Plunging back and necklines, miles of silk and a treasure trove of diamonds will bathe the
Oscars red carpet in old-style Hollywood glamour when the stars come out
to play on Sunday.
The world's most famous catwalk show, capable of launching new fashion
trends overnight, will be marked this year by its eclectic style rather
than any single theme, and will feature
figure-hugging gowns reminiscent of Tinseltown golden age, fashion experts say.
With many of the 2006 hopefuls for cinema's top acting awards youthful,
first-time nominees, and no shadows such as a fresh war threatening to
tone down the ceremony as
happened in 2003, the fashion mood will be sumptuous, party-like and
varied.
"I'm sure we're going to see a return to the Hollywood glamour era,
we're going to see more variety than we've seen in the past," said Patty
Fox, fashion coordinator for the 78th Academy Awards.
Everything from multi-million-dollar diamond-encrusted jewels from
Hollywood's favourite jeweller Harry Winston, to tulle and princess-style evening dresses
will rule the show that will be watched by up to one billion television
viewers across the globe, Fox said.
"Our goals then were to return the glamour to Hollywood and engage the
viewers' interest in what the stars were wearing," she says. Now it is big
business.
The world's best-known fashion and jewellery designers flock to
Hollywood ahead of the show, armed with scores of gowns, jewels and
accessories to offer stars who turn up with their stylists to get
outfitted.
Even Hollywood's men are not immune from the fashion pressure. Many
will don stylish Armani tuxedos with waistcoats and accents of ivory
that will be "reminiscent of the days when celluloid Gary Cooper
prevailed," Fox said.
(Agencies)