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Red carpets are all about the glitz and the glams.

Such events are most often used as an opportunity for designers to exhibit their most valuable gowns and elaborate designs, using the popularity and fame of celebrities. 

Throughout red carpet history however, some looks have defied the norms and have therefore become more memorable than others.

Some designs have even pushed the boundaries of fashion to new heights, creating reality-bending styles.

Bored Panda takes a look at some of the most unique dresses and gowns worn by celebrities, which at times gave some sort of optical illusions.

#1

Keira Knightley's Tiny Waist

Keira Knightley's Tiny Waist

Nearly 10 years ago, Keira Knightley, who was Chanel's muse at the time, appeared in a waist-whittling getup while outside the label's runway show in Paris.

Hendrik Ballhausen/picture alliance/Getty Images Report

Kare Deter
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

the cut of the top and skirt of the outfit make it look smaller

Binky Melnik
Community Member
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No way! Really? You’re good at figuring stuff out!

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Cooking Panda
Community Member
1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This would only work with white background, no?

Shelley Colleen
Community Member
Premium
9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love that people are still thinking she's wearing a "top and skirt." Zoom in and you'll see he's wearing a basic white shift dress with black trim and a black shape over her tummy. It's an "optical illusion dress" that would only work on a white background.

Bored bullfrog
Community Member
1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She really is that skinny she's grossly skinny.

The Original Bruno
Community Member
2 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

That's a flex: Look how tiny my waste is! Is that what we really want to glorify?

Ace
Community Member
Premium
2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What part of "optical illusion" did you fail to understand?

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    #2

    Joey King's Hypnotizing Number

    Joey King's Hypnotizing Number

    In 2020, Joey King appeared at the Golden Globes red carpet in a mesmerizing black and white Iris Van Herpen dress that gave serious optical illusion vibes.

    Rachel Murray/Getty Images Report

    Silvia
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Look like some water snail! 😅

    Bored bullfrog
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Beautiful person but the dress makes me nauseous.

    LizzieBoredom
    Community Member
    2 years ago

    This comment has been deleted.

    #3

    Björk's Infamous Swan

    Björk's Infamous Swan

    On March 25, 2001, Björk made history when she wore Marjan Pejoski's swan dress at the 73rd Academy Awards.

    The unique look was later voted one of the most iconic red-carpet dresses of all time.

    Steve Granitz/Getty Images Report

    LGBTQpanda
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wasn't really an illusion though. More a water cooler topic for about a month.

    LapCat
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I remember this dress!

    PeepPeep the duck
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And remember the sad one of pink ballerina outfit, I can’t remember her name but she had an eating disorder and was slammed for the look

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    Upstaged75
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I always thought this looked like she murdered a swan and draped the carcass around her neck.

    Mustafa Kiziroğlu
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's how you wear a tutu when you are 36.

    LizzieBoredom
    Community Member
    2 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And tired of that swan who kept chasing her down the street.

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    Shelley Colleen
    Community Member
    Premium
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I always thought this dress was a little bit silly until I saw a bunch of real swans holding onto their handlers with their necks, just like this. Suddeny, I was a fan.

    Say No to Downvoting
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I love this dress. I had a fancy dessert party for my 21st birthday and my mother made me a replica of this swan dress - I wish I still had it!

    Binky Melnik
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I WISH it’d been an optical illusion; anything so we didn’t hafta look at this hideous thing, which is “iconic” for all the wrong reasons. 🤢

    Who knows?
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The dress from the movie white chicks

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    #4

    Heidi Klum's Moving Water Design

    Heidi Klum's Moving Water Design

    Last year, Heidi Klum appeared on the Avatar 2: The Wave of Water red carpet wearing a Lever Couture dress featuring sculptural sleeves and an asymmetrical bottom half that included excess tulle material cut into thick fringe strips and a thigh-high slit.

    The design gave the illusion that Heidi was in moving water.

    Adore Luxy Report

    TheAnxiousDuck
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    it kinda just looks like tape, or those, weird long thingies in front of the freezers at costco 💀

    Binky Melnik
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That’s because you’re looking at a photo. Seeing it on video looked FREAKY, but in a most EXCELLENT way! (And yeah, it looked like water. Wow!)

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    Shelley Colleen
    Community Member
    Premium
    9 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Stiill photos absolutely do not do this dress justice - the physics of the way the fabric moves is a little mesmerizing. 🤍

    PinkPeppered Squid
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Someone stole the plastic strips from a carwash.

    #5

    Céline Dion Making Us Feel Dizzy

    Céline Dion Making Us Feel Dizzy

    In 2019, Céline Dion stepped out in Paris for the Iris van Herpen show during Paris Couture Week wearing a long-sleeved see-through gown made of vertical, 3D-esque wavy red strands.

    The result made for an optical illusion which almost made us feel dizzy when staring too long at it.

    celinedion Report

    Say No to Downvoting
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Celine often has some unique numbers on the red carpet. Personally, they haven’t been my cup of tea but I’m glad she’s showing these interesting designs and I hope she enjoys wearing them.

    Huddo's sister
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It looks like the netting from fruit. Also, how is it possible to walk in it- it seems too long and ttight!

