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The red carpet was made for stars like Penélope Cruz. When you hear that Cruz is going to step out onto the red carpet, there are one of two things you can expect. She’ll either rock something from Chanel (since she has been one of their most iconic It-girls), and/or she’ll arrive in a dramatic ballgown that makes everyone do a double take.

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With someone who’s a best-dressed veteran like herself, you know she’ll always arrive at an event in something we can’t take our eyes off of. She’s a natural it-girl, and it-girls always have a knack for incredible fashion. In a previous interview with Interview Magazine, the Vicky Cristina Barcelona star gushed about her love for fashion, simply saying, “I love fashion and fashion photography!”

Check out Cruz’s best red carpet moments throughout the years below:

• Met Gala (2024)

  

  Penélope Cruz put her spin on the 2024 Met Gala theme, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” in a show-stopping Chanel look.

• SAG Awards (2024)

  

  Penélope Cruz looked stunning in this black, sparkling blue Chanel gown for the 2024 SAG Awards.

• Goya Awards (2024)

  

  For the 2024 Goya Awards, Penélope Cruz turned every single head in this floral Chanel gown, which showed a classic silhouette and a sheer black tulle train. 

• Governors Awards (2024)

  

  Penélope Cruz looked like an ethereal princess in this white, ruffled Chanel gown at the 14th Governors Awards.

• Met Gala (2023)

  

  Along with acting as one of the co-chairs of the 2023 Met Gala, Penélope Cruz wowed in this sparkling white Chanel ballgown.

• Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre Launch (2023)

  

  Cruz took everyone’s breath away in this custom baby pink Tamara Ralph dress!

• Goya Cinema Awards (2023)

  

  For the most recent Goya Awards, Cruz donned this dramatic ruffled and lace black Dolce & Gabbana ballgown.

• ‘L’Immensita’ Photocall (2023)

  

  Cruz was the pinnacle of preppy chic in this black Chanel dress suit for the L’Immensita photocall.

• Cannes Film Festival (2022)

  

  Who could forget this pink, sparkling leaf-patterned Chanel gown?!

• Tribeca Film Festival Chanel Arts Dinner (2022)

  

  Cruz perfectly captured the essence of the Barbiecore trend in this flowing Chanel ensemble.

• Venice International Film Festival (2022)

  

  Not only did this Chanel look bring the gold and black color palette, but it brought the sparkle. We’re obsessed!

• Venice International Film Festival (2022)

  

  Cruz continued her Chanel streak with this hypnotic black gown that featured delicate black tulle ruffles and clustered white crystals.

• Annual Academy Awards (2022)

  

  All eyes were on Cruz when she stepped out in this puffy, dramatic black backless Chanel gown.

• Santa Barbara International Festival (2022)

  

  For the Santa Barbara International Festival, Cruz turned every single head in this ruched, maroon and black caped look from Chanel.

• ‘Competencia Oficial’ Premiere (2022)

  

  Something about Cruz and Chanel is just magical, much like this monochromatic swirled gown she wore at the Competencia Oficial premiere.

• Goya Cinema Awards (2022)

  

  Move over Cinderella, because Cruz in this ruffled, sparkling lilac ballgown from Chanel is the true belle of the ball!

• San Sebastian International Film Festival (2022)

  

  Even though Cruz typically opts for the more dramatic gowns for the red carpet, this black Chanel ensemble truly turned heads the same way!

• MoMA Film Benefit (2021)

  

  This scoop-necked, vibrant red Chanel gown from the MoMA Film Benefit in 2021 is the definition of dreamy.

• Venice International Film Festival (2021)

  

  Cruz combined her love for a monochromatic palette and her love for ballgowns all in this unique Chanel ballgown back in 2021 at the 78th Venice International Film Festival.

• Goya Cinema Awards (2020)

  

  All hail to the fairycore vibes that Cruz gave us when she stepped out in this sheer purple floral Ralph & Russo ballgown!

• Venice International Film Festival (2019)

  

  Cruz was an angelic vision in this elaborately ruffled white gown from Ralph & Russo.

• ‘Dolor y Gloria’ Photocall (2019)

  

  This mini Chanel suit was such a chic look from Cruz, and we still think about this to this day.

• Venice International Film Festival (2019)

  

  This vibrant baby blue, glittering Ralph & Russo mini-dress Cruz wore back in 2019 may be one of our all-time favorite mini-dresses to date!

• ‘Pain And Glory’ Screening (2019)

  

  Something about an ornate blue and white Chanel ballgown just screams magical, especially on Chanel It-Girl Cruz!

• Golden Globe Awards (2019)

  

  Cruz shook up her usual monochromatic palette with this marbled, shimmering Ralph & Russo gown!

• Forque Awards (2019)

  

  This glittering copper Galvan London gown had us on our knees!

