Costume Designers Thrived in the 97th Oscars Spotlight – Maintain This Emphasis for Future Events
The 97th Academy Awards celebrated costume design in an unconventional and impactful manner by employing the "Fab 5" presentation format for the Best Costume Design category, previously exclusive to acting categories. This groundbreaking move brought a fresh focus on the artistry of costume design, evidenced by the inclusion of a montage spotlighting the nominees' work and presenters such as Lily-Rose Depp and her fellow actors [1].
The emotional pinnacle of the event was Paul Tazewell's win for Best Costume Design, recognized for his work on Wicked. This historical moment marked the first time a Black man received this honor, which Tazewell humbly acknowledged during his acceptance speech [5]. The combination of a novel presentation format and a landmark victory underscores the significance and creativity of costume designers at the 2025 Oscars.
The "Fab 5" presentation began with a comical skit featuring an actor from each of the five nominated films. The hilarious segment showcased each nominee's elegant red carpet attire, with an unexpected appearance of Bowen Yang wearing his Shiz University uniform [3]. This memorable moment served as an iconic representation of the impact of costume design on storytelling.
The tributes delivered by each actor provided a heartfelt recognition of the nominated costume designers, breaking away from convention and allowing each designer to be acknowledged before the envelope was even opened.
Lily-Rose Depp, who played Ellen Hutter, expressed her admiration for first-time Oscar® nominee Linda Muir by stating, "Your work transformed our vision of the vampire. Haunting, exquisite, and unforgettable" [2]. Elle Fanning paid a heartfelt tribute to longstanding admirer Arianne Phillips, emphasizing the impact of her work on A Complete Unknown. She also showcased the magnitude of Phillips' dedication to character development in the film.
John Lithgow humorously elaborated on the remarkable work of Lisy Christl on Conclave and the unexpected perks of his costume. Connie Nielsen paid tribute to Janty Yates and Dave Crossman for their work on Gladiator II, highlighting Yates' triumphant return to the franchise following her Academy Award® win [4]. Finally, Bowen Yang extended a comedic yet heartfelt nod to Paul Tazewell, recognizing the impact of his work on Wicked.
In the end, Paul Tazewell made history by becoming the first Black man to win in the Best Costume Design category. The ceremony's unique approach to acknowledging the category honored costume designers in a manner that had previously been lacking, shedding light on their essential role in the film industry and the stories it tells [6].
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is commended for the innovative "Fab 5" presentation format and is strongly encouraged to make this format a lasting tradition to showcase the importance of costume designers in the filmmaking process [7]. While the design community continues to strive for recognition and support, the 2025 Oscars successfully demonstrated that even small steps can make a significant impact in shaping public perception and uplifting this critical and often overlooked craft.
References:
[1] Oscars® 2025 Introduce New "Fab Five" Presentation for Best Costume Design
[2] Lily-Rose Depp Addresses Linda Muir at the Oscars® 2025 Costume Design Tribute
[3] The Iconic Shiz University Uniform Moment at the Oscars® 2025
[4] Dave Crossman and Janty Yates Celebrated for Work on Gladiator II at the Oscars® 2025
[5] Paul Tazewell Makes History as First Black Winner of Best Costume Design at the Oscars® 2025
[6] Costume Designers Recognized and Celebrated at the Oscars® 2025
[7] The Future of Costume Design Recognition at the Academy Awards® - A Look Ahead to the Oscars® 2026 and Beyond
- The "Fab 5" presentation format during the Oscars-2025 brought a new focus on the artistry of costume design in movies-and-tv, showcasing the essential role of costume designers in the film industry.
- Entertainment moguls commend the significant impact of costume design at the Oscars-2025, as evidenced by the emotional victory of Paul Tazewell in the Best Costume Design category for his work on Wicked in movies-and-tv, which also marked a historic moment for the entertainment industry.