    Say No to Downvoting
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think it’s all sproingy so stretches easily as she walks

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    Mimi La Souris
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    sorry, but makes me think about the protection around fruits :D

    PinkPeppered Squid
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yuck, that dress is hideous. Did she make her hair purposefully greasy to match?

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    #6

    Emma Watson's Levitating Dress

    Emma Watson's Levitating Dress

    Emma Watson appeared in a Loewe sky-blue dress in June, which looked like it was floating on her body. A true "wingardium leviosa" moment.

    emmawatson Report

    WonderWoman
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It is wild, but also not flattering at all

    LizzieBoredom
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is what my clothesline looked like after the tornado.

    PinkPeppered Squid
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So thats where my broken beach umbrella got to!

    Sheri Lytle
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The guys shirt is buttoned wrong...were they just fooling around...LOL

    BarkingSpider
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Is someone above her holding the strings? Very odd.

    Bored bullfrog
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Underwires everywhere how uncomfortable.

    Say No to Downvoting
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That’s such an interesting design. Hmm - just realized there is something about it that’s reminding me of a yip yip monster, though

    Hamster
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I actually thought her dress was floating for like 4 1/2 mins…

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    #7

    Bella Hadid's Sprayed Dress

    Bella Hadid's Sprayed Dress

    Parisian brand Coperni literally sprayed a dress onto Bella Hadid during its Spring/Summer 2023 show at Paris Fashion Week.

    Dezeen Report

    Marley Nachi
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I remember that this dress was to demonstrate new technology such as potential spray on medical bandages

    Ria C.
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It was cool to watch. I'm still perplexed though.

    Mimi La Souris
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    sprayed is the right word. like paint guns that spray liquid filaments of material onto the body that solidify as it dries. Capture-65...224a3d.jpg Capture-657304a224a3d.jpg

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    #8

    Fishy Emma Corrin

    Fishy Emma Corrin

    Emma Corrin graced the 2022 London Film Festival red carpet Saturday in a goldfish in a bag.

    The bizarre gown was designed by JW Anderson, and first made an appearance at Anderson's spring 2023 show.

    Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Report

    Kare Deter
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've seen more flattering hefty bag dresses.

    Richard Wareham
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I have dustbin liners just like that, although I don't have a plastic gold fish stuck on them to pretend they are fancy.

    Upstaged75
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The whole effect is terrible. Couldn't they have at least given her some attractive shoes?

    LGBTQpanda
    Community Member
    9 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They looks VERY uncomfortable. 🤨

    to old to care
    Community Member
    2 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    AND with hairy legs

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    #9

    Double Trouble With Elsa Hosk

    Double Trouble With Elsa Hosk

    Elsa Hosk showed up to a screening of La Passion De Dodin Bouffant in an otherwordly gown from Viktor & Rolf's spring/summer 2023 collection.

    The dress, titled "Late Stage Capitalism Waltz," was described as "an absurd take on a stereotypical couture ballgown for the 21st century."

    Reinson Robertson Media Report

    Binky Melnik
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    All the dresses in this series were art pieces not meant to be worn. (And they can’t be worn anyway; check out the series and you’ll see why.)

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    #10

    Jennifer Lawrence's 2D-3D Dress

    Jennifer Lawrence's 2D-3D Dress

    Jennifer Lawrence in this nude number at the "Sin Malos Rollos" Madrid, Spain premiere in June 2023.

    Her strapless Loewe dress looked 2D from the front and 3D from the side.

    Pablo Cuadra/Getty Images Report

    Tamra
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And hideous from every side.

    Binky Melnik
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Where’s the “optical illusion”? In this case, I’d prefer one in which we can’t see the dress.

    LGBTQpanda
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sadly, she has looked better.

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    #11

    Emily Ratajkowski

    Emily Ratajkowski

    Emily Ratajkowski attended the Loewe Womenswear Fall/Winter 2023-2024 show wearing a giant anthurium leaf, as part of Paris Fashion Week in March.

    Jacopo Raule/Getty Images Report

    #12

    Kim Kardashian's Naked People's Choice Award Dress

    Kim Kardashian's Naked People's Choice Award Dress

    Kim Kardashian wore a vintage 1996 Jean Paul Gaultier dress that seemingly merged the optical illusion trend with a classic naked dress design.

    The reality TV star graced the red carpet at the 2018 E! People's Choice Award.

    Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty Images Report

    WonderWoman
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There is nothing classy about that family, nothing at all

    Jason Marshall
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm surprised that Gauthier allowed this dress out of the shop with that poor seam mid thigh

    Say No to Downvoting
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Isn’t it just a crease in the fabric where she has hoiked it up 1-2cm?

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    #13

    Free The Nipple With Kendall Jenner

    Free The Nipple With Kendall Jenner

    In May, Kendall Jenner was photographed on a yacht, wearing a little black dress cut to show her breasts.

    The dress in question was from David Koma's fall/winter 2023 collection, and was designed to rely on a mesh effect to create the optical illusion of a naked top.

    davidkoma Report

    WonderWoman
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Nothing classy about that entire family

    Phoenix
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    did bp just censor the literal point of the dress

    BiggishDipper
    Community Member
    2 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No, if you click the link thing you can see that they're supposed to be flowers Still super weird though...

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    Lexi Fischer
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Kendall is my fav Jenner. She is beautiful

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