The presentation of the Costume Design category at the Oscars has always perplexed whoever is chosen to produce the show. It feels like there’s something inherently visual about the costumes that calls for doing more with that presentation than other categories. Yet they rarely get it right! Last year’s was actually one of the times it worked because of the brilliant comic timing of Melissa McCarthy and Brian Tyree Henry. Plus they wore ALL the costumes and that was such a funny visual gag...
Brosnan presented Sandy Powell with her 2nd Oscar for The Aviator
A few times the Academy actually staged fashion shows. There are several examples of this going back more than 40 years. Perhaps one of the most notorious ones was in 1996. That was at a time when supermodels were at the height of fame, so they brought two of them; Naomi Campbell and Claudia Schiffer. They teamed them with James Bond; Pierce Brosnan. The producers clearly saw them as Bond girls’ surrogates as they had them flank Brosnan but not say much. Then they put on a full fashion show with many of the top models of the time including future TV host Tyra Banks showcasing Sense and Sensibility. They were clearly going for both glamour and a great TV moment. It doesn’t entirely work but don't you appreciate the attempt?
A presentation example that doesn’t work is when costumes are used as set props on stage. They fail to be noticed on TV screens. In 2009 Sarah Jessica Parker and Daniel Craig are tasked with telling the story of the craft of costume design, as part of that year’s mandate to show how a movie gets made from beginning to end. Visually it doesn’t work because the costumes become just background.
Even worse is the 2016 presentation. Cate Blanchett is tasked with walking around explaining the craft while stage hands push forward sketches and examples of the costumes from the nominated movies. None pop and the whole thing looks awkward.