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The Real Reason You Remember These Oscars Gowns...

It may be the stunning dresses that first caught our eye, but it’s the bodies wearing them that made a permanent impression.

For example, when Hilary Swank picked up her Oscar for Million Dollar Baby, you remember what she wore because of how she wore it. Those toned boxer-like back muscles were simply screaming to be on display. And Kate Hudson’s recent turn on the Golden Globes red carpet? Let’s just say we’re not the only ones who were fans of her Versace gown (and how she looked wearing it). So, while we can’t guarantee you’ll have an event as big as these to show them off on, we can promise you’ll make a celebrity-worthy impression with our butt, back, ab, arm and leg workouts.


The Moment: When Jennifer Aniston saw Kate Hudson hit the 2015 Golden Globes red carpet in her white Versace gown, she only had one thing on her mind—and she wasn’t the only one. With a gentle tap on her rear and a simple “I had to do it, sorry,” Jennifer said what we all were thinking: Kate’s got back. 

The Move: We swear that your butt, thighs and abs will seriously burn after you try this “Get a Leg Up” exercise. To do it: Start on all fours with a resistance band around knees. Keeping shoulders parallel to floor, lift and extend right leg out to side (as shown). Bend and lower for 1 rep. Do 30 reps. Switch sides; repeat.

The Moment: As Hilary Swank picked up her Oscar in 2005, she looked great coming but even better going in her Guy Laroche dress. The unique silhouette set the standard for sexy backs and was the perfect design to flaunt the hard work she put in towards earning that award.

The Move: Fake a boxer’s bod and grab a resistance band for a serious tone up. Anchor band at floor level around a sturdy piece of furniture. Lie facedown, arms in front of you; grip handles. Lift chest, arms and legs off floor as you bend elbows and draw shoulder blades together. Hold; return to start for 1 rep. Do 3 sets of 15 reps on alternate days.

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The Moment: Before there were crop tops there was Halle Berry, who made a case for midriff-bearing on the red carpet at the 2002 Academy Awards in Elie Saab’s sheer bodice.

The Move: All you need is a medicine ball and this move from SELF’s 24-Minute At-Home Boot Camp to target your abs and obliques. Performing a knee tuck on a medicine ball will firm your core while also sculpting amazing shoulders and arms. To do it: Hold a plank with feet on medicine ball, hands on ground (as shown). Keeping left foot on ball, bring right knee toward chest, then kick right leg out to side. Return to start; repeat on opposite side for 1 rep. Continue for 45 seconds. Rest 15 seconds.

The Moment: Jennifer Garner will always be Sydney Bristow to us, because how could we forget those arms? Those guns had one of their biggest red carpet moments in Valentino at the 2004 Oscars and left a permanent impression on our workouts ever since.

The Move: The “Armed & Ready” will you help you nail strong-sexy. Start standing with right side to wall, feet together, left arm fully extended at shoulder height with hand on wall. Engage abs and slowly bend left elbow 90 degrees (as shown). Pause; return to start for 1 rep. Do 20 reps. Switch sides; repeat. Bonus: you’ll feel the burn in your obliques as well.

Related: How to Make More Time for Yourself This Year

The Moment: Another one of Jennifer Lopez’s assets may have gotten most of the attention in the past, but beyond the “Booty” she reminded us not to overlook the legs when she put her best foot forward in Anthony Vaccarello at the 2013 Grammys.

The Move: Tone calves and trim inner thighs with a weighted plié squat. Stand with feet wider than hip-width apart, toes out; hold one end of a 15-pound dumbbell at hips. Squat (as shown), then stand, rising onto balls of feet, for one rep. Do three sets of 15 reps on alternate days. Then slip on your metallic slitted gown.

By Randy Miller

More from SELF:

The 10 Best Stretches For Better Flexibility

6 Moves To Resize Your Butt and Thighs

A 20-Minute Body Weight Routine Even the Busiest Woman Has Time For

The 10 Hottest Red Carpet Bodies

Red carpet photos: Getty Images; Moves: Larsen & Talbert (2), Warwick Saint, Larsen & Talbert (2)