How fabulous that you've been invited to an Oscar party! Okay, so it might not be an A-List soiree where you share shrimp skewers with Leonardo DiCaprio or Britney Spears, but it's a fun excuse to get all dressed up, nonetheless. What do you wear, though, if you don't have a celebrity stylist in your entourage? Fortunately, you've got some top fashion school students in your corner with some great ideas for Oscar party fashions.
Dust off the formal wear. If you've held on to that bridesmaid or prom dress, now is the time to take it out of the closet. Don't worry if you find it tacky. Has that ever stopped some of today's starlets? The thrift shop is a good place to start as well. One way to give your dress a facelift (well, this is Hollywood) is by adding sequins or beading. If you don't want to bother with sewing them on, you'll find sequined appliqués at the fabric store that you can just glue on the dress. Stores also carry rhinestones that have been already laid out in a decorative design, and you just iron them on as is.
Wrap yourself in mink. While you're at the fabric store, grab a yard of faux fur to make your own mink stole. It will up your elegance factor, and hide any unwanted puffy sleeves. Just cut the fur into a long trapezoid shape. (That means it would look like a long upside down boat.) There's no need to sew the edges, but be sure to remove the loose hairs from where you've cut. A quick vacuum job will do the trick.
Remember the accessories. One of the rules of Oscar fashion design is that the little details matter. For old-fashioned Hollywood glamour, don a pair of formal satin gloves. Carry a glittering clutch, preferably with a folded up acceptance speech peeking out. And don't forget the sunglasses to escape the glare of flashing cameras.
Bling it on. On Oscar night, the stars shine with jewelry, and so must you. You don't need to wear a lot, just a few pieces; the bigger and danglier the better. If you don't have any good costume jewelry of your own, here's a fun do-it-yourself idea to make a truly showstopping ring. Go to the hardware store and buy a clear plastic faucet handle. This is the type of faucet handle that looks like a humongous faceted diamond. The handle comes with a long screw that sits in an opening at the top. Tie the end of a 10" piece of wire around the head of the screw, and place the screw back in the opening, along with the rest of the wire. Apply a dab of hot glue to where the screw goes in the opening so it stays secure. Then loop the remainder of the wire around your ring finger. Now you've got a piece of jewelry that would make Elizabeth Taylor envious.
Go as the paparazzi. If you don't want to fuss with a dress, go high concept by dressing as paparazzi. That way, you can wear anything you want, as long as you have a camera at all times. And since paparazzi are always sneaking behind bushes for the perfect shot, take a small potted plant with you to hide behind throughout the party.
Dress like a nominated star. Make a big entrance by going as an Oscar nominee, your favorite star, or a character from a movie. (Hint: Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's is an easy choice.) If you're going with friends, you can all dress as the cast of a nominated film.
Go as the red carpet. Here's an idea that only a fashion college costume design major would dream up: dress as the red carpet. To create the look, start with a red turtleneck or long sleeve t-shirt and red sweatpants. Sew or safety pin the back of the shirt and pants to a rectangular piece of red felt that is as tall as you, and as wide as your arm span. Be sure to sew the sleeves so your arms will be outstretched, holding up the red carpet on both sides. Red mittens, red shoes, and a red cap will complete the look.
Oscar parties are always a lot of fun because we get to play along with the stars. And with these ideas for what to wear, the winner of Best Dressed will be you!
| If you love creating party outfits, then a career in fashion design could be right for you. Visit FIDM, Fashion college for more info.
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