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It was a star-studded affair in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as celebrities and leading fashion connoisseurs celebrated Lebanese designer Elie Saab’s 45th anniversary. While the brand spared no expense with a collection of 300 signature sequined designs and a roster of star-studded performances along, the most viral moment of the night was Halle Berry’s surprise cameo on the catwalk.

Wearing her iconic Elie Saab look from the 2002 Oscars as she became the first Black woman to win Best Actress for her role in Monster’s Ball, she revived the gown with zero alterations.


The burgundy gown featuring a mesh torso embroidered with embellished florals and a draped silk-taffeta skirt is one of the greatest moments in red carpet history. “There are some moments in life that just happen and they change our lives forever! Winning an Academy Award in my Elie Saab gown was one of those moments for me,” Berry wrote on Instagram. “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.”

Along with her history-making win, the dress has also been a monumental moment for Black women shattering glass ceilings in Hollywood on one of the biggest Oscar moments to date.

It’s no secret that Black actresses have been excluded from being styled by high-end designer brands and denied clothing throughout the years. When Beyoncé received the Fashion Icon Award at the 2016 CFDA Awards, she revealed high-end labels refused to dress Destiny's Child during their career because they "didn’t really want to dress four Black, country, curvy girls." Law Roach, best known for styling Hollywood’s elite, shared how difficult it's been to dress Black clients in top fashion houses.

During a discussion on The Cutting Room Floor podcast, he expressed these frustrations early on in Zendaya’s career. “I would write the big five,” said Roach, as reported by Variety. “I would write Saint Laurent, Chanel, Gucci, Valentino, Dior, and they would all say, ‘No, try again next year. She’s too green. She’s not on our calendar.”

He continued, “She still has never worn Dior on a carpet. She still has never worn Chanel on a carpet…still never worn Gucci on a carpet — any press, any appearance, never. Never,” explained the 45-year-old. “The first time she wore Valentino in public was when she had a contract…When I said, ‘If you say no, it’ll be a no forever,’ that rang true for a long, long time.”

While red carpet fashion has been an uphill battle for Black Hollywood and their stylists, there have been countless times when Black women have been the moment encapsulating beauty and glamour each award season:

Steve Granitz/WireImage

Who: Halle Berry

Where: 2002 Oscars

Designer: Elie Saab

Aaliyah at the 2000 MTV VMAs.

KMazur/WireImage

Who: Aaliyah

Where: 2000 MTV Video Music Awards

Designer: Robert Cavalli

Lars Niki/Corbis via Getty Images

Who: Rihanna

Where: 2015 Met Gala

Designer: Guo Pei

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Who: Zendaya

Where: 2023 NAACP Image Awards

Designer: Vintage Versace

Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty Images

Who: Whitney Houston

Where: 1994 Oscars

George Pimentel/WireImage

Who: Beyoncé

Where: 2015 Met Gala

Designer: Givenchy

Matt Petit/A.M.P.A.S. via Getty Images

Who: Regina King

Where: 2021 Oscars

Designer: Louis Vuitton

Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

Who: Lupita Nyong’o

Where: 2014 Academy Awards

Designer: Prada

Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Who: Tracee Ellis Ross

Where: 2022 Oscars

Designer: Carolina Herrera

Kayla Oaddams/WireImage

Who: Angela Bassett

Where: 2023 Oscars

Designer: Moschino

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Who: Lupita Nyong’o

Where: Oscars 2015

Designer: Calvin Klein

Who: Zoë Kravitz

Where: 2022 London Batman Premiere

Designer: Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello

John Shearer/WireImage

Who: Yara Shahidi

Where: 2023 Met Gala

Designer: Jean Paul Gaultier

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Featured image by Steve Granitz/WireImage

 

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