I'm So Happy Everyone Switched Outfits Like Lady Gaga Switched Baristas
What was the best dressed red carpet moment, and why was it at the after-party?
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It’s time to talk about an important moment from Sunday night's Oscars events: Lady Gaga announced she switched baristas. She revealed this significant development during Elton John’s Oscar viewing party. In an exchange captured on video, Caitlyn Jenner asks why she hadn’t been seen around Malibu as much. L. Gaga looks confused for one second, before retorting simply. “I’ve switched baristas,” she said as she slowly walked away, holding up the tulle of her white gown. The world rejoiced as we came to the collective understanding that our favorite Italian girl from New York finally has a barista that can meet her needs.
In all seriousness, though, the other switch up of the night was one I was waiting for after sitting through the three-plus hour ceremony – the after-party. (I love a rough transition, sorry). It felt like the evening’s second red carpet theme was the awards show — but better. While I don’t subscribe to any sort of worst dressed fashion doctrine and feel strongly that we should respect both the people that made the outfit and the personal style choices of its wearer, we still didn’t get the fashion drama that I was craving at the actual ceremony.
It’s the OSCARS. These are MOVIE STARS. I wanted trains, I wanted archival pieces that told a real story, I wanted a show! Instead, I felt like I got some pretty dresses on some pretty people.
However, the Vanity Fair after-party was where everyone decided to show up with looks. Hunter Schafer wore a long-sleeve Rick Owens gown that made me audibly gasp.
Hunter Schafer attends the Vanity Fair after-party. Image via Getty.
Dakota Johnson wore a quintessential flowing Hollywood star dress by Gucci. Best Actress winner Jessica Chastain switched into a cascading green Gucci gown that gives Poison Ivy a run for her money. Zendaya wore a perfectly tailored Sportsmax suit.
Zendaya attends the Vanity Fair after-party. Image via Getty.
Anya Taylor-Joy wore a classic sheer Dior gown with a dramatic face covering. I could go on and on.
I just think that if we’re going to keep doing these elaborate, often tone-deaf ceremonies, despite it all, then OK. At least give us a moment! Especially when you consider that some (not all) celebrities are paid to wear what they are wearing via brand contracts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Meanwhile, the workers that make the dresses are not seeing even a fraction of that pay. There are problematic labor issues even in luxury supply chains with custom couture gowns. There are plenty of reasons to be skeptical about how these gorgeous gowns are made. Between textile selections and outsourced embroidery to workers whose pay isn’t regulated, there is much room for labor violations to arise. So, at least go big in the story you’re telling with it.