The 2023 “Oscar” Award for the Best in Costume Design

There is “Venus de Milo,” a statue by Alexandros of Antioch,  there is “David,” the statue by Michelangelo, and then there is “Oscar,” the world’s most recognized statuette  which has graced the mantles of famous filmmakers since 1929. The statuette was designed in 1928 by Cedric Gibbons, an MGM Studio art director, and sculpted by George Stanley.

The desired by all trophy will glitter magically as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presents its annual awards show, better known as The Oscars.

In my research on the Oscar statuette, I learned that the statue is thirteen and a half inches in height and weighs eight and a half pounds. I also was surprised to find out that the Oscar statuette of the knight holding a crusader’s sword is standing on a reel of a film with an inscription which signifies only five original branches of the Academy: actors, directors, producers, technicians, and writers.

Oh, mon Dieu! Really? Seriously? What about the costume designers, my favorite award of the evening? Well, that intrigued me enough to do some additional research on some of the outstanding nominees who were selected in this year’s costume design category. And although all five designers will be honored at the evening’s ceremony, only one lucky winner will take the coveted statuette home.

“Why costume designers?” You may ask me. Well, I am glad you did. The costume designers express their gratitude without getting into the prolonged and irritating comments on politics du jour. As a matter of fact a few years back, Jimmy Kimmel, the show’s host, offered a special gift: a set of shiny new ultra chic Jet Skis, valued at $17,999 for the shortest acceptance speech. I hope he repeats this offer this year.

You may have heard at the past Oscar awards shows that it is not winning but being nominated that counts, so with this in mind, let’s review the five Oscar-nominated costume designers who reflect the culture and the historic era depicted in each of the movies.

 

“Babylon”

Director: Damien Chazelle

Cast: Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie

Costumes by Mary Zophres

Mary Zophres is an American costume designer who has worked in the film industry since 1994. She has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best in Costume Design twice, for “True Grit” and “La La Land.”

 

“Elvis”

Director: Buz Luhrmann

Cast: Austin Butler and Tom Hanks

Costumes by Catherine Martin

 

Catherine Martin is an Australian costume designer and production and set designer. She won two Academy Awards for “Moulin Rouge” and two for “The Great Gatsby.” Having won four Oscars, she is the most awarded Australian in Oscar History.

 

 

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”

Director: Ryan Coogler

Cast: Angela Bassett and Michael B. Jordan

Costumes by Ruth Carter

 

Ruth Carter is an American costume designer with over 40 films to her credit. During her nearly-30-year film career, Carter has been nominated four times for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design and won this award for the “Black Panther” and became the first African-American to win an Oscar in this category.

 

“Everything Everywhere All at Once”

Director: Daniel Kwan

Cast: Michelle Yeoh, James Hong and Jamie Lee Curtis

Costumes by Shirley Kurata

 

Shirley Kurata is an American wardrobe stylist and costume designer based in Los Angeles. Kurata’s clients include many celebrities with Billie Ellish, Lena Dunham, Pharrell Williams and Zoe Deshanell. This is her first nomination for an Academy Award.

 

“Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris”

Director: Anthony Fabian

Cast: Lesley Manville, Isabelle Huppert, Lucas BrAVO

Costumes byJenny Beavan

 

Jenny Beavan is an English costume designer. She has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design twelve times, winning three Oscars for “A Room with a View,” “Mad Max: Fury Road” and “Cruella.”

 

Although my choice for the “Oscar” 2023 in Costume Design is Jenny Beavan,  I salute Mary Zophres from “Babylon,” Catherine Martin from “Elvis,” Ruth Carter for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and Shirley Kurata for “Everything Everywhere All at Once” for their originality and amazing creations for the movie stars who wear them perfectly.

Cheers, and see you at the 2023 Oscars! Well, being  a movie nut as I am, it is my annual Oscar fun night when I get adorned in my glamorous sweat-suit, relax comfortably on my den’s couch, sip a glass of chilled bubbly with a bit of iced caviar.,, and a chocolate Oscar statuette  for dessert.

Ahh.. and I hope my favorite actor Austin Butler wins a 2023 Oscar statuette for his role as Elvis!

By Lina Broydo