Shoulder play on the red carpet: why are stars so fond of this stylistic choice?

It’s a must-have look on the red carpet. Highly sought after by stars on the red carpet, the strapless dress subtly revealing the shoulders has become synonymous with Hollywood glamour. 

Ultra feminine and sensual, the strapless dress has made it onto the podium of signature pieces on the red carpet, alongside the iconic little black dress. Celebrities are adopting it all over the world for social events, after-parties and even film premieres. An ultra-flattering stylistic play on shoulders, regularly acclaimed by actress Demi Moore, as at the Golden Globes in January, where she shone in a sublime golden creation by Giorgio Armani Privé , and at the SAG Awards with a daring jet black leather dress designed by Bottega Veneta .

A sure bet on the red carpets 

Whether it’s simple, like the minimalist Chanel haute couture mini-dress worn by Marion Cotillard at the 2024 César Awards, dazzling like Ariana Grande at the 2024 Met Gala with a mother-of-pearl Loewe dress, or XXL version like Zendaya, who set the 2025 Golden Globes alight with a sumptuous copper dress by Louis Vuitton, the strapless dress is a resolutely versatile evening piece that allows you to achieve a sophisticated look without the risk of being “too much”.

This dress, with its couture and very sculptural look, attracts attention on the red carpet by balancing the silhouette in a graceful way: it delicately highlights the neckline, collarbones and face. 

Whether or not embellished with jewelry, the strapless dress is enough in itself. It can be worn with loose hair, like Nicole Kidman, nestled in a midnight blue sequined strapless dress by Armani Privé at the Oscars in 2018, or tied up in an ultra-chic bun, like Natalie Portman at the 76th Cannes Film Festival in 2023 wearing the legendary “Junon” dress from the Dior archives.

Although this evening dress is inherited from the strict corsets of the 16th century, it has freed itself from the patriarchal straitjacket post-World War II. As it bares the shoulders and offers greater freedom of movement, it has become a symbolic piece of the feminine wardrobe, notably thanks to Marilyn Monroe, who wore it in a thousand and one different ways since the 1950s. By accentuating the sensuality and self-confidence of the wearer, the strapless dress has transcended the ages and remains a sure bet on the red carpet today.