Sandra Bullock made her film debut over 35 years ago with a minor role in the 1987 thriller Hangmen. In the following decades, she’s gone on to win an Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Golden Globe, among many others. Such accolades have, of course, made the actress a staple on the awards circuit, where she’s perfected the art of the red carpet dress. In 2010, when awarded the Best Actress trophy for her role in The Blind Side, she glimmered in a Champagne Marchesa gown. Four years later, nominated once again—this time for Gravity—she chose a more subtle (but no less effective) strapless navy mermaid gown by Alexander McQueen.
Bullock has proven pants belong on the red carpet just as much as a pair of bare legs, and she is never afraid to try on a shocking color, whether iridescent purple or metallic green. She can balance sex appeal with elegance, drama with simplicity. And her sartorial choices have earned her the reputation of America’s girl next door—one with just as much style as grace. In honor of her 60th birthday, we’re taking a look back at the Oscar winner’s best red carpet moments, from 1994 to today.
2022: The Lost City Premiere
Why choose between a tux and a gown when you can have both? Bullock hit the carpet in a Carolina Herrera suit with cropped pants and a jacket covered in pink, red, and purple fabric that cascaded into a dramatic train.
2021: The Unforgivable Premiere
Bullock added her own touch to this gold Stella McCartney spring 2022 sequin catsuit by topping it with a blazer for the red carpet premiere of her film.
2018: Birdbox Premiere
Although Bullock usually opts for a cleaner silhouette, she clearly had some fun picking out this red Martin Grant spring 2019 dress, featuring a halter neck and cutout on the bodice.
2018: Ocean’s 8 Premiere
Bullock loves to bring pants to the red carpet, and she proved the versatility of the silhouette in this sequin-covered Zuhair Murad pre-fall 2018 jumpsuit at the Ocean’s 8 premiere.
2018: Academy Awards
No, that’s not the human manifestation of an Oscar statue, that’s glowing Bullock in a sparkling Louis Vuitton dress at the 2018 Academy Awards.
2015: Our Brand Is Crisis Premiere
Not one to usually embrace a pattern, Bullock mixed things up at the premiere of Our Brand Is Crisis, attending in a feminine and flowy J. Mendel spring 2016 dress.
2015: Minions Premiere
Almost a decade before theme dressing became the norm on red carpets, Bullock attended the premiere of the first Minions movie in a simple and chic Roksanda dress and adorable Rupert Sanderson Minion heels.
2014: Academy Awards
The Best Actress nominee wore a classic award season dress, courtesy of Alexander McQueen.
2014: Screen Actors Guild Awards
At the SAG Awards, meanwhile, she donned an emerald-green Lanvin dress featuring a slit and bow detail at the waist.
2014: Critics’ Choice Awards
Clearly, Bullock was having a Lanvin moment in 2014, because she also wore the designer to the Critics’ Choice Awards that year.
2014: Golden Globe Awards
When it was time for the Golden Globes, she embraced color in a pink, black, and blue Prabal Gurung gown.
2013: Gravity London Premiere
Bullock showed off her legs in a lace Stella McCartney spring 2014 mini dress at the London Film Festival premiere of Gravity.
2013: The Heat Australia Premiere
Apparently, the beaches of Australia had Bullock embracing a more bohemian style, because she attended The Heat premiere in Sydney wearing a sequin-adorned Emilio Pucci mini tunic dress.
2013: The Heat New York Premiere
Bullock really brought the heat to the film’s New York premiere in a leather and lace Ermanno Scervino dress.
2013: Academy Awards
The actress sure knows how to pick out an Oscar gown, as made evident by the choice of this embellished Elie Saab spring 2013 couture dress.
2012: Academy Awards
In 2012, meanwhile, she went for a slightly different look, and wore this black-and-white Marchesa dress with a draped top and gold appliqués.
2011: Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close Premiere
Bullock opted for a sleek and sophisticated look with a satin Alexander McQueen jumpsuit at the premiere of her 2011 film.
