Do certain items of clothing really bring good fortune?
Well, according to a new study around Oscars outfits, both the color and designer of the ensemble can have a big bearing on success.
The research, conducted by UK-based fabric experts Dalston Mill Fabrics, analyzed every dress worn by each winner of a ‘Best Actress’ and ‘Best Supporting Actress’ Academy Award in recorded history.
It revealed that black has been the luckiest color at the ceremony to date with Giorgio Armani and Valentino being the best fashion houses to wear for the nominated hopefuls.
LEFT: Cher’s iconic sheer 1988 Bob Mackie gown. RIGHT: Winner of ‘Best Actress’ at the 92nd Academy Awards, Renée Zellweger wore an Armani Privé white one-shouldered gown
Ariana DeBose won her ‘Best Supporting Actress’ Oscar in 2022 for West Side Story while dressed in Valentino
Audrey Hepburn referred to the gown she wore to collect her first ‘Best Actress’ award in 1954 as her ‘lucky dress’ – a white Givenchy gown adapted from her Roman Holiday costume
Wearing black could increase the chances of winning an Oscar by almost a third, analysts say, as 32 per cent of ‘Best Actress’ and ‘Best Supporting Actress’ category winners have dressed in black to accept their awards.
Noteworthy examples include Cher’s iconic sheer 1988 Bob Mackie gown and Frances McDormand’s 2021 black Valentino dress.
The study also revealed that 13 per cent of female winners in recorded history wore a variation of the color gold, making it the second luckiest color to wear in the history of the Academy Awards.
Recent success stories include Emma Stone, who took home the ‘Best Actress’ award for La La Land in 2017 while dressed in a gold Givenchy Haute Couture design.
The third luckiest color for nominees is white – with 12 per cent of winners opting for it.
Audrey Hepburn famously referred to the gown she wore to collect her first ‘Best Actress’ award in 1954 as her ‘lucky dress’ – a white Givenchy gown adapted from her Roman Holiday costume.
And, for any of this year’s nominees still looking for inspiration, the fourth luckiest color to wear to the Oscars is blue, with 11 per cent of all past winners wearing the color, and green ranks fifth, with nine per cent.
Giorgio Armani and Valentino share the crown as the joint luckiest fashion houses. Pictured: Cate Blanchett won her first Academy Award in 2005 sporting the Italian fashion house
LEFT: Frances McDormand has won two ‘Best Actress’ Oscars while wearing Valentino in 2021. RIGHT: Emma Stone took home the ‘Best Actress’ award in 2017 while dressed in Givenchy
The new study also revealed the luckiest fashion designers for nominees to wear to the Oscars.
Giorgio Armani and Valentino share the accolade – with seven per cent of winners having worn one of their ensembles whilst collecting their statuettes.
The 92nd Academy Awards was an especially lucky year to wear Armani with both female winners in an acting category wearing Armani on the red carpet.
Winner of ‘Best Actress’ Renée Zellweger wore an Armani Privé white one-shouldered gown, while Laura Dern, winner of ‘Best Supporting Actress,’ wore a pink Armani satin dress with a tasseled black upper.
In recent years, Frances McDormand has won two ‘Best Actress’ Oscars while wearing Valentino, while Cate Blanchett also won her first Academy Award for The Aviator in 2005 in sporting the Italian fashion house.
Winner Zellweger wore an Armani Privé gown Laura Dern, winner of ‘Best Supporting Actress,’ wore a pink Armani satin dress with a tasseled black upper in 2020
The most recent example is last year’s winner Ariana DeBose, who won her ‘Best Supporting Actress’ Oscar for West Side Story while dressed in Valentino.
Fashion designers such as Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, Christian Dior and Gucci all also rank as lucky designers to wear to the Academy Awards, with three per cent of winning ladies wearing each of their dresses to collect Oscars.
Commenting on the findings, a spokesperson for Dalston Mill Fabrics said: ‘As the most anticipated event in the Hollywood calendar nears, the Oscars are the perfect night for A-Listers to showcase their most fashionable red carpet looks.
‘This research highlights that almost a staggering third of all winners in a female acting category have dressed in black to accept their Academy Awards, since the Oscars first began in 1929.
‘From extravagant ballgowns to little black dresses, wearing black is a fashion classic that has evidently stood the test of time.
‘The study suggests that wearing a black Armani or Valentino dress is the perfect winning formula for hopeful nominees, which will not only increase their likelihood of winning an Academy Award but also offer a timeless and elegant look for the red carpet.’
But will this year’s awards follow suit and prove this to be true?
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk