/ 27 March 2000

The way they wore

Playful, vintage looks dominated the Oscar fashion parade, reports Sarah Tippit.

That dress, that slit-to-the-navel, cut-to-the-crotch gown that actress Jennifer Lopez dared wear to the Grammys, appeared on the red carpet last night – worn by South Park‘s very male director, Trey Parker.

Parker strolled into the 72nd Academy Awards dressed in drag and accompanied by his South Park collaborator Matt Stone, who wore a replica of the cotton candy pink Ralph Lauren gown worn to last year’s Oscars by Gwyneth Paltrow.

“It’s such a magical night,” Parker said, twirling around to show reporters his outfit – a blue-and-green copy of the original heart-stopping Versace gown that Lopez wore – photos of which were the most frequently downloaded on the internet in recent memory.

Parker was tanned and bra-less and wore tight green sequined boxer shorts. His rhinestone flip flops were designed by Karen Mark, he said, and his long, flowing hair was held back à la Lopez, with a black fabric band.

“We’re not ashamed of our bodies,” Parker told Reuters. “This event is the most important thing in the world.”

Actors in general seemed more playful in dressing for this year’s Oscar ceremony with loose, flowing hair, bits of sparkle and beading, fur trim, and ethnic looks, particularly Indian and African, floating down the red carpet.

Singer Erykah Badu showed up in a handmade “wearable work of art” made by a friend consisting of green leather squares sewn together with yellow raffia with dried flowers tucked into the seams.

“We literally just finished making this gown 20 minutes ago. I love it. It’s my favourite colour,” the actress, who appears in The Cider House Rules, said. Her African-inspired turban was made from three pieces of cloth tied together with yellow raffia.

Several actors wore vintage outfits. Charlize Theron wore an orange Old Hollywood-inspired sheath gown by Vera Wang with her hair in ringlet curls. Chloe Sevigny wore a black Yves St Laurent ball gown with a plunging

neckline and antique 19th-century diamond necklace by jeweller

Asprey & Garrard. “I narrowed it down to five gowns and decided

like yesterday” to wear the gown, she said.

Also in the retro department was best supporting actress winner Angelina Jolie, who wore a severe black dress and long black wig that was reminiscent of Morticia from The Addams Family or Cher.

Hilary Swank, who won the best actress award, departed from

her boyish look in Boys Don’t Cry and appeared in a mustardy-yellow Randolph Duke ball gown with diamond necklace. “I was blessed with many gowns to choose from, but when I put this on he gasped and I knew this was the one,” she said, referring to her actor husband, Chad Lowe.

Others who wore variations on yellow were Catherine Deneuve, who appeared in shimmery golden Yves St Laurent, and Nicole Kidman in a yellow-gold Dior gown. Kidman, accompanied by husband Tom Cruise in a navy tux, wore gloves of gold mesh punctuated by rubies and pearls.

Several actresses appeared in reds and purples, among them Lucy Liu in a sheer silk Versace, with all the right spots covered with sewn-on red, purple and berry beads. Also in red were Angela Bassett and and Uma Thurman in Alberto Ferretti. Salma Hayek and Ashley Judd wore lavender.

The two young women who starred in American Beauty arrived in two very different baby blue outfits. Thora Birch was prim and elegant in a tulle blue top with white embroidered skirt by Armani. Mena Suvari went glam in a platinum and blue sequined gown by Escada, her golden locks in an elaborate do.

The red carpet was also spotted with a healthy dose of basic black. Among those who wore black were Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Julianne Moore, who wore a black Chanel gown. Melanie Griffith was one of the few who dared wear a dress slit to her crotch, a black sheer silk adorned with black crystal beads.

Another who wore black was young Haley Joel Osment who, in his tiny tux, spoke to reporters about Oscar dressing: “I’m glad all I have to worry about is my tux. It works for me.” – Reuters

The 72nd Academy Awards will be screened on M-Net on Monday March 27 at 7pm