Halle Berry Rewinds Time In Her Legendary 2002 Oscars Gown — More Than Two Decades After Making History
Some fashion moments are unforgettable, but only a handful achieve legendary status. Think Audrey Hepburn’s timeless Breakfast at Tiffany’s dress or Jennifer Lopez’s gravity-defying Versace number. Then there’s Halle Berry and the dress.
You know the one—the sheer, floral-appliquéd Elie Saab gown that turned heads and dropped jaws at the 2002 Oscars. Berry wasn’t just making a style statement that night; she was rewriting history as the first Black woman to win the Best Actress Oscar for her role in Monster’s Ball. That moment wasn’t just a win for her—it was a seismic shift for Hollywood.
Fast forward 22 years, and just when we thought the iconic gown couldn’t possibly have another moment, Halle proved us wrong. With grace and a healthy dose of nostalgia, she stepped out in the same dress, looking as radiant as she did back then.
The occasion was Elie Saab’s 45th-anniversary celebration in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, aptly titled "1001 Seasons of Elie Saab."
As Berry shared on Instagram, her connection with Saab goes beyond fabric and stitching;
There are some moments in life that just happen and they change our lives foreverj! Winning an Academy Award in my @eliesaabworld gown was one of those moments for me! Thank you Mr. Saab for being a part of the tapestry of my life as we have been inextricably connected for 22 years now! It was my honor to celebrate you and your 1001 Seasons.
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A dazzling lineup of icons—including Camila Cabello, Celine Dion, Jennifer Lopez, Halle Berry, and the man of the hour himself, Elie Saab—gathered to celebrate the designer's legacy in style.
COURTESY ELIE SAABThe mesh bodice, adorned with floral appliqués, and the silky, asymmetric skirt looked as timeless as the night she first wore it. Complementing the gown with oversized gemstone earrings and a sleek top knot,
Winning an Academy Award in an Elie Saab gown was the highlight of Halle’s night
Halle Berry then (2002) vs. now (2024)
SGRANITZ/WIREIMAGE; COURTESY ELIE SAABReflecting on her breakthrough moment, the Catwoman star told InStyle in 2023 that a simple haircut transformed everything: “I think that was because the directors and producers actually saw me.”
Sharing the story as part of the magazine’s 25th Anniversary Issue, she added, “Before that, I had long hair like every other girl like me. When I got this haircut, I felt like my best self.” Sometimes, all it takes is one bold change to turn heads—and careers.
Halle Berry stepping out at the 2002 Oscars.
SGRANITZ/WIREIMAGEAlso in 2023, Berry shared that the Elie Saab gown from her historic Oscars win had found a new home at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles, where it represented a piece of Hollywood history.
Still as elegant as ever
FRANK MICELOTTA/GETTY"This moment is so much bigger than me," Berry said in her emotional 2002 acceptance speech. "This moment is for Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, Diahann Carroll. It's for the women that stand beside me, Jada Pinkett, Angela Bassett, Vivica Fox. And it's for every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance because this door tonight now has been opened."
So, here’s to Halle Berry, to Elie Saab, and to the timelessness of both style and substance. Some things, much like Berry herself, only get better with age.
