How screen stars fashion an Oscar night triumph
March 16, 2002

By Lisa Armstrong, Fashion Editor

WHEN Kate Winslet was nominated for an Oscar, she said: “From now on, it’s all about the frock.”

How very true. Nicole Kidman is said to be “in heavy negotiations” about her Oscar outfit. Winslet apparently has two stylists: the LA-based Jessica Pastor, who has become a doyenne of Oscar tactics, and Cheryl Konteh, the London-based fashion editor of In-Style magazine.

Winslet and Kidman will have their pick of the world’s designers for the ceremony a week on Sunday. Older actresses may have a tougher time as they may not fit in with the image designers are promoting.

Kidman has been working with L’Wren Scott, one of the big Hollywood stylists, and chatting regularly with her new best friend Tom Ford. Kidman, a fashion leader, may well wear something from Ford’s Yves Saint Laurent collection. Then again, she may wear Chanel couture.

The other burning issue is whether Kidman’s dress should be black (her favourite colour currently) or platinum (Scott’s preference). On such minute incremental adjustments is global stardom based.

There is so much at stake, and so much choice, that employing a dedicated stylist is probably a necessity. Having two, à la Winslett, borders on the reckless. Competition is fierce. A few years ago one LA-based stylist called in most of the Versace collection for approval and kept it all until after the ceremony, ensuring that no one else wore Versace.

Sydney Goldman, who works for Ungaro on the Oscars, lent nine couture dresses to the same stylist who then went Awol for two weeks. “She didn’t return my calls or my clothes until after the awards, so we couldn’t send them out to any other actresses.”

Designers are growing wise to such tactics and competition is fierce. When Julia Roberts won last year, pictures of her in a Valentino dress appeared on front pages around the world.

This weekend 30 Ferretti Oscar dresses are on their way to Los Angeles where the designer has taken a suite at The Hermitage so the actresses can make their choices in suitably palatial surroundings.

Ungaro has a suite too. Tamara Mellon, of Jimmy Choo, will be working round the clock from her suite at The Peninsula, where her team will hand-dye shoes to match dresses. Ferreti will fly in her ironer from Italy to press them.

While Winslet clearly knows the game, other British actresses profess themselves bemused. Dame Judi Dench may do without a stylist and turn to her old favourites, Abu Jani and San Deep Khosla, who have dressed her for award ceremonies before.

Dame Maggie Smith meanwhile has said she just wants “to be comfy”. In Oscar terms, this will probably translate into a beaded Armani jacket and trousers.

Source: The Times