This was the most expensive Oscars dress ever worn


The Academy Awards 2023 is almost here, and before the ceremony on Sunday we're admiring the best Oscars dresses ever, which had us questioning which star has worn the most expensive dress at the Oscars?
Every year, A-list actresses take to the red carpet in the most exquisite couture gowns, from the likes of Valentino, Dior, Chanel, Prada and other premium designer houses.
Naturally, with so much work going into them (most of them take hours and hours to make, especially if they're embellished), there comes a hefty price tag.
Originally, it was thought Nicole Kidman had worn the most expensive Oscars dress of all timeto the 1997 Academy Awards. It was a chartreuse Haute Couture gown designed by John Galliano for Christian Dior, and she was rumoured to have been paid $2m to wear it to the event. Yep, that's a thing.
But it turns out that eye-watering sum doesn't come close to the most expensive dress ever worn at the Osca. Nicole was pipped to the post by none other than Jennifer Lawrence and the fabulous strapless ballgown she wore to pick up her Best Actress gong at the 2013 ceremony.
You will remember that the cream gown featured a gorgeous voluminous skirt that sadly led her to fall on the stairs when she went to pick up her gong.
It was designed by Raf Simons for Christian Dior Haute Couture and was one of his final looks of his collection that season. Jennifer Lawrence later said not many fittings went into it, she just tried it on that morning and it fit.
The dress is rumoured to be worth $4m, double what Nicole Kidman's was, and that's likely to be the cost of the dress itself (depending on the level of embroidery and detail, they can come with a six figure price tag), as well as the contract J-Law signed with Dior.
At the time, she'd signed a three-year deal with the label, worth $15m, and as part of it would only wear Dior to red carpet events.
How to watch the Oscars 2023 in the UK?
The 2023 Oscars will air in the UK in the early hours of Sunday 12th March from midnight.
You can watch the ceremony via Sky Showcase or NOW tv where you can opt for the seven day free trial if you've never tried NOW tv before.
Make sure to check out all the Oscars Academy Awards Nominees 2023, while you're here. Here at Marie Claire, we'll be bring you the must see red carpet outfits plus live reporting the winners as they collect their gong.
Follow our Instagram for the latest updates.
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Penny Goldstone is the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire, covering everything from catwalk trends to royal fashion and the latest high street and Instagram must-haves.
Penny grew up in France and studied languages and law at the Sorbonne Nouvelle University in Paris before moving to the UK for her MA in multimedia journalism at Bournemouth University. She moved to the UK permanently and has never looked back (though she does go back regularly to stock up on cheese and wine).
Although she's always loved fashion - she used to create scrapbooks of her favourite trends and looks, including Sienna Miller and Kate Moss' boho phase - her first job was at MoneySavingExpert.com, sourcing the best deals for everything from restaurants to designer sales.
However she quit after two years to follow her true passion, fashion journalism, and after many years of internships and freelance stints at magazines including Red, Cosmopolitan, Stylist and Good Housekeeping, landed her dream job as the Digital Fashion Editor at Marie Claire UK.
Her favourite part of the job is discovering new brands and meeting designers, and travelling the world to attend events and fashion shows. Seeing her first Chanel runway IRL at Paris Fashion Week was a true pinch-me moment.
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