• ‘Everybody Knows’ Screening (2018)

  

  Now, Cruz always rocks Chanel, but vintage Chanel? That’s a match made in heaven. When she attended the screening of Everybody Knows, no one could take their eyes off of her in this fur-lined black lace gown.  

• Cesar Awards Ceremony (2018)

  

  For the 43rd Cesar Awards Ceremony, Cruz jumped outside her colored comfort zone and into this silky purple Versace gown.

• ‘The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story’ Premiere (2018)

  

  The color maroon was made for Cruz, and this velvet Stella McCartney gown proves that!

• Goya Cinema Awards (2018)

  

  We’ve seen a lot of unique corsets over the years, but this bejeweled outer corset-vibe on top of this white Versace gown is an all-time favorite.

• Emmy Awards (2018)

  

  Cruz gave all of the modern-day princess vibes in this furred white Chanel ballgown back at the 70th Emmy Awards.

• Goya Cinema Awards (2017)

  

  This high-slit black Atelier Versace gown is the definition of sleek, and we’re always hypnotized by it when we see a pic!

• ‘Loving Pablo’ Screening (2017)

  

  Cruz looked as sensational as can be in this high-slit, feathered white Atelier Versace gown.

• ‘Loving Pablo’ Photocall (2017)

  

  We love a boho moment and this floral mint lace dress from Temperley London that Cruz rocked at the photocall for Loving Pablo gave us all the sensational boho goodness we crave.

• ‘Zoolander 2’ Premiere (2016)

  

  Art Deco vibes are the quickest way to our fashion-filled hearts, and this glittering gold accented Balmain gown from the Zoolander 2 premiere is at the top of our favs list!

• Goya Cinema Awards (2016)

  

  This structured black Chanel gown Cruz wore for the Goya Awards in 2016 still lives in our minds rent-free!

• ‘Zoolander 2’ Premiere (2016)

  

  Cruz’s sheer white Versace gown gave all the Mermaidcore vibes back in 2016 for the Zoolander 2 premiere.

• ‘Soy Uno Entre Cien Mil’ Premiere (2016)

  

  Truly, Cruz rocked this yellow Carolina Herrera mini-dress. And can we talk about the pockets?! We need a lookalike ASAP!

• Goya Cinema Awards (2015)

  

  Something we need to see more of: Cruz in showstopping Oscar de la Renta gowns like this tiered navy one!

• ‘Ma Ma’ Premiere (2015)

  

  One of the most iconic LBDs of our time has to be this off-the-shoulder, jewel-encrusted Chanel dress Cruz wore for the premiere of Ma Ma.

• Annual Academy Awards (2012)

  

  For the 2012 Oscars, Cruz enchanted everyone in this off-the-shoulder, wrapped blue Armani Privé ballgown.

• ‘Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides’ Premiere (2011)

  

  This ruffled, muted blue gown from Marchesa was so enchanting, and everyone was hypnotized by Cruz back in 2011 when she wore it.

• Academy Awards (2010)

  

  While Cruz always arrives in something deliciously dramatic for the Academy Awards, but this wrapped maroon Donna Karan may be an all-time favorite.

• ‘Broken Embraces’ Premiere (2009)

  

  This draped, glittering purple Marchesa gown from the Broken Embraces premiere was easily one of the most iconic looks that year!

• ‘NINE’ Premiere (2009)

  

  Cruz channeled her inner goddess when she stepped out in this draped silk Chanel gown from the spring/summer 1989 haute couture collection.

• Screen Actors Guild Awards (2009)

  

  Velvet dresses are such a serve, and this Alaïa gown Cruz wowed in back in 2009 was an instant fan-favorite.

• Academy Awards (2009)

  

  This breathtaking 50s Balmain dress, sourced from Lily et Cie, may be Cruz’s most iconic vintage gown to date!

• Academy Awards (2007)

  

  No one could take their eyes off of this strapless feathered blush Versace gown that Cruz wowed in at the 2007 Oscars.

• Golden Globe Awards (2007)

  

  The ruffles! The ballgown! This black Chanel gave us everything!

• Orange British Academy Film Awards (2007)

  

  While busy patterns can overwhelm some stars, this monochromatic Oscar de la Renta mermaid gown fit Cruz like a glove!

• ‘Volver’ Premiere (2006)

  

  For the premiere of Volver, Cruz wowed everyone in this rich purple gown that perfectly complimented her frame and golden skin.

• European Film Awards (2006)

  

  Cruz was the definition of a golden goddess in this loose metallic gown for the 2006 European Film Awards.

• ‘Fanfan la tulipe’ Screening (2003)

  

  One of Cruz’s most well-known, and most beloved looks is this dramatic Dior Haute Couture ballgown, which she matched with an emerald and black statement necklace.

• Academy Awards (2001)

  

  This sparkling black off-the-shoulder Ralph Lauren gown Cruz wore in 2001 was so ahead of its time!

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