The Oscars 2021

4.26.21

Last night the 93rd Oscars Academy Award show aired live from Los Angeles. After cancellations across award shows and all other live events last year during the pandemic, the Oscars looked a bit different in order to comply with all necessary guidelines to keep everyone safe and up to protocol. However, the Oscars seemingly were able to pull it off, and not by Zoom calls and sweatpants. The Oscars rolled in person, mask-less while cameras were rolling. Though on a much, much smaller scale than previous years, the venues looked amazing, as well as all fo the attendees.

This year, those in attendance included the nominees, plus one guest. The smallest attendance to date in the Oscars history. However, the Academy would hold nothing back from making this another special and meaningful year for all those in attendance, and watching world wide (except in China, because the government refused to play this Oscars in China for the first time in fifty years). First, let us discuss the pre-show ceremony.

David Rockwell is an Award Winning Architect, and has designed a couple of stages for the Oscars in the past. This year, he receives a tricky task to design something that is interesting and beautiful, while compiling with all social distancing protocols. The end result, outstanding. This set is said to take some inspiration from the first Oscars set up in 1929. A small show itself, mostly designed to be an intimate cocktail party with ornate florals, crystals and lights, hanging form the ceilings, and created as table centerpieces as well.

The pre-show ceremony was an outdoor lounge and cocktail party. The lounge set up included walnut colored wood set ups. From an entrance standpoint, keeping all confirmed members within the location. To different ground levels, as there were many different seating arrangements to allow parties to have their own spaces as desired. Each table set up also came with a walnut wooden barrier separating them from nearby seating arrangements, also holding a television to see any of the action that was going on in other areas of the event at that time. There were a number of gorgeous trees through the lounge, and floral and lights to die for. Similarly to the event from 1929, an immense amount beautiful and colorful floral arrangements and lights were draped from the about. This night, being tied into the trees that stood overhead. There was a large center stage, for nominations to come be interviewed, while maintaining a comfortable distance from the hosts. Overall, an amazingly beautiful set up.

Inside the show, once awards began, looked like we were inside a true theatre. The room was relatively small but built up through high staircases and seating arrangements to allow everyone the best view of the center stage right in front of their eyes. Parties all received a navy blue velour booth, that was shaped rather round, so that each booth side-by-side was closed off from one another, allowing social distancing protocols to remain in attack, throughout the night. Regina King, whom was the host of the night, let everyone know in her opening monologue that the night was going to be set up quite similarly to being on set to film a movie. Everyone was tested multiple times, however, they will stay within all necessary protocols. When filming, the participants masks can be off, when filming ends, masks on.

In addition to the reassurance of safety through the night, Regina King touched on the safety of what many have been feeling the past several months (or lack there of). She mentions that if things had not gone differently in Minnesota last week, she may have just showed up in marching boots rather than her heels. That is to say that, she is making a thankful statement of the verdict in the Chauvin case, convicting the officer that killed George Floyd. She shared the feeling of being the mother of a black child, and the extra percussions that he will need to take on the daily, even when unarmed and under control.

On top of the meaningful opening remarks, Regina King looked fantastic, like all of the other nominations throughout the night. Regina wore a Louis Vuitton, soft blue satin dress with a firm ruffle sleeve, and plenty of crystals. The dress itself was created in the Louis Vuitton design house, and is said to have taken over 140 hours to make, using 62,000 sequins, 3,900 pale sparkling stones, 4,500 in darker tones, and 80 meters of chain stitching - a record breaking number of Swarovski crystals on a garment for the Louis Vuitton house! The shape certainly may not be for everyone, but it was absolutely stunning and Regina stayed the look.

Photo 1: James Anthony (@IamJamesAnthony) (@crowdMGMT)

Photo 2: Gregoire VIEILLE

As if these crystals were not adding enough bling to the night, it seemed as though chrome, bright colors and sequin were truly the “color of the night.” I can surely say that wearing sweatpants everyday for the past year and surely made me want to dress up to the nines when just going to the grocery store, so these actors and actresses surely went all out in their looks for this years’ event.

H.E.R. was nominated for her song Fight For You, from the Judas and the Black Messiah Soundtrack, which was also nominated for plenty of awards. H.E.R. was also able to present her live performance previously recorded, of the song. Each of her outfits were breathtaking, and standoutish without a doubt.

The outfit she wore to the event, was a blue sequin jumpsuit, with a cape that wrapped around her head as well. This was inspired by a Prince outfit, in which he wore back in 1985 when he won his Academy Award for “Purple Rain.” Peter Dundas is the designer of H.E.R’s unique royal blue jumpsuit with hand-embellished beads and sequin. He is also the Creative Director at Roberto Cavalli. For her pre-recorded performance, she wore a pant and jacket suit of an emerald green color and sequin galore. It was absolutely stunning as well.

Let’s continue with the incredible looks, by stating that gold was in fact, the color of the evening. There were gold sequin looks, gold fabric, some yellow gold and everything in between.

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Leslie Odom Jr. wore his all gold suit from Cartier jewelry, stepping i’m the building, knowing he was a winner just for being nominated tonight. Carey Mulligan wore a two piece Valentino Haute Couture set. A gold sequin number including a bandeau top, and a luxiourious ball gown skirt. This has got to be my absolute favorite look of the night. Although, Travon Free and Zaria wearing Dolce & Gabbana and Bulgari jewelry absolutely blew my mind (second row, third column). If me and my man are not coming in the party in the matching silky gold/rose gold fits, ooohhh kick him out. Everyone did fantastic here, and honorary mention to Zendaya who wore a bright yellow, and has never once disappointed on the Red Carpet. Zendaya wore a yellow Valentino gown with a mid section cut-out, and six million dollars worth of Bulgari jewelry. Her look was inspired by a Cher jumpsuit she wore in her own show from 1970.

Red was certainly the color that shined though the night. Some of my favorites included Angela Bassett in Alberta Ferretti and Chopard jewelry, those sleeves were to die for, Reese Witherspoon in Dior and Bulgari jewelry, a true legend in this space, and oh my goodness, Amanda Seyfried slayed in Armani Privé.

Of course, many others chose to stand out in their own way. Might it be a bright pink tux, a lacey slip, some feathers, a new hair cut, or a suit from the 70s, there is something so beautiful about fashion that I refuse to hate on any of these looks this time around. Some I would wear than others, absolutely. If I could own Dana Murray’s dress, I would die. But I think everyone showed up and showed out for the 2021 Oscars.