OSCAR NIGHT VINTAGE FASHIONS ; MIRROR THE STYLE

THE OSCAR GOES TO...

 

 Oscar Night is fast approaching .The Oscars red carpet is known as one of the most fabulous fashion events of the year. Since the awards ceremony first took place in 1928, the ladies lucky enough to take home the trophy for best actress have been heralded as style icons — and for good reason!

Oscar night fashions are celebrated the world over. The Oscar goes to, are some of the most exciting words ever spoken.The Academy Awards is the superbowl of movie lovers, fashionistas ,stylists and  all Hollywood. Therefore there is no other night of the year that gets more attention from the fashion world than Oscar night .

Everyone thinks this attention to the Red Carpet is a new phenomenon. This is far from the truth. Since the conception of the Academy Awards and the presentation of the first best actress statue , fashion was always center stage.The Academy Awards has always been one of the biggest brightest nights when it comes to fashion.

Oscar Night with Vintage Style

Those of you who know me, know I love vintage fashion. Most of all I believe the great adage of  Coco Chanel "FASHION FADES, ONLY STYLE REMAINS THE SAME". With that in mind let's take a look at some of my favorite moments of style at The Oscars . Since style remains the same , I would like to present to you how one can emulate that classic style of yesterday with the fashions of today.

Some of you may embrace vintage clothing and that's great while others may not. Therefore I like to approach this a little differently and find the style. the essence and vibe of yesterday using the clothes of today. Wearing vintage looks is about creating your own sense of style. Most of all it's about appreciating what is beautiful in all times,  and developing a sense of style that is timeless.

OSCAR NIGHT 1954 ; AUDREY HEPBURN STYLE

Thinking that he had an appointment with the legendary Katharine Hepburn, designer Hubert de Givenchy was surprised to see a young and unknown Audrey Hepburn show up at his design studio in a T-shirt and sandals. Nonetheless, the rising star and the Parisian couturier would become close friends. Givenchy dressed  Hepburn on-screen and off for most of her life. In 1954, Hepburn accepted her Best Actress Oscar at the 26th annual Academy Awards for the role of Princess Ann in Roman Holiday. She was wearing an  off- white floral Givenchy gown. The belted couture dress marked the first time audiences saw Hepburn in one of the designer's creations.

What I love most about this dress is the elegance that comes from its simplicity. Most of all  I appreciate clean lines of the very 1950's silhouette. The ivory lace gives the dress a slight texture and the slim belt a design detail. As a result the look is perfect for the young starlet.

dscar night

AUDREY HEPBURN'S OSCAR NIGHT DRESS IN MODERN STYLE

 

The lovely dress worn by Hepburn on that magical Oscar Night in 1954 had an ethereal quality. Most noteworthy is the delicate and graceful nature of this dress. You never want to copy a dress or look exactly. While it is a great compliment to mirror a look, our aim is to  capture it's demeanor. Therefore we need to search for what is the impression ,feeling and essence  created.

The impression and essence I get is one of beauty , lightness, and grace. The feeling created is joy . I have chosen several dresses that will work to create these feelings in a modern look.

RED VALENTINO LACE DRESS
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ELIE SAAB LACE DRESS
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PERSEVERANCE LONDON  DRESS
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TADASHI SHOJI SHEATH DRESS
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Oscar Night 1961 ; Elizabeth Taylor Style

In 1961, the Grande Dame won the Best Actress Oscar for her performance in Butterfield 8. She collected her statue in a sleeveless Dior  ensemble that had a yellow top and white ball-gown skirt with a floral pattern. A black satin sash adorned with a red rose pin cinched her tiny waist.

I am a huge Elizabeth Taylor fan. Therefore I love this look at  1961's Oscar Night. The dress is classic Dior . This look is the epitome of chic. While I have searched far and wide for a full length photo of this dress none seem to exist . The silhouette is a dependant on Taylor's tiny waist and the voluminous skirt is embroidered with beautiful flowers.The two color's , yellow bodice and white skirt is fresh and inventive. This dress is from first couture collection from Dior designer Marc Bohan.The dress was so loved that Elizabeth Taylor bought 12 dresses from that original collection.

