Wicked actress Ariana Grande looked stunning last night at the Oscars in a custom Schiaparelli gown adorned with over 190,000 crystals, however, eager-eyed fans couldn’t overlook how she held her phone
Ariana Grande was dressed to impress at the 97th Academy Awards last night in a breath-taking Schiaparelli gown adorned with over 190,000 Swarovski crystals. The stunning gown perfectly fit the 31-year-old American actress and featured a structured bustier top crafted from baby pink satin-like fabric, a cream peplum tulle skirt underneath, and a flowing wave-like design stemming from the bustier.
While the dress, which was undeniably a nod to her recent role as Glinda in the blockbuster Wicked, instead garnered media attention through a viral video of Grande holding her phone.
When Paul Tazwell received the Oscar for Best Costume Design for Wicked, the camera captured Cynthia Erivo, Lena Waithe, and Grande standing to applaud. Grande was seen resting her phone on the structured bodice of her gown as she clapped. The wave-like design offered an ideal ledge for her to balance the device easily.
The clip rapidly went viral online, prompting fans to humorously dub Grande a ‘versatile queen’ and ‘unserious’. However, Grande’s unsuspecting dress stunt reflects a bigger issue in women’s fashion: the lack of pockets.
Many fans quickly commented on Ariana Grande’s innovative approach. One viewer sarcastically commented on the X post, “So where do you put your phone if there are no pockets on the dress?” while another posted, “Women in STEM, she’s such a genius.”
Despite Ariana’s innovative solution, the lack of pockets in women’s fashion remains an issue. Nowadays, at red carpet events, it is extremely rare to see women complete their outfits with a bag; and if they do, it is often ridiculously small or completely useless. However, it is no surprise that women wish to bring their mobiles to these events, so why has fashion failed to accommodate these simple needs?
Generally, men can carry their keys, wallets, and phones regardless of the occasion or dress code. In contrast, women often lack that choice, particularly at events like the red carpet. However, slowly (but surely), we’ve seen a shift in women’s fashion, which we hope will continue.
Last year, at the Cannes Film Festival, Hunter Schafer donned a stunning periwinkle Armani Privé gown with pockets in the skirt. On another occasion, Blake Lively was pleasantly surprised to discover that her Chanel floral two-piece suit included pockets, prompting her to forgo her handbag while posing for photographers on the red carpet.
Although Ariana Grande’s action was completely innocent, this simple stunt—using her dress to balance her phone—can be a friendly reminder that women’s fashion designs should better meet women’s needs, especially on the red carpet.
