The Academy’s decision to host the Academy Awards Nominees Dinner, after last month’s cancellation of the annual Oscar nominee luncheon due to the California fires, was a thoughtful gesture. It gave first-time nominees like Ariana Grande the opportunity to soak in the magic ahead of Sunday’s main event.
But let’s talk about the real magic here: Ariana’s look.
If you’ve been paying attention to the red carpet lately, you’ll know that we are well and truly in our archive era. But the latest twist? Not just wearing vintage, but rewearing a gown that has already had its red carpet moment—think Keke Palmer in Jamie Lee Curtis’ vintage Chanel at the SAG Awards on Sunday.
Ariana, who is no stranger to an archive pull, continued her love affair with vintage by selecting a Yves Saint Laurent Fall/Winter 1991 Haute Couture gown from Rita Watnick’s LILY et Cie, the Beverly Hills mecca for fashion’s most exquisite archival finds.
Now, I was genuinely surprised that more of you weren’t swooning over Ariana’s custom Loewe gown at the SAG Awards, but I have a very strong feeling that this will be the look that finally gets a standing ovation from you.
Why? For starters, this black number eliminates any risk of her being washed out. The chiffon skirt brings romance, the bow-accented corseted bodice delivers drama, and the soft pink ostrich feather accents at the neckline? A subtle Glinda-coded moment that ties her Wicked journey into this fashion narrative.
And in case you were wondering about its red carpet history, this gown was originally worn by Catherine Deneuve at the 65th Academy Awards in 1993, where she presented the Costume Design Oscar to Eiko Ishioka for Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
Unlike Catherine, Ariana skipped the statement earrings—because let’s be real, that’s just not her thing—and opted for simple pearl studs. Understated, elegant, and perfectly Ariana.
So, what’s not to love about this?
Stylist: Mimi Cuttrell.
Credit: Academy / Pinterest
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