Flattery Will Get You Everywhere
The champagne had barely gone flat before two local designers had selected their favorite Academy Awards gowns and begun work on reinterpreting them for a wider audience.
The designers in question are A.B.S.’ Allen Schwartz, who has made a name for himself as a creator of Oscar-inspired gowns, and Casadei’s Eletra Casadei, a relative newcomer to the game who began offering her take on the celebrity gowns after the Academy Awards last year. Casadei said the media attention and the sales of the dresses encouraged her to do the same for this year’s Golden Globe Awards and the Academy Awards on March 24.
As luck would have it, both designers chose some of the same gowns to reinterpret: Julia Roberts’s Armani, Nicole Kidman’s Chanel, Halle Berry’s Elie Saab and Reese Witherspoon’s Valentino Couture. Casadei is also offering a dress inspired by Jennifer Connelly’s Balenciaga and Schwartz will offer his own versions of the Versace gowns worn by Sharon Stone and Jennifer Lopez.
Schwartz said the main difference between his interpretations of gowns worn by Hollywood’s leading ladies and the original creations is in the fabric and method. For example, instead of using silk for Nicole Kidman’s gown, Schwartz used rayon, and often the gowns do not have the same handiwork of the couture originals.
Casadei’s version of Witherspoon’s dress, however, was an exception. The lace dress with beading and appliqueacute;s was too detailed to be recreated by machine.
The Casadei dresses are also offered in alternate colors. For example, the Kidman-inspired dress will be offered in red and black in both short and long versions.
Schwartz’s samples were sent to New York for production and will be on the market by the end of April.
The gowns will be sold at Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s and all freestanding A.B.S. stores.
Casadei’s dresses are on display at the Address boutique in Santa Monica, Calif., and will be available for August deliveries.
