Article written by Franki Martins, Connector Contributor.
This years’ Oscars ceremony left thousands of viewers with their jaws on the floor by the
night’s end. Although audience reactions could not solely be attributed to the celebrity red carpet
looks, the ceremony and its aesthetics will invariably be cemented in Hollywood history.
The red carpet designer looks and “in-house” entertainment signaled rebellion and
indulgence, whilst harkening back to a bygone era. Several designers seemed to take inspiration
from the roaring twenties, giving fans a modern-day reflection of the past.
21st Century Garconnne
In a modern twist of the boyish “Garconne,” many femme celebs were exploring androgynous shapes at the Academy Awards Afterparty. While “business chic” was not a common fashion choice in the twenties, the sleek, long lines given by palazzo pant-sets had risen in popularity. The palazzo style, straight leg pants and matching top was seen as exuberant and free-spirited, yet sophisticated. So, it’s only natural that the humble pantsuit would make its glorious return to mainstream consciousness by embodying the playful,
yet sensual, energy of the Garconne.
Zendaya stuns in a svelte pantsuit, accompanied with a sleek ponytail, large lapels and shoulderpads to sharpen her angles. Her pants had a conservative, straight cut. The long blazer gives a nod to the popular “zoot suit” of the Harlem Renaissance.
Image courtesy of Frazer Harrison.
Wanda Sykes ensemble also utilizes similar
techniques, with the addition of full, lace sleeves to add a more ‘traditionally feminine,’ flare to the design.
Image courtesy of Rich Polk for Variety.
Cynthia Erivo’s three-piece ensemble combined traditionally masculine and feminine shapes using a floor length midi skirt and blazer. Her blazer was adorned with multiple large buttons and zippers, which became more commonplace upon men’s outerwear after the commercial use of ‘fasteners,’ became popularized during the twenties.
Image courtesy of DigitalSpy.
Modern Day Art Deco
Art Deco designs also made an appearance on the red carpet as many celebrities displayed daring, geometric shapes. While Art Deco may seem to be a fluid sub-genre of fashion, some tell-tale signs are draping, flowy fabrics and gathers.
This era of fashion was meant to spur imagery of intricate sculptures and towers, inspired by skyscrapers built after World War I. Sculpted hair or eye-catching hair accessories were also often used to lend to the purposeful, crafted nature of the trend. ‘Decadence and wealth’ was the name of the game.
Easily identifiable shapes and structure can be found accenting each look, with Gyllenhaal and Scott utilizing shoulder pads to accentuate the movement of their respective looks.
Tati Gabrielle’s and Renate Reinsve’s and gowns feature gathering and contrasting textures often used in order to give the model a painted appearance. Their gowns also follow a guide of vertical lines that visually stretch the body.
Men’s Formalwear of the Future
with different aspects of twenties fashion. All of their looks integrated
bow ties and decorative neckwear into their colorful attire. Image courtesy of Infobae, ABC, Michael Baker, Jordan Strauss, AP.
Men’s Fashion wasn’t left out of the fun on Oscars’ Night. Candy colored suits dotted the red carpet,
pulling imagery of rebellious young men breaking free of the strict societal rules of previous generations.
Men’s formalwear has, admittedly, undergone few changes in past decades. However, the twenties saw a broad variety of aesthetic changes in masculine fashion. One of these aesthetic changes included a wide variety of colors and textures for suits.
Snipes’ evening look masterfully combines
the oxford bag trouser and knickerbockers to add a sporty flare to the suit, along with a lace-up sneaker that borrows its silhouette from ‘oxford’ penny loafers.
Image courtesy of David Swanson.
Yatra and McPhee both leaned into a pastel color palette with contrasting accessories. Yatra’s brogue shoes and waistcoat adhere closely to fashion norms of the twenties, while pops of black add a kitschy, horizontal symmetry to the three-piece suit.
