The Best Oscar Dresses of All Time: A History of Fashion at the Academy Awards
In the nearly 100 years that the Academy Awards have been in existence, the ceremony has become synonymous not just with film but fashion. Oscar dresses dominate the conversation the night of the festivities and for days after. They are praised when they are simply gorgeous and criticized when they miss the mark. Bold choices are applauded or mocked—or mocked at the time and then applauded later. (Looking at you, Björk.) The anointing of the Oscars as a major event for clothes evolved over time as the ceremony went from being essentially a dinner party to a nationally televised event. In the early days, stars would rely on the studios to dress them, sometimes even working with the people who made their costumes on their films. Now the nominees and other attendees work with armies of stylists who connect them to high profile designers that are eager to have their work seen on as big of a stage as the Oscars red carpet. Is there a dress code for the Academy Awards? These days that’s …
