The Oscars are the most glamorous night of the year. But just because you have an invite — or even a nomination — doesn’t give you license to rock the fanciest frock you can find.
In fact, industry insiders tell The Post that wearing a custom princess pouf or glittering gold when you’re not up for one of the evening’s top prizes could be as much of a faux pas as wearing off-the-rack Zara.
It’s not just the plus-ones who have to worry about ruffling feathers, either.
Lady Gaga experienced this last month, when she arrived at the Golden Globes in a periwinkle Valentino confection that required two wranglers to manage the lengthy train — only to lose the acting prize to Glenn Close, dressed in an understated black cape.
Dressing a Best Actress winner in the right outfit starts months before the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences even announces the nominees.
According to a VIP fashion publicist, who spoke on condition of anonymity, brands are paying attention as early as the spring and summer, with film festivals such as Cannes in May and Venice in August.
“I’m looking at what movies are getting buzz that are likely to make it to the Oscars, and we’re engaging with those actors and actresses early and trying to form relationships,” she says.
Being a shoo-in for the grand prize isn’t the only priority, she says, adding that a designer would rather have someone that matches his or her aesthetic and messaging — but it does change the conversation.
There’s also the question of whether the actor is up for a leading or supporting role award. The former tend to wear belle-of-the-ball gowns or sequinned Old Hollywood numbers.
But Supporting Actress winners, he says, “have more leeway.” Think Lupita Nyong’o’s powder blue Prada from 2014 or Viola Davis’ striking ruby sheath from 2017.
Still, designers want to dress their clients in a way that will draw attention to the brand, which sometimes is at odds with what the celebrities — even those who will be on the grand stage presenting an award — think is appropriate.
That has happened to Aliza Licht, a fashion industry executive who previously did celebrity dressing for Donna Karan.
Designer Christian Siriano, who outfitted a whopping 17 women for last year’s Oscars, including Supporting Actress nominee Laurie Metcalf, says that upstaging a winner is certainly a concern among some of his clients.
“There are definitely actresses that are like, ‘Oh, I’m not nominated, so I don’t want to stand out so much. I want to be a little more subdued, and I want to make sure that the attention is on the people being nominated,’ ” he tells The Post.
But he says that certain stars transcend the politics of the red carpet, such as Whoopi Goldberg, whom he dressed in a voluminous floral gown — and sunglasses.
“She’s like one of the only living EGOT winners. She’s gonna wear whatever she wants to wear,” he says.
Siriano is also seeing a shift.
And while Swennen will caution her clients if an outfit might read as too over-the-top for their station, she says she welcomes rule-breaking.