Fashion takes a fall at the Oscars
Who can forget the two-piece ensemble that Cher wore at the Oscars in 1988. Complete with feather headpieces, it was a pure costume drama. A couple of other memorable ones in recent years include the Ralph Lauren tuxedo that Diane Keaton wore in 2004, as she channelled her inner “Annie Hall”; and the ‘swan’ dress of Swedish singer Bjork in 2001. Love them or hate them, they made a statement. There is always someone who dares to push the envelope at the Oscars. Pageantry is a quintessential element of the Academy Awards, you know. So last year, it was Lady Gaga in her angelic white gown suit — proving that pants, too, give a glam look on the red carpet.
However, the story this time around was very different. While there was Halle Berry in degrade Versace with big hair, and Janelle Morae in her glittering black and white ball-gown style Elie Saab, there was nothing really iconic about either of their looks.
Well, there is definitely a lot of change happening in America right now. And fashion, they say, reflects socio-cultural and political changes. Before the awards, some fashion pundits expected to see a lot of escapist fashion in response to the upheaval in the country since the inauguration of President Donald Trump. While some others said, the space would be quite and sober, probably as a show of respect to all the uncertainty that is happening economically. (Obviously neither Jennifer Anniston, who wore over $10 million worth of diamonds, nor Charlize Theron, who wore almost 60 carats of diamonds on her ears, seemed to agree with these thoughts.)
Clothes-wise Oscar winner Emma Stone looked
Oscar winner Emma Stone looked beautiful, as did many other actors but no one pushed that fashion envelope. It was just predictable pretty fashion.
beautiful, as did many actors but no one pushed that fashion envelope. It was just predictable pretty fashion. Even young Hollywood failed to impress: Felicity Jones was dressed like a prom girl in a ballerina-inspired dress; Dakota Johnson was covered up in gold gown; and Ginnifer Goodwin in a Victorian-style red dress.
Interestingly, the Oscars drew its lowest rating in nine years, and then of course there was the best picture goof up. It seems as though the fashion was reflecting the fact that perhaps the Oscars has lost the charm, it once had. The Oscars has traditionally been fashion world’s most important runway. Fashion designers lobby (and even pay) to dress the nominees and presenters. But now with so many other film festivals, such as Cannes, Sundance and Venice, where a more avant garde approach to fashion is accepted, the Oscars no longer rules the roost.
Another reason for the safe dressing could be social media. No one wants to be trolled and memed — and those who push the fashion envelope are putting themselves at risk. It’s just about making a stylish yet safe picture, which garners many likes.
It was left to the blue ribbon of the American Civil Liberties Union to be the real statement of fashion week, as most actors chose to wear these ribbons in innovative ways. Super model Karlie Kloss wore it just above hip and actor Lin Manuel Miranda wore ribbons matching with his mother’s. Of course wearing ribbons is no new story. Elizabeth Taylor wore a red one way back to bring attention to AIDS and started the ribbon for a cause trend on the red carpet. This year, Casey Affleck, who won the Oscar for Best Actor, wore a 14-karat gold-and-ruby AIDS ribbon that had once graced Elizabeth Taylor’s gown, on the collar of his black tuxedo. It seems that fashion-wise and otherwise, the Oscars had truly lost its steam!
Sujata Assomull is the Consulting Fashion Editor