Twenty-two years after her historic Oscar win, Halle Berry is grabbing headlines after she rewore the iconic embroidered Elie Saab net dress that she wore to the 2002 Oscars. Berry stirred nostalgia when she walked the runway at the 1001 Seasons of Elie Saab event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, November 13, in the very same design that she wore the night that she became the first Black woman to take home the award for Best Actress for her role in 2001’s Monster’s Ball.
Elie Saab’s 1001 Seasons event was set against a glittering and carnivalesque backdrop celebrating the brand’s 45th anniversary and unveiling of the designer’s latest collection. The evening boasted a star-studded guest list as well as performances by Celine Dion, Jennifer Lopez, Camila Cabello, Monica Bellucci, Nancy Ajram and Amr Diab.
According to a press release, the extravaganza included more than 300 models, with each one wearing a unique look celebrating the brand and Middle Eastern fashion—but the finale may have taken the cake. Berry walked the runway looked as radiant as ever in the stunning gown, which features a mesh bodice adorned with floral appliqués and a silky asymmetrical skirt. She added a pair of oversize gemstone earrings and wore her hair in a sleek top knot.
Berry shared a video of her runway moment after the Saudia Arabia show on Instagram, writing in the caption, “There are some moments in life that just happen and they change our lives forever! Winning an Academy Award in my @eliesaabworld gown was one of those moments for me! Thank you Mr. Saab for being a part of the tapestry of my life as we have been inextricably connected for 22 years now! It was my honor to celebrate you and your 1001 Seasons. Here’s wishing you many more glorious years of joy, creativity and glamour!”
“Berry’s crimson-coloured mesh and floral-embroidery-topped Elie Saab gown made its own kind of history when it was heralded by fashion critics around the globe in the days, weeks, months and years after it debuted on the red carpet,” 29Secrets‘ editor Christopher Turner wrote last year in an article detailing the history of the dress. “It’s almost impossible to find an Oscar Best Dressed retrospective that doesn’t praise the gown, which is now widely considered one of the best Oscar dresses of all time. It’s something that Saab doesn’t take for granted.”
The 2002 Oscars was a significant occasion for Saab too; Berry’s inaugural wearing of the dress was integral to introducing the designer to a more mainstream audience.
Saab has stated that Berry, in that dress in that moment, is the reason for his success. “Halle Berry made the name Elie Saab more popular.… She managed to really put the name Elie Saab on the international market. [She’s] the reason my brand took off,” he said in reflection to Vogue Australia in 2019.
It’s safe to say that the piece of couture was just as memorable the second time around.
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– THE STORY OF: The Embroidered Elie Saab Net Dress Halle Berry Wore To The 2002 Oscars
