The best Oscar dresses of all time: The history of fashion at the Oscars
In the nearly 100 years that the Academy Awards have existed, the ceremony has become synonymous not only with cinema but also with fashion. Oscar dresses dominate conversation on the night of the festival and in the days following. They are praised when they are simply beautiful and criticized when they fail to achieve their goals. Bold choices will be applauded or ridiculed – or ridiculed at the time and applauded later. (Looking at you, Björk.)
The anointing of Oscars as a major clothing event evolved over time as the ceremony went from essentially a dinner party to a nationally televised event. In the early days, stars had to rely on studios to make their costumes, sometimes even working with costumers for their films. Now, nominees and other attendees work with an army of stylists who connect them with famous designers looking to have their work seen on a big stage like the Oscars red carpet.
Is there a dress code for the Academy Awards? It’s less often said these days. However, in the past, there were quests for specific occasions. In the 1942 ceremony, held during World War II, modest dress was required with “business suits and women’s casual attire, mandatory.” After that, famous costumer Edith Head was appointed “fashion advisor” of the Oscars. In 1968, she announced that actresses “were required to wear formal evening gowns either maxi or floor-length,” among other suggestions so that women would not clash on set. However, her instructions were never really heeded fully and best-dressed. Always take some risks.
With that said, here are some The most beautiful red carpet dresses was honored at the Oscars.
From FPG/Getty Images.
Mary Pickford, unknown designer, 1930
One of the first examples of a star bringing high glamor to the Oscars was when Mary Pickford, award-winning, silent film star CoquetteHer first role was in a talkie. She wears a beaded dress described as “Fragonard blue” that may be the work of Jeanne Lanvin.
From NBC/Getty Images.
Audrey Hepburn, Givenchy, 1954
Nowadays, fashion at the Oscars is all about design collaboration, but when Audrey Hepburn took her home Academy Award for best actressThanks to her glamorous work in roman holidays, that is not the case. She was an early pioneer, wearing what many assumed was a Givenchy dress with a crew neck, showing off her famous collarbones. But is it really Givenchy? That, oddly enough, is up for debate. Kerry Taylor, The person responsible for selling the dress in the 2011 auction, told me about my book In addition to the most beautiful outfit that it was actually designed by famous costume designer Edith Head for the film itself and then reshaped for the Oscars. No matter what, this is still one of the most perfect combinations between star and costume in Oscar history.
