Made for Each Other: Fashion and the Academy Awards

I bought this book assuming it was sort of a glossy, coffee table photography book. Imagine my surprise when it came and I realized there was more text than photos! This turned out to be a good thing, though, as the book is a fascinating, almost scholarly anthropological account of Academy Awards fashion. You'll find yourself being amazed at not only the hoops the designers jump through to please the actresses, but at the level of minutae and detail that goes into designing (and then sewing) a dress that will be viewed by literally billions of people. There are hair-raising stories of dresses gone wrong, a good, long look at the vintage gowns some actresses have chosen to wear, and a lot of information on the actual construction of these unique gowns. It's well worth it for the Oscars aficionado.

I agree with a previous review that this book would have benefited from a thorough editing. Michael Kors for Celine designed Rene Russo's costumes in The Thomas Crowne Affair, not Randolph Duke. Gwyneth Paltrow won in 1999, not 1991. Hogs and Heifers, where Julia Roberts danced on the bar and left her bra nailed to the ceiling is in the Meatpacking District, not Tribeca. Nothing too serious, but irritating nonetheless. There are some great stories told here and the later part of the book that deals with the jockeying for position of designers to dress particular actresses is fascinating. But where are some of the more famous Oscar flops and hits? Kim Bassinger's self-designed dress. Demi Moore's hot pants? Halley Berry's Reem Acra? Kate Winset's huge necklace after Titanic? Uma's milkmaid dress? Another 30 pages would have been appreciated!

Wow! This book is such a great a read! Did you know that Miuccia Prada did not design Una Thurman's Prada Oscar dress? That Bette Davies picked up her Best Actress Oscar in an old film costume? That Louise Rainer wore her nightgown to the ceremony? The revelations just keep on coming. Bronwyn Cosgrave's masterpiece charts the secret history of all the major Oscar dresses we all love and remember. This book really has to become the difinative volume on the subject. It's fantastically gossipy and wondefully informative, a real joy to read. I could not put it down! The pictures and illustrations are stunning. Cosgrave has tracked down many never before published sketches froma range of designers from Dior to Dolce & Gabbana. This really is made for anyone who loves both film and fashion!