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The Most Unforgettable Oscar Dresses Of The Century
Halle Berry, 2002
Halle Berry was universally lauded for the burgundy Elie Saab gown she wore to the 2002 Oscars, where she picked up an award for Best Actress. She became the first black woman to do so, cementing the gown in film history.
"This moment is so much bigger than me,” said Berry in her acceptance speech. “This moment is for Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, Diahann Carroll. It’s for the women that stand beside me, Jada Pinkett, Angela Bassett, Vivica A. Fox. And it’s for every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened.”
Elie Saab became part of that monumental moment, and that specific red carpet launched the designer's career and put the Lebanese label on the map. The gown had fashion critics raving about it for weeks, cementing it in Hollywood history. Shortly after Berry's win, Saab was invited to become a member of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture in Paris — a rare distinction in the fashion world.
With the asymmetrical sheer bodice, the full skirt, and the rich colors, Berry's gown was unique and memorable. So much so that we're still talking about it almost two decades after its debut.
"This moment is so much bigger than me,” said Berry in her acceptance speech. “This moment is for Dorothy Dandridge, Lena Horne, Diahann Carroll. It’s for the women that stand beside me, Jada Pinkett, Angela Bassett, Vivica A. Fox. And it’s for every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened.”
Elie Saab became part of that monumental moment, and that specific red carpet launched the designer's career and put the Lebanese label on the map. The gown had fashion critics raving about it for weeks, cementing it in Hollywood history. Shortly after Berry's win, Saab was invited to become a member of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture in Paris — a rare distinction in the fashion world.
With the asymmetrical sheer bodice, the full skirt, and the rich colors, Berry's gown was unique and memorable. So much so that we're still talking about it almost two decades after its debut.
