Halle Berry Reprises The Iconic Elie Saab Gown She Wore To The 2002 Academy Awards

Halle Berry holding her Best Actress Oscar in the pressroom at the 74th annual Academy Awards. (Photo by Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty Images)

As Hollywood counts down to the upcoming awards season with an array of starry cocktail parties celebrating the best in the film business, we can’t help but turn our attention to the iconic looks that previously graced the Oscars’ red carpet. But why look back at Academy Award fashion history when Halle Berry is reliving it for you?

Indeed, the 58-year-old reprised the gown she wore to accept her historic Best Actress award at the 2002 ceremony a mere 22 years after the original outing. Unlike Victoria Beckham, who recently re-wore her purple wedding dress for a photoshoot in celebration of the 25th anniversary of her and David’s marriage, Berry slipped back into the stunning drop-waist gown for an equally glamorous occasion: Elie Saab’s 1001 Seasons event.

Halle Berry (Photo by KMazur/WireImage)

The Lebanese-born designer toasted his 45th anniversary in Saudi Arabia with a dazzling display of craftsmanship and opulence. Given that one of Saab’s creations armoured Berry for one of the most significant evenings of her career, it was only fitting that she return the favour by stepping back into the piece to walk the runway. The gown itself features a sheer burgundy bodice featuring delicate leaf and floral motifs embroidered by hundreds of sequins before cascading into a satin train that gathered at her waist. The repeat may have come two decades later, but the moment was just as significant as when Berry became the first Black woman in history to ever take home the industry’s biggest accolade for her performance in Monster’s Ball.

 “There are some moments in life that just happen and they change our lives forever! Winning an Academy Award in my Elie Saab gown was one of those moments for me,” Berry wrote on social media, referencing her Oscar win. “Thank you Mr. Saab for being a part of the tapestry of my life as we have been inextricably connected for 22 years now,” she added.  “It was my honour to celebrate you and your 1001 Seasons. Here’s wishing you many more glorious years of joy, creativity and glamour!

TOPSHOT – US actress Halle Berry accepts her Oscar for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role during the 74th Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on 24 March 2002. (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP) (Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)

The lavish soirée also saw legendary French-Canadian singer Céline Dion take to the stage again after her emotional show at the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony. Jennifer Lopez also delivered a dramatic, cabaret-inspired performance. Of course, Lopez herself is no stranger to reprising memorable outfits. As you may recall, Lopez modelled a reimagined version of the Versace jungle gown that she wore to the 2000 Grammys for the Italian luxuriates Spring/Summer 2020 show during Milan Fashion Week in September 2019.

Given that donning vintage or archival pieces on red carpets has become the trend du jour, (see: Sydney Sweeney in Angelina Jolie’s Oscars dress for the 2024 Vanity Fair After Party), we would like to think this isn’t the last time we see this gown in action. To quote the singer, we’ve dreamed of this night for so long…

Watch Halle Berry’s breathtaking walk, below.