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Björk's iconic swan dress turns 20


alsemanche

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alsemanche

The iconic swan dress that Björk wore to the Oscars red carpet turned 20 yesterday! She lived her full fantasy, dropping eggs on the red carpet and served one of the most memorable and campy outfits ever worn at an award show. 

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The dress then became a pop culture reference, appearing in shows like Hannah Montana. 

Here are some excerpts from an article about the dress:

"Twenty years ago on March 25, avian history was made while simultaneously changing the significance of the red carpet look forever.

In less dramatic terms, it's the day that Icelandic musician Björk debuted her swan dress at the Oscars. The swan dress – designed to mimic the large bird with its white body gracefully draped across the neck and torso of the wearer – is a cultural touchstone for lovers of modern celebrity culture. Although other major stars dabbled in the sartorial absurd – like Dennis Rodman with his colorful experimental outfits, Justin and Britney's infamous denim ensemble, or Rose McGowan's see-through 1998 VMA's dress – Björk's set the tone for the following decades of Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj-filled-camp couture as its own form of promotion and spectacle.

The garment in question was designed by Marjan Pejoski, and came from Björk's inspiration to send a message in the briefest and most effective way possible. 

"I was very aware when I went to the Academy Awards that it would probably be my first and last time. So I thought my input should really be about fertility, and I thought I'd bring some eggs."

The gown also became an indelible part of the cultural zeitgeist. Both Ellen Degeneres and Kevin James wore their own versions of the dress in parody. It has arguably been one of the most widely debated fashion moments in recent history, even being featured at an exhibition exploring the camp aesthetic  curated by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2019. Björk's decision to wear this gown to one of the most prestigious awards ceremonies out there indicates that there was more to this look than being just, well, a look. What Björk gave us was a moment."

 

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alsemanche

She also performed in it

 

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