This dress is beautifully constructed and the fit is perfect. The essence of this gown is it's unique design. Since nothing is really new about this look this it seems like this dress is  about glamour and luxury. 

 

oscar night

oscar night

oscar night

oscar night

ELIZABETH TAYLOR'S OSCAR DRESS DONE MODERN

 

Oscar night 1961 was a glamourous affair like all Academy Award Nights. Therefore it comes as no surprise that Elizabeth Taylor was the most glamorous. The incredible Dior dress she wore that night was displayed last year at a Dior retrospective in London and still look's as chic as it did that night.

To emulate this look one need's to make sure the dress they choose is beautifully fit and constructed. Hence this dress must also convey the design confidence that is evident and clear in the original. What I mean by design confidence is that each element of the dress is deliberate and precise.This dress is all about those great elements of glamour, excess and luxury. I have chosen some looks that have the esscense of the original.

Delpozo bicolour gown
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Sachin & Babi A-line Gown
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Marchesa Notte Hi-Lo Gown
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Oscar De la Renta Embroidered gown
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Oscar Night 1966  ; Julie Christie Style

Oscar Night 1966 , truly reflected the shifting fashions of the decade .English actress Julie Christie  took to the stage to accept her gold statue wearing an iridescent gold turtleneck gown with mod-style hoop earrings. Most noteworthy about the look was the surprising fact that Christie's dress was homemade by herself and a friend.

Especially relevant to me was how fast the fashion changed during this time. Fashion reflects the changes in society and this was never more evident that in the late 1960's. The reason I have included Miss Christies dress here is because it was a ground breaking fashion statement. Prior to this time the gowns worn to Oscar night were beautiful , high-end and predictable.Therefore this dress was important because it broke with all those traditions.

While copying this look could mean wearing a gold column dress , it could also mean going with the essence of the dress and breaking with  today's standards. Therefore we need to decide wether we hold strong standards of dress for the Oscars today. Hence I say we probably do and we expect to see certain types of gowns and dresses.

 

 

JULIE CHRISTIE'S OSCAR DRESS DONE MODERN

 

The gold column dress worn by Julie Christie was stunning not only for the fact that it changed the traditional evening wear but that it was home made. Julie Christie won the best actress award for the film "Darling".Directed by John Schlesinger, Darling was a slice of contemporary life that exposed the empty lifestyle of the jet set. Christie’s amoral model  bounced around London in the latest fashion craze—the mini-skirt. Christie became associated with youthful styles and attitudes in the press, with Newsweek comparing her look to Bardot’s and remarking on the “razorlike replies she tosses in interviews.”

It was in this enviroment that Miss Christie was seen as a rebel. While by todays standards the dress worn by Miss Christie is very tame it was seen as shocking in the 1960's. That Oscar Night was so revolutionary that Julie Christie beat out Julie Andrews (The Sound of Music) for best actress. Most noteworthy is that famed costume designer Edith Head was so shocked by the fashion exhibited and her fear for the future that established the following dress code.

"We in the Academy are delighted to know that you will appear on our 40th Awards presentation Telecast Monday, April 8th.

However, so many questions have been asked about the style of dress expected on stage that I send you this information:

Actresses are requested to wear formal evening gowns either Maxi or floor length, preferably pastel shades since the setting is very formal and done entirely in white and gold. As you know, long dresses (no Mini or day length) are more graceful on stage and on camera in this type of background. The Academy feels that the dignity of this traditional affair on our 40th Anniversary deserves formal dress.

Men are expected to wear white tie with conventional formal evening accessories."

I have chosen some dresses that will help you emulate that famous dress form that Oscar Night.Therefore look over these dresses and choose the one that speaks to you

No21 halterneck jacquard gown
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Halterneck Metallic Popover Gown
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Maria Lucia Hohan pleated gown
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Prabal Gurung tiered ruffle gown,
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In conclusion Oscar Night is the biggest annual fashion night next to the Met Gala .I look forward every year to the Oscar Night Red carpet. Enjoy your Oscar Night and please enjoy the gowns I chose ...Ciao for now Jandrew