Oscars 2020 Red Carpet: Old Hollywood Glamour Die-Hard

When Eminem shows up to perform his 18-year-old Oscars winning song “Lose yourself” at Oscars 2020, it confuses us what year is it exactly. Nostalgia’s a bitch, and Oscars 2020 red carpet confirms it. Let’s take a closer look at some of the Oscars’ red carpet looks this year, which promisingly resembles more or less the things that we are familiar with. On top of all that Hollywood glitz and glamour, we can’t help but wonder “What year is it”?

This gown screams Chanel. Why? Look at that iconic camellia flower. As Penélope stepped out the carpet, I literally blurted out that this gown was the incarnation of Chanel’s shopping bag. In a closer view, the strips around the neck, the layers of tulle lining, and the pearl belt are very vintage Chanel, all of which keep up the sophistication and elegance. It turns out that this dress revived a look from Chanel’s Spring 1995 Haute Couture archive. Hollywood stars are going vintage. Even if it’s not for the sake of the planet, the retro style has its irresistible magic to lure us into wearing vintage.

Let’s look at another Chanel Couture wore by Margot Robbie. This bustier silk gown is once again revitalized from Chanel’s 1994 Haute Couture collection. Those sleeves, it’s all about those detached dripping sleeves! However, as she opens her arms like the fourth picture shows, it may appear to be a bit like a crow with open wings. ( sorry! ) Besides, it looks like she stoled that pearl-adorned sapphire pendant from Thanos’s bejeweled Infinity Gauntlet. And the tassels… What can I say, I may never find tassels flattering.
(Photo: Getty Images)

Due to copyright, I linked the original images of these two Chanel Couture gowns from Europeana. Penélope Cruz’s Chanel Spring 1995 Haute Couture gown: https://www.europeana.eu/portal/en/record/2048212/chanel_css95_0065.html

Margot Robbie’s black Chanel Spring 1994 Haute Couture gown: https://www.europeana.eu/portal/en/record/2048212/chanel_css94_0082.html?q=1994

While Twitter users pointed out that Kristen Wiig’s dress looked like a slice of lasagna, some others compared it to a vagina (can’t deny that thought came to me as well). The dress also seems to me like a beating heart just ripped out by Damon or Klaus from The Vampire Diaries.  Well, at least we can agree, this dress is anything but boring.

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For as long as I stared at these two gowns, fragrance bottles were the only things I could think about. I don’t think it’s the combo of black and blush pink’s fault. The huge bow on the shoulder? The wide black waistband? Pink tulle and topped with tight black lace? They do not look very expensive to me, couture-much? Not feeling it, sorry.

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I have a perplexing feeling regarding this gown. Starting off, it assures me that the color combination of pink and black has done nothing wrong. Well, what’s wrong here is probably that crystal fringe. It first reminded me of the crystalized curtain coming from Billy Porter’s spectacular remote-controlled hat at the Grammys two weeks ago, as if that curtain partly transformed in black onto this dress. On second thought, if without that fringe, this gown sure as hell looks like a prom dress which you can find everywhere. But with that fringe, I bet nine out of ten people would say it is too much like a belly dancer’s top.

This Louis Vuitton gown features all the elements of old Hollywood glamour. Look at its beaded crystals and the sweetheart neckline, and the color of bright scarlet red. Don’t forget that satin shawl. All of a sudden, the picture of Marilyn Monroe in a white satin gown with a fur shawl is flashing in my head. (Photo: Getty Images)