We’ve all had our share of fashion disasters, but imagine them unfolding on the world’s most watched red carpet! Over the years, the Academy Awards, aka the Oscars, have seen numerous instances of wardrobe malfunctions, featuring some of the biggest names in Hollywood. However, it’s how these celebrities handle these unfortunate mishaps that truly sets them apart.
Let’s take a walk down memory lane and revisit some iconic Oscars fashion blunders and the grace and humor with which these stars tackled them.
1. Jennifer Lawrence’s Red Carpet Stumble (2013)
In 2013, the world watched as Jennifer Lawrence, while walking up the stage to receive her Best Actress award for Silver Linings Playbook, tripped over her own dress and fell. But it was her recovery that made headlines as she got back up, laughed it off, and continued on to give an eloquent acceptance speech.
“I can look back on it now, I’m a little older now, but for a very long time the whole thing was very sensitive,” Lawrence said during a 2020 interview on Heather McMahan’s “Absolutely Not” podcast.
2. Emma Stone’s Dress Lift (2015)
Emma Stone had a brief wardrobe malfunction at the 2015 Oscars when she accidentally lifted the slit of her sequin Elie Saab couture dress a bit too high, revealing her underwear. However, she quickly composed herself and continued to dazzle the red carpet with her grace and charm.
3. Jenny McCarthy’s Backwards Dress (1997)
Jenny McCarthy made her first and only Oscars appearance in 1997 in a chic Valentino gown, but she later realized that she wore the dress backwards the entire evening!
“He didn’t think it was as funny as I did,” she said. “I just said, ‘I’m sorry, Valentino.’ Needless to say, I’ve never been dressed by Valentino again.”
4. Kim Basinger’s Dress Tear (1999)
In 1999, Kim Basinger faced the fear of every star when she heard her Randolph Duke strapless white dress tear as she was walking on stage to present an award. She quickly clutched her dress and managed to keep it from falling apart during her stage appearance.
5. Jenny Slate’s Dress Split (2023)
At the 2023 Oscars, Jenny Slate looked glamorous in a custom-made Thom Browne gown until it split when she sat down. Despite the malfunction, Slate managed to remain composed and even joked about it later on Jimmy Kimmel’s show.
6. Venus Williams’ Nip Slip (2022)
Venus Williams faced an unexpected wardrobe malfunction at the 2022 Oscars when the plunging neckline of her Elie Saab dress revealed a little too much. However, she quickly adjusted her dress and carried on with the evening’s festivities.
7. Charlize Theron’s Dress Split (2000)
Charlize Theron had a close call at her first Oscars appearance when her Vera Wang dress split open. Theron was saved by her fellow nominee Julianne Moore, who quickly found a safety pin and fixed Theron’s dress.
8. Barbra Streisand’s Transparent Pantsuit (1969)
Barbra Streisand’s sheer pantsuit at the 1969 Oscars is still remembered today. However, Streisand didn’t realize how revealing her outfit was until she saw it under the bright stage lights.
9. Oprah Winfrey’s Dress Disaster (1986)
When Oprah Winfrey attended the 1986 Oscars, she had to be laid on the floor to fit into her dress, which was too tight around the hips. Despite this, she managed to attend the event and even had a good laugh about the incident later.
10. Elisabeth Canalis’ Dress Rip (2010)
Italian actress Elisabeth Canalis experienced a sudden wardrobe malfunction moments before stepping onto the red carpet in 2010. Fortunately, her then-boyfriend George Clooney was able to mend her dress with his handy sewing skills.
11. Judy Greer’s Dress Unravel (2012)
Judy Greer found herself in an embarrassing situation at the 2012 Oscars when the beads from her dress started unraveling as she stepped onto the red carpet. Despite the mishap, Greer maintained her composure and even managed to find humor in the situation.
12. Giuliana Rancic’s Zipper Break (2014)
E! News host Giuliana Rancic had a wardrobe malfunction on live TV at the 2014 Oscars when her Paolo Sebastian gown’s zipper broke during the red carpet pre-show. Despite the setback, Rancic and her co-hosts managed to carry on with the show, proving that the show indeed must go on!
These unforgettable moments show that even the most glamorous Hollywood stars are not immune to fashion mishaps. However, it’s their grace, humor, and quick thinking that allow them to turn these potential disasters into memorable moments. This serves as a reminder to us all – it’s not the mishap itself, but how we handle it, that truly matters!
