Star Style at the Academy Awards: A Century of Glamour

by Patty Fox, Bob Mackie (Foreword)

A fashion coordinator for the Academy Awards shares her insights into the history of fashion at the gala event

128 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2000

Reviews

[Serena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers a great overview and fascinating history of Oscar red carpet fashion and how it's evolved, from the early days before television, all the way through today - well, 2000, to be exact - when the Academy Awards is considered fashion's biggest night. From the early stars who worked with Hollywood costume designers to craft a fitting look for their public image, to stars' first forays into dressing themselves - oftentimes, with wild/kooky results - to Giorgio Armani's strategic decision to use stars as billboards for his clothes, and ending with the rise of the personal stylist, who acts as a liaison between the star and the designers who would dress her - it's all in here. The book also profiles a number of stars who have captivated audiences with their red carpet choices - from Audrey Hepburn, to Elizabeth Taylor, to Geena Davis. My only quibble with this book? Not enough photos to see what all the fuss is about. The reader has to rely on the author's descriptions of many of the dresses without the benefit of a photo. Also, some of the (more contemporary) photos could have been in color to allow the reader to see the dress in all its colorful glory. But overall this book is a great addition to any library on Hollywood fashion history.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's a lot of backstage history in this small book, though how much of it would be new to any avid fan of Old Hollywood films and its attendant glamour, would be hard to say. Most likely not much. What I did love about this book is the fact the it's bookended by the 1990s, the decade that I actively payed attention to the Acadamy Awards and the ensuing fashion hype. It was exciting! So this earned its stars for appealing to my sense of nostalgia. And it wasn't done in a pandering way, the one we're having to endure now with all things '90s resurging. This book was published in 2000, so it's as good as stumbling across some magazines from that era. Ditto for the '60s, '70s, and '80s.

[Merriam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly entertaining, but this doesn't at all compare to Star Style: Hollywood Legends as Fashion Icons.