2011: Academy Awards
The actress looked red-hot in Vera Wang at the 2011 Oscars.
2011: Golden Globe Awards
With a forehead covered by curtain bangs, Bullock attended the Golden Globes in 2011 wearing a girly and romantic baby pink Jenny Packham spring 2011 dress.
2010: Acadmy Awards
Bullock took home the Best Actress Oscar in a golden Marchesa dress.
2010: Screen Actors Guild Awards
Blue embellishments, padded shoulders, and a keyhole cutout added the perfect amount of intrigue to Bullock’s 2010 SAG Awards dress.
2010: Golden Globe Awards
Bullock’s iridescent purple Bottega Veneta dress shimmered from the photographers’ flashes on the Golden Globes red carpet.
2009: The Blind Side Premiere
The actress wore a chic black midi dress to the premiere of the film—which would go on to win her an Oscar.
2009: The Proposal Premiere
She similarly wore an LBD to the premiere of The Proposal that same year, though the actress had a little more fun with the Alexander McQueen number, adding strands of beads to complete the look.
2007: “Poiret: King of Fashion” Met Gala
Bullock looked gorgeous at the 2007 Met Gala, attending in a berry-hue Alberta Ferretti dress with gathering details that hugged her body just-so.
2007: Premonition Premiere
The actress wore a draped gray Lanvin dress with an embellished, one-shoulder detail to the premiere of her 2007 film.
2006: Venice Film Festival; Infamous Premiere
Bullock attended the Venice Film Festival premiere of her film, Infamous, in a classic black dress with a scoop neck and simple bow detail.
2006: Academy Awards
We already loved Bullock’s corseted Angel Sanchez gown when we first saw it, but then we realized—it has pockets.
2005: MTV Movie Awards
Bullock went casual for the 2005 MTV Movie Awards, attending the event in cropped jeans and a maroon tunic.
2005: Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous Premiere
The actress accessorized her red halter-neck dress with a pashmina at the premiere of Miss Congeniality 2 in 2005.
2004: Academy Awards
Bullock’s tiered, feather-covered Oscar de la Renta dress is equal parts camp and elegant.
2002: Two Weeks Notice Premiere
The actress attended the premiere of her film in black bootleg slacks, a sparkling tunic, and a skinny scarf wrapped around her neck.
2002: Cannes Film Festival; Murder By Numbers Premiere
Bullock embraced her more feminine side in a floral, ruffled dress at Cannes in 2002.
2002: Murder By Numbers Premiere
Back Stateside, she opted for a traditionally “cooler” ensemble, styling a low-cut brown dress with a pair of knee-high leather boots.
2002: Academy Awards
Bullock shined in a Valentino spring 2002 couture dress featuring a completely sheer bust and embellishments running down the bodice.
2000: Miss Congeniality Premiere
The actress looked adorable at the premiere of her hit film thanks to her sheer, striped mini dress.
1999: Forces of Nature Premiere
Bullock pulled a Sharon Stone and paired a simple T-shirt with a satin skirt.
1998: Practical Magic Premiere
You can’t go wrong with a good LBD, which is exactly what Bullock wore to the Practical Magic premiere in 1998.
1998: Golden Globe Awards
Bullock wore a John Galliano-designed Dior spring 1998 dress to the Golden Globes that same year.
1997: “Gianni Versace” Met Gala
The actress attended the Met Gala honoring Gianni Versace in a fur coat that almost reached the floor.
1997: Academy Awards
Bullock’s embellished Richard Tyler dress is so ’90s—in the chicest way possible.
1996: Academy Awards
The actress went simple for her first Oscars, attending the ceremony in a brown, strapless Calvin Klein dress.
1995: The Net Premiere
The pink satin dress Bullock wore to the premiere of The Net was in fact a bridesmaid’s dress.
1994: MTV Video Music Awards
Bullock donned an embellished, sheer set featuring an off-the-shoulder top and scallop-edge miniskirt at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1994.
1994: Speed Premiere
A pink minidress and loafers got the job done at the Speed premiere in 1994.