awards on April 24, 2021.

2019: Rome Film Festival
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Frances McDormand walks a red carpet during the 14th Rome Film Festival on October 19, 2019 in Rome, Italy.

2019: The Academy Awards
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Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell speak onstage during the 91st Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on February 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California.

2018: Women In Film Crystal + Lucy Awards
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Frances McDormand speaks onstage during the Women In Film 2018 Crystal + Lucy Awards presented by Max Mara, Lancôme and Lexus at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on June 13, 2018 in Beverly Hills, California.

2018: The Met Gala
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Frances McDormand attends the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 7, 2018 in New York City.

2019: The Academy Awards
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Frances McDormand accepts Best Actress for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri onstage during the 90th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center on March 4, 2018 in Hollywood, California.

2018: BAFTAs
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Frances McDormand, winner of the Best Actress award for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, poses in the press room during the EE British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) held at Royal Albert Hall on February 18, 2018 in London, England.

2017: Venice Film Festival
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Frances McDormand attends the premiere of Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri presented in competition at the 74th Venice Film Festival on September 4, 2017 at Venice Lido.

2017: Venice Film Festival
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Frances McDormand attends the photocall of Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri presented in competition at the 74th Venice Film Festival on September 4, 2017 at Venice Lido.

2014: Venice Film Festival
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Frances McDormand attends the Olive Kitteridge Parts 3-4 premiere during the 71st Venice Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 1, 2014 in Venice, Italy.

2014: Venice Film Festival
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Frances McDormand attends the Olive Kitteridge Parts 1-2 premiere during the 71st Venice Film Festival at Sala Grande on September 1, 2014 in Venice, Italy.

2011: San Sebastian International Film Festival
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Frances McDormand attends Intruders premiere at the Kursaal Palace during the 59th San Sebastian International Film Festival on September 16, 2011 in San Sebastian, Spain.

2001: The Academy Awards
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Frances McDormand during The 73rd Annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles on March 25, 2001.

2001: Academy Awards Luncheon

Frances McDormand poses as she arrives at the Academy Awards nominees luncheon in Beverly Hills on March 12, 2001.

1998: The Academy Awards
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Frances McDormand during The 70th Annual Academy Awards in 1998.

1997: The Academy Awards
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Frances McDormand holding her Best Actress Oscar for Fargo at the 69th Annual Academy Awards in 1997.

1997: Blockbuster Entertainment Awards
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Frances McDormand during 3rd Annual Blockbuster Entertainment Awards at The Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles, California, United States.

1987: D.W. Griffith Awards
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Frances McDormand at the D.W. Griffith Awards on February 27, 1987.

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