When the Oscars were also a fashion show: a tradition that has been lost

Thirty years ago, the Oscars were not just about celebrating the seventh art: they also offered a real fashion show. The outfits competing for the Oscar for best costumes were presented on stage during a fashion show. A concept that has now disappeared, but whose images continue to fascinate fashion and film lovers.

This Monday, March 3rd, the 97th Academy Awards ceremony will take place in Los Angeles. While the event has evolved with the times, there was a time when fashion played a much more prominent role. Each year, the costumes nominated for the Oscar for Best Costume Design came to life under the spotlight, worn in some editions by iconic models. A true cross between Hollywood glamour and fashion, this parade integrated into the ceremony added a touch of pomp and spectacle to the evening.

Now abandoned for timing reasons – the ceremony now has twenty-four categories – this tradition has nevertheless left its mark. At a time when red carpet looks are becoming one of the most talked about topics of the evening and when fashion and cinema are more linked than ever, many would like to see this concept revived. 

When 90s top models walked the Oscars

In the 90s, the golden age of supermodels, this segment of the ceremony transformed the Oscars into a real fashion show. At the 1996 edition, spectators were able to witness an anthology moment: the costumes of “Braveheart”, “Richard III”, “Sense and Sensibility”, “12 Monkeys” and “The King’s Gift” (the winner) were introduced by a dream cast, including Tyra Banks, Patricia Velásquez, Brandi Quinones, Frederique van der Wal and Bridget Hall. And to present the statuette, it was none other than supermodels Naomi Campbell and Claudia Schiffer who were tasked.

A cult moment, recently brought back to light by the All thing fashion account on TikTok. “This is the perfect year to take up this concept! With “Wicked”, “Nosferatu”, or “Gladiator II”, it would be incredible!”, enthused one Internet user in the comments. Even fashion influencer Camille Charrière couldn’t hide her enthusiasm: “It’s totally crazy, I’m obsessed! It absolutely has to come back.”

A spectacular tradition that has fallen into oblivion

While the 1996 Oscars remain one of the last notable examples of this costume parade, the tradition goes back much further. Between 1970 and 1990, this grandiose staging was a staple of the ceremony.

In 1978, for example, the famous costume designer of “Star Wars”, Jogn Mollo, won the Oscar for best costumes. On that occasion, the now legendary outfits from the science fiction film paraded alongside those from “The 747”, “Julia”, “The Other Side of Midnight” and “A Little Night Music”.

Three years earlier, in 1975, the costumes from the film “The Great Gatsby” were staged in a sophisticated choreography, before leaving with the precious statuette. Sometimes, the show went even further: in 1985, an elephant was even used on stage to present the costumes from the film “The Road to India”. It is understandable then why, almost thirty years after its end, this tradition continues to fascinate fashion and cinema enthusiasts, leaving behind images that are as iconic as they are timeless.