Nicole Kidman’s Red Carpet Risks Always Pay Off

Who needs a shirt with a suit this good? For the season two premiere of Nine Perfect Strangers, Kidman made a bold statement in a sparkly men’s jacket and dress pants from Haider Ackermann’s Tom Ford collection.

While Kidman’s micro-bob at the 2025 Met Gala was later revealed to be a wig, it paired elegantly with the drop-waist Balenciaga couture number she wore on the museum’s steps.

The actor loves a dramatic gown, but she leaned into office suiting at the 2025 Critics’ Choice Awards in a full-on power suit from Saint Laurent.

Kidman’s Balenciaga dress at the 2025 Golden Globes was all about the back—or, more specifically, the lack thereof.

For the Babygirl premiere, the actor slipped into a stunning Balenciaga look that referenced the brand’s 1960s couture archives.

Kidman went the vintage route for her 2024 Gotham Awards look, picking out this floral number from Dolce & Gabbana’s fall 1998 collection.

Kidman dazzled at the 2024 Governors Awards in a draped Celine by Hedi Slimane gown with thigh-high slit and shoulder cutouts.

Kidman, wearing a sheer Boho dress by Dolce & Gabbana, brought back her signature ’90s curls for the Spellbound premiere.

In a black Balenciaga gown and matching opera gloves, the actor went for classic Hollywood glamour at the 2024 Academy Museum Gala.

Kidman’s sparkly Ferragamo look nearly plunged to her navel when she stepped out to the 2024 The Perfect Couple premiere.

For the Venice premiere of her erotic thriller Babygirl, Kidman made quite the red carpet statement. She picked out an off-the-runway Schiaparelli dress that featured a sculptural chandelier bodice.

The actor shut down the 2024 Met Gala red carpet in this archival-inspired Balenciaga couture gown.

Kidman lit up the red carpet of the 2024 AFI Lifetime Achievement Award Gala in a fully sequined Balenciaga design.

Va-va-voom is right. Kidman brought the heat for the New York City premiere of Expats in a backless custom Versace dress that featured a pretty hefty side slit.

Naked dressing doesn’t have to be raunchy—as evidenced here by Kidman’s demure Fendi couture dress that she slipped into for an Expats screening.

For an Omega event in New York City, Kidman provided an extremely elegant twist on the bow trend with a monochrome Balenciaga look.

Kidman literally hit all the right notes at the 2023 Country Music Awards with this cut-out Coperni dress complete with a percussion instrument that doubled as a closure.

Kidman topped off her Balenciaga bow dress with one big ribbon across her waist during the 2023 Kering Caring For Women Dinner.

Kidman flashed a bit of skin at the Special Ops: Lioness premiere in a black Saint Laurent dress that she matched with sheer opera gloves.

While supporting hubby Keith Urban at the 58th Academy of Country Music Awards, Kidman put a daring spin on Chanel’s classic tweed suiting with a bedazzled burnt orange version. She opted to let the jacket take center stage by not wearing a shirt underneath.

Kidman pulled off what may have been on the biggest fashion swerves in Met Gala history at the 2023 edition honoring the legacy of the late Karl Lagerfeld. She showed up in a custom Chanel Couture gown that Lagerfeld had designed specifically for her to wear in her iconic Chanel No. 5 commercial.

Kidman opted for a leg-baring Giorgio Armani Privé gown at the 2023 Academy Awards.

Kidman opted for Prada at the premiere of her film The Northman, but the particular shade of chartreuse couldn’t help but conjure images of a particularly famous Dior dress she wore to the 1997 Oscars that’s waiting for you down below.

At the 2022 Oscars, Kidman again wore Armani Privé and had the dress custom dyed in a specific shade of delicate blue. “I was like, ‘I really want to wear blue.’ So this was the color; They made this color,” she told E! News.

Kidman looked gorgeous in this Saint Laurent column dress with long sleeves and a collar detail.

For the third premiere of Being the Ricardos, Kidman went for a more festive look in a patterned, Etro dress.

Kidman went full Hollywood glam for the LA premiere of Being the Ricardos in a taupe tulle ballgown from Armani Privé.

Kidman wore a vintage-inspired Chanel fall/winter 2021/22 couture dress for the first Being the Ricardos premiere in December 2021.

Supporting husband Keith Urban at the 55th annual Country Music Association Awards.

Kidman wore a jaw-dropping red Atelier Versace gown paired with simple jewelry and a gold bag at the 2020 Golden Globes.

The actor chose an old favorite in a black strapless Armani Privé gown for the Critics Choice Awards in 2020.

Old Hollywood glam at the 2020 SAG Awards.

A feather and sequin one-two punch at HBO's Big Little Lies season 2 premiere in New York, 2019.

Although Kidman’s Armani Privé gown turned heads at the 2018 SAG Awards, it was her acceptance speech imploring Hollywood to support women’s stories in films that made headlines that year.

In an Armani Privé showstopper at the 2018 Oscars.

Never one to shy away from a daring look, Kidman wore lacy Off-White at the 2017 CMT awards in Nashville.

Taking Oscar de la Renta to the next level at the 2017 CFDA Fashion Awards.

The actor is a favorite over at Michael Kors, which she wore to The Beguiled screening during the Cannes Film Festival in 2017.

Kidman opted for a floral Alexander McQueen gown at the 52nd Academy of Country Music Awards in 2017.

A Gucci moment, sequined parrots and all, at the 2017 SAG Awards.

The Australian went for drama in Alexander McQueen at the 2017 Golden Globe Awards.

A standout sequin dress at the 2015 Academy Awards.

A princess moment at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival.

Skintight Versace at the 2012 Golden Globes.

Ornate ruffles at the 2011 Grammy Awards.

Strapless and structured at the Academy Awards in 2011.

A slightly goth look at the 2011 SAG Awards.

Pale yellow sequins at the 2011 Golden Globe Awards.

Kidman shows black doesn’t equal basic by layering on diamond necklaces at the Academy Awards in Hollywood, California on February 24, 2008.

At the 62nd Annual Golden Globe awards in 2005, Kidman wore Gucci in a daring teal hue, which was offset with peacock feather accents.

For the 76th Annual Academy Awards in 2004, Kidman went for icy blue and strapless.

Taking home Oscar gold in 2003 wearing an asymmetrical black gown by Jean Paul Gaultier.

Later that year, Kidman selected Tom Ford for Gucci at one of her many Met Gala appearances.

More ruffles, this time in a lovely lavender hue, in 2003.

Kidman was an early adopter of the formal choker, wearing a black version to the Golden Globes in 2002.

A golden goddess moment in cascading metallic ruffles and matching fingerless gloves—one of her famed Dior looks from the 2000 Oscars.

Baring her midriff at the premiere of Eyes Wide Shut in Los Angeles, 1999.

The actor stunned in John Galliano for Dior at the 1997 Academy Awards.

Accepting her Golden Globe in a slightly bridal strapless gown in 1996.

Kidman donned shimmering sequins for the Batman Forever Los Angeles premiere in 1995.