Oscar red carpet looks inspired by art history

The Oscars red carpet has become a canvas for fashion houses like Valentino, Givenchy, Schiaparelli, Alexander McQueen, Giorgio Armani Privé, Prada, Christian Siriano, and Louis Vuitton to create looks referencing art movements and masterpieces. In 2019, Lady Gaga wore an Alexander McQueen black gown with a Tiffany yellow diamond necklace, evoking Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Zendaya in 2021 wore a yellow Valentino Haute Couture dress inspired by Cher and Italian Renaissance colors. Nicole Kidman in 2023 wore a Giorgio Armani Privé gown with black sequins, a slit, and embroidered 3D flowers reminiscent of Gustav Klimt. Lupita Nyong'o in 2014 wore a Prada pleated sky-blue dress with Impressionist references, which she called 'Nairobi blue' after her Kenyan hometown. Emma Stone in 2017 wore a gold Givenchy Haute Couture dress with fringe and geometric details recalling Tamara de Lempicka's Art Deco style. Billy Porter in 2019 wore a black Christian Siriano tuxedo dress blending masculine and feminine elements, inspired by Renoir's painting Madame Georges Charpentier and Her Children. At the 2024 Oscars, Emma Stone wore a custom Louis Vuitton surrealist look, and Sandra Hüller wore a Schiaparelli surrealist gown. The article argues that 'the art of dressing' is an apt phrase for these creations.