Why The Oscars Are A Fashion Hotbed
For an event about filmmaking, the fashion really steals the show. It’s a night to flaunt the legendary glitz and glamour that Hollywood is known for.
“Who are you wearing?” It’s a cliche for a reason.
It’s a chance for designers to capture the world stage, to be remembered, and to harness the ultimate publicity tool.
The impact of Oscar night fashion reverberates long after the night itself too. The Best Of and Worst Dressed lists are just getting started.
Some Of The Most Memorable Fashion In Oscar’s History
Surprisingly enough, there’s very little information about who wore what at the very first Academy Awards in 1929. It wasn’t broadcast or recorded.
But by the 2nd annual event, that had already changed. Mary Pickford, winner of the Best Actress award, wore a glamorous bejeweled gown and pearl necklaces. Since then, fashion at the Oscars has been a standard.
Here are some of the highlights and game-changers throughout the years:
- The low-key looks of the 1941 Oscars due to World War II.
- Audrey Hepburn’s delicate white flowered Givenchy dress at the 1954 Oscars. The start of a beautiful partnership with the designer.
- Julie Christie’s homemade lamé jumpsuit in 1966.
- Madonna’s Old Hollywood throwback by Bob Mackie in 1991 complete with white fur.
- Anna Paquin’s blue dress, beret, and shiny black boots in 1994 at 11 years old.
- Nicole Kidman’s $2 million Asian-inspired Christian Dior dress for the 1997 Academy Awards.
- Julia Roberts vintage Valentino in 2001.
- Halle Berry’s revealing floral Elie Saab gown in 2002.
- Hilary Swank’s open-backed Guy Laroche gown in 2005.
- Penelope Cruz’s feathery pink Versace gown in 2007.
- Jennifer Lawrence’s Dior ballgown that tripped her up on the way to collect her Best Actress Oscar in 2013.
- Allison Janney’s red hot Reem Acra dress in 2018.
The lists really go on forever. There have been a lot of hits throughout the year (and a few misses).
Some of The Boldest Oscar Fashion That Didn’t Pay Off
Like any major fashion mecca, there’s plenty of risk to go along with the rewards too. Some designers who reach for the stars go a little too far. Here are some of the biggest missteps to walk the red carpet:
- Bette Davis’ patterned frock in 1936.
- Barbra Streisand’s 1969 sequined, see-through Scaasi outfit.
- Edy William’s leopard bikini and fur coat in 1974. She shocked again in 1986 with a barely-there dress made from strands of pearls. Oh, and once again in 2000 in a revealing figure skater-esque ensemble.
- Cher’s fantasy outfit with two-foot headpiece by Bob Mackie in 1986. The duo paired up again in 1988 for a slightly more understated, but still shocking, look.
- Demi Moore’s homemade dress in 1989.
- Kim Basinger’s fantasy wedding dress in 1990.
- Lizzie Gardiner’s 1995 dress made out of expired American Express cards.
- Celine Dion’s backwards white Christian Dior tuxedo at the 1999 Oscars.
- Matt Stone & Trey Parker dressed in women’s clothing in 2000 (although this one was intentional).
- Björk’s notorious swan dress in 2001.
- Gwyneth Paltrow’s gothic princess look in 2002.
- Uma Thurman’s milk maid garb in 2004.
- Liza Minnelli’s blue satin pajamas in 2004.
- St. Vincent’s heavy shouldered 2018 getup.
This list goes on as well, but you really have to hand it to the designers and stars who continue to push the boundaries. Some of them were really just ahead of their time.
Whose Fashion Will Stand Out At The 2019 Oscars?
There’s a lot of drama leading up to this year’s 91st Academy Awards, but there’s one thing that isn’t going anywhere: the fashion. We can’t wait to see who’s repping who and shooting for the stars whether it lands or not. Be bold!
