L’HISTOIRE: Kate Hudson’s Sheer Sequin Dress at the 'Almost Famous' Premiere in 2000

L'HISTOIRE explores fashion history moments you should know, from what actors wore on a red carpet to celebrities who made cameos on the runway. Some are unsung, and some are better known. Each is part of the fabric of today’s fashion world, be it barrier breakers or culture makers.

In the early 2000s, Kate Hudson reigned as one of Hollywood’s newest stars and ultimate style muses. With her Golden Globe-winning performance in Almost Famous, she instantly became a fan favorite—on and off screen. When she wasn’t styling a fur-trimmed coat in Almost Famous and before she slipped into that iconic butter-yellow gown in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Hudson was making just as bold of a statement on the red carpet—cementing her status as a true early-2000s fashion icon.

When Almost Famous premiered in 2000, Hudson stepped onto the red carpet in a sheer sequin dress, featuring a plunging cowl neckline, sheer detailing, and a figure-skimming silhouette, perfectly captured the fashion pulse of the time. Over two decades later, it’s clear that the actor's burgundy and risqué dress is still a fan-favorite look.

The cowl neck—a sultry, draped neckline popularized in the late '90s and early 2000s—was the silhouette of the red carpet back then. Lest we forget Paris Hilton's iconic cowl neck metallic moment for her 21st birthday. From slip dresses to halter tops, this look offered a soft, liquid-like effect that played beautifully with movement and brought subtle sexiness to red carpets. 

It wasn’t just the cut that made this look quintessentially 2000s. Hudson’s sequin number shimmered with every flash, embracing the era’s love for all things sparkly. Sequin dresses were a go-to for Y2K it-girls, and in true fashion cycle form, they’re back. Today’s stars like Sabrina Carpenter and Dua Lipa are embracing the sparkle both on and off stage, proving that shimmer is once again at the center of the style spotlight.

What made the look truly daring in 2000 was its sheer construction—a bold move at the time that offered a glimpse of skin beneath the sequins, pushing red carpet norms. Fast forward to 2025, with sheer and naked dressing is fully mainstream, ultra-sheer gowns, visible undergarments, and body-baring cutouts dominate runways and red carpets alike. At this year’s Grammys alone, looks ranged from Bianca Censori’s fully nude moment to more subtle sheer sequined pieces worn by Madison Beer and Paris Hilton.

Want to channel the look? Find similar sheer, sequin pieces from Stella McCartney and A.L.C. More than just a flashback, Kate Hudson’s Almost Famous premiere look is a powerful reminder of fashion’s constant evolution—and its habit of circling back to the past, only bolder and more daring the second time around.