Kate Winslet Shared the Meaning Behind Her Favorite Ever Red Carpet Dress

Kate Winslet shared her favorite red carpet dress of all time in a new interview with People: the emerald green Givenchy gown she wore to the 1998 Oscars.

kate winslet during the 70th annual academy awards red carpet at shrine auditorium in los angeles, california, united states photo by sgranitzwireimage
(Image credit: Steve Granitz)
  • Kate Winslet shared her favorite red carpet dress of all time in a new interview with People.
  • Winslet wore an emerald green Givenchy gown, designed by Alexander McQueen, to the 1998 Oscars.
  • "It was like embroidered sculpture," she said. "I have to be honest, the dress was not entirely comfortable to wear. Or sit down in. But it was worth it because he had made it."

In a new interview with People, Kate Winslet revealed her favorite red carpet gown of all time, sharing why it was quite so meaningful to her. Winslet said the ensemble she wore to the 1998 Oscars—an emerald green Givenchy gown with elaborate gold embroidery, plus a matching long-sleeved bolero—is still her number one 23 years later. She was in the running for best actress at the 1998 ceremony, for her starring role in Titanic.

Winslet's Oscars gown was custom-made for her by Alexander McQueen, then head designer at Givenchy. And it wasn't the most comfortable, the actor revealed. "It was like embroidered sculpture," she said. "I have to be honest, the dress was not entirely comfortable to wear. Or sit down in. But it was worth it because he had made it."

After over two decades in the spotlight, Winslet said she's less willing to sacrifice comfort for her red carpet looks. "I always just hope I can keep myself calm and feel comfortable actually and that my feet don't hurt or I'm not on my period," she said.

kate winslet photo by jim smealron galella collection via getty images

(Image credit: Jim Smeal)

In an interview with the Guardian earlier this year, Winslet reflected on being launched into international fame by Titanic—and the "straight-up cruel" treatment she subsequently received in the media. "In my 20s, people would talk about my weight a lot. And I would be called to comment on my physical self. Well, then I got this label of being ballsy and outspoken. No, I was just defending myself," she said.

"It was almost laughable how shocking, how critical, how straight-up cruel tabloid journalists were to me. I was still figuring out who the hell I bloody well was!" Winslet continued, reflecting on re-reading old articles written about her. "They would comment on my size, they’d estimate what I weighed, they’d print the supposed diet I was on. It was critical and horrible and so upsetting to read."

"But it also made me feel so…so moved," she finished. "By how different it is now."

Emily Dixon
Morning Editor

Emily Dixon is a British journalist who’s contributed to CNN, Teen Vogue, Time, Glamour, The Guardian, Wonderland, The Big Roundtable, Bust, and more, on everything from mental health to fashion to political activism to feminist zine collectives. She’s also a committed Beyoncé, Kacey Musgraves, and Tracee Ellis Ross fan, an enthusiastic but terrible ballet dancer, and a proud Geordie lass.