Barbra Streisand‘s inimitable career mirrors the fashion choices she’s made for the last several decades. Experimental, playful and dazzling, the EGOT winner’s best fashion moments have featured at awards shows, red carpets and more.
At the forthcoming 2026 Cannes Film Festival, Streisand will receive the Honorary Palme d’Or, commemorating the venerated artist’s decades-long career. Ahead of the ceremony, WWD looks back at her style evolution.
1969
Barbra Streisand at the Oscars on April 14, 1969.
Disney General Entertainment Con
At the 1969 Oscars, Streisand wore arguably one of her most famous fashion statements. The actress, who won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her work in the film “Funny Girl” during the awards ceremony, donned a sheer look by Arnold Scaasi.
The set was designed with a black sheer fabric and allover shimmering sequins. Though the top of the ensemble included dress shirt-inspired white cuffs and a statement sinuous white collar with a black bow, the high-waisted pants of the look featured bell-bottoms with even more sequins. The look, among several other Scaasi designs, was feted at a 2010 Boston exhibit about the couturier’s work.
On Streisand’s particularity when it came to clothes and perfecting her work and image, Scaasi said, “I really didn’t mind, sometimes feeling the same way when I was working on one of my many collections and strove to have everything perfect,” he wrote in his 2004 book “Women I Have Dressed (And Undressed).”
1976
Kris Kristofferson, Bella Abzug and Barbra Streisand at the premiere of “A Star Is Born.”
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Ever experimental, Streisand toyed with menswear at the 1976 premiere of “A Star Is Born,” in which she costarred with the late Kris Kristofferson. The suited style was comprised of a tuxedo, bowtie and cummerbund. Streisand also embraced her natural curls for the event.
1984
Barbra Streisand attends the premiere of “Yentl” on March 29, 1984.
Dave Hogan
Streisand wore a look by Dior for the London premiere of her film “Yentl” in March 1984. Princess Alexandria was among the royal family members in attendance. The ensemble included a billowing white coat with a high neckline collar and a coordinated chapeau with birdcage netting. Even Streisand’s pumps coordinated with the monochromatic ensemble.
2018
Barbra Streisand at the 75th annual Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 7, 2018, in Beverly Hills.
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In the 2010s, Streisand’s style often went the more subdued route, but stayed elegant as ever. A key example of that transition came at the 2018 Golden Globe Awards, at which the actress opted for a black Donna Karan suit, featuring a streamlined silhouette complete with a long-sleeve jacket and coordinated wide-leg trousers. Streisand added a touch of sparkle with a bold statement necklace.
