The shocking comeback of historical fashion at the oscars

Julia Teronde

Although the Oscars were, arguably, a total flop this year, the fashion was magnificent. When overviewing many of the outfits, anyone who knows even the slightest amount about historical fashion can spy both a beautiful and worrying trend. The silhouettes swoop and drape with an emphasis on a tiny waist and big hips. The neck lines are boxy and give the illusion of square shoulders. These grand dresses indicate that the designers were influenced by the rococo era. This period lasted from 1740 to 1770, most notably in France, and ended because of the French Revolution.

In my opinion, Wicked star Cynthia Erivo's dress is simply amazing. One of the most notable characteristics of it is the silhouette, of great importance in character design where it is often used to make an impact on the viewer. One can also see some motifs reflected in the dress from her role in the movie. The blaring isosceles neck pieces, for example, resemble a witches hat. The dress would be top-heavy on anyone else but Erivo’s shaved head and chunky jewelry evens it out. Whoever styled her did an amazing job!

Cynthia's costar, Ariana Grande, also very clearly took influence from the rococo era, mainly in her skirt. With a daintier look, the baby pink and champagne fabrics fall in a graceful manner, both contrasting each other with the difference in textures. The most noticeable thing in this piece, however, is not its masterful scalping (which results in the impression of constant motion) but instead the pads which poked out of her bodice, taking away from the whole allure and soft nature of the dress. 

Where Erivo’s piece delivered on all fronts, Grande’s fell short in terms of its execution. When money is no barrier, the opulence of this period in French history should be conveyed in the meticulous execution and cohesion in these pieces.