Dear Miss Glam,
In recent years, the Academy Awards is watched more for fashion entertainment than anything else, and the 2023 Oscars was no different. However, it proved to be a bland and boring fashion parade – made even more dull with a champagne-coloured carpet, instead of the traditional red. The traditional red carpet provided the contrast for the outfits to pop out in photographs, but the new pale carpet seemed to leach all the energy off, leaving a lacklustre effect on the simple gowns. The trend for a sedate dress was underscored with a predominance of plain gowns in white, nude and black – safe, inoffensive colours to be sure, but so boring to watch.
Some bondage details stood out – but that too felt old and half-hearted: we’ve seen it too often and for too long a time. Even the usually incandescent Lady Gaga looked unexceptional in the Versace bondage dress, which had come straight off the runway from the fall 2023 show. Another bondage look was worn by the iconic Rihanna, in a belly-highlighting Alaïa. What is it with Hollywood and baby bumps – is pregnancy the new black? The slits and leather details were only slightly interesting, while the leather train looked like defeated bat wings.
Nicole Kidman was a standout in her black Armani Privé gown with glitter flowers blooming off her shoulder and at the top of her thigh-high slit. With her youthful hair, she looked confident and sexy. In contrast, Michelle Yeoh, the historic winner for the Best Actress Oscar, looked mother of the bride in her wedding party white Dior Couture dress, and enough diamonds to make a Hong Kong tai-tai look subtle. She seemed adrift in a curtain of feathers and a prim chiffon chest – truly not one of the better Dior efforts. In a similar train was the Chanel Couture gown on Michelle Willams. Despite the refined couture craftsmanship, the sheer cape and embellished column dress was a damp whimper.
The strongest look of the evening was neither black, white or bondage – it was the sapphire Louis Vuitton look worn by Cate Blanchett; the bold archival top was striking, and the entire fluid look was a fresh take on the Greek goddess gown.
We at ABARA can’t help but think that all the Oscar outfits, the daring and the dull, could do much better with one of our luxury handbags as a highlight!
