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Where Fashion Lives: Celebrating 25 Years of Harper's BAZAAR Singapore
Where Fashion Lives: Celebrating 25 Years of Harper's BAZAAR Singapore
Where Fashion Lives: Celebrating 25 Years of Harper's BAZAAR Singapore
Fashion

The Sexiest Backless Gowns To Hit The Red Carpet Ever

On a white-tie red carpet full of princess gowns and cascading trains, sometimes, less really is more

kate hudson

By Harper’s Bazaar Singapore Team - published

On a white-tie red carpet full of princess gowns and cascading trains, sometimes, less really is more. Enter the backless gown; it's provocative without the overt sexiness of a low-cut gown or short hemline. Click through for the celebs who did it right through the years.

From: Harper's BAZAAR US

Rihanna (2014)

In Dolce & Gabbana at the Met Gala. Photo: Wireimage
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The Most Iconic Backless Gowns To Hit The Red Carpet

Princess Diana (1985)

In Catherine Walker at the Back to the Future premiere. Photo: Getty / Keystone
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The Most Iconic Backless Gowns To Hit The Red Carpet

Elizabeth Hurley (1999)

At the London premiere of Mickey Blue Eyes. Photo: Getty / Justin Goff
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The Most Iconic Backless Gowns To Hit The Red Carpet

Cate Blanchett (2000)

In Jean Paul Gaultier at the Academy Awards. Getty / Paul Fenton
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The Most Iconic Backless Gowns To Hit The Red Carpet

Kirsten Dunst (2000)

At the Bring It On premiere. Photo: Wireimage
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The Most Iconic Backless Gowns To Hit The Red Carpet

Halle Berry (2001)

At the Screen Actors Guild Awards. Photo: Wireimage
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The Most Iconic Backless Gowns To Hit The Red Carpet

Liv Tyler (2002)

In Donna Karan at the The Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers premiere. Photo: Wireimage
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The Most Iconic Backless Gowns To Hit The Red Carpet

Gwen Stefani (2004)

In Valentino At The Golden Globes After-Party. Photo: Beimages
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The Most Iconic Backless Gowns To Hit The Red Carpet

Charlize Theron (2004)

In Gucci At The Academy Awards. Photo: Getty / Jeff Haynes
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The Most Iconic Backless Gowns To Hit The Red Carpet

Laetitia Casta (2004)

At the Cannes Film Festival. Photo: Wireimage
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The Most Iconic Backless Gowns To Hit The Red Carpet

Naomi Campbell (2004)

At Usher's birthday party. Photo: Filmmagic
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The Most Iconic Backless Gowns To Hit The Red Carpet

Hilary Swank (2005)

In Guy Laroche at the Academy Awards. Photo: Wireimage
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The Most Iconic Backless Gowns To Hit The Red Carpet

Nicole Kidman (2005)

In Azarro at a Tribeca Film Festival after-party. Photo: Wireimage
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The Most Iconic Backless Gowns To Hit The Red Carpet

Gisele Bündchen (2008)

In Versace at the Met Gala. Photo: Filmmagic
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The Most Iconic Backless Gowns To Hit The Red Carpet

Sienna Miller (2008)

In Dior At The Baftas. Photo: Getty / Dave Hogan
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The Most Iconic Backless Gowns To Hit The Red Carpet

Penelope Cruz (2008)

In Chanel Couture At The Vicky Cristina Barcelonascreening At The Cannes Film Festival. Photo: Getty / Anne-Christine Poujoulat/Afp
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The Most Iconic Backless Gowns To Hit The Red Carpet

Jennifer Lopez (2009)

In Marchesa at the Golden Globes. Getty / Frazer Harrison
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The Most Iconic Backless Gowns To Hit The Red Carpet

Kate Hudson (2010)

In Pucci at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. Getty / Kevork Djansezian
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The Most Iconic Backless Gowns To Hit The Red Carpet

Taylor Swift (2010)

In KaufmanFranco at the Grammys. Photo: Getty
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The Most Iconic Backless Gowns To Hit The Red Carpet

Anne Hathaway (2011)

In Armani Privé at the Golden Globes. Photo: Getty / Jason Merritt
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The Most Iconic Backless Gowns To Hit The Red Carpet

Diane Kruger (2011)

In Vionnet at the Berlin Film Festival. Photo: Getty / Franziska Krug
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The Most Iconic Backless Gowns To Hit The Red Carpet

Emma Stone (2011)

In Calvin Klein at the Golden Globes. Photo: Getty / Jason Merritt
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The Most Iconic Backless Gowns To Hit The Red Carpet

Scarlett Johansson (2011)

In Dolce & Gabbana at the Oscars. Photo: Getty / Craig Barritt
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The Most Iconic Backless Gowns To Hit The Red Carpet

Rihanna (2012)

In Giorgio Armani at the Grammys. Photo: Jason Merritt
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The Most Iconic Backless Gowns To Hit The Red Carpet

Rooney Mara (2012)

In Givenchy at the Academy Awards. Photo: Wireimage
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The Most Iconic Backless Gowns To Hit The Red Carpet

Rose Byrne (2012)

In Vivienne Westwood at the Academy Awards. Photo: Wireimage
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The Most Iconic Backless Gowns To Hit The Red Carpet

Doutzen Kroes (2013)

In Calvin Klein at the Cannes Film Festival. Photo: Wireimage
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The Most Iconic Backless Gowns To Hit The Red Carpet

Marion Cotillard (2013)

In Dior at the The Immigrant premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. Photo: Getty / Vittorio Zunino Celotto
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The Most Iconic Backless Gowns To Hit The Red Carpet

Cara Delevingne (2014)

In Roberto Cavalli at the Cannes Film Festival. Photo: Getty
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The Most Iconic Backless Gowns To Hit The Red Carpet

Cate Blanchett (2014)

In Armani Privé at the Golden Globes. Photo: Everett
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The Most Iconic Backless Gowns To Hit The Red Carpet

Emma Watson (2014)

In Christian Dior at the Golden Globes. Photo: Getty / Frederic J. Brown
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Miranda Kerr (2014)

In Emilio Pucci at a Golden Globes after-party. Photo: Filmmagic
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The Most Iconic Backless Gowns To Hit The Red Carpet

Jessica Chastain (2014)

In Givenchy at the Interstellar premiere. Photo: Filmmagic
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The Most Iconic Backless Gowns To Hit The Red Carpet

Miranda Kerr (2014)

In KaufmanFranco at an Oscars after-party. Photo: Corbis / Byron Purvis
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CelebritiesRed Carpet
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