Elizabeth Banks Loved the “Incredible, Really Interesting Train” on her Vivienne Westwood Bespoke Gown

It’s been a big year for Banks, who played an emotional role in last year’s abortion rights drama Call Jane and is celebrating her second feature as director, the viral sensation Cocaine Bear. For this year’s Oscars, she worked with stylist Erin Walsh on a look created around a Vivienne Westwood bespoke gown reflects the legacy of the designer, who died last December after nearly a half-century of defining edgy British style. “The color scheme of this dress is pretty classic, but the shape is very interesting and very Vivienne Westwood,” Banks said. “She always did such incredible things with the female body and showing it off.”
Throughout her years in Hollywood, she has opted for bold looks with patterns and trains, and the black and ivory dress, paired with jewelry by Pomellato, was an opportunity to meld that sensibility with a bit of Oscars timelessness. “There’s a level of elegance to the Oscars that you want to lean into always,” she said. “It’s also got an incredible, really interesting train, but the train comes off of a shoulder piece. It doesn’t train like from any normal spot on a dress, which is really fun and exciting.”
She also spent time thinking about the practicalities of the dress: Can she sit in it? Can she stand in it? “I spend a lot of time—when I’m trying on dresses—worried about how I’m gonna go to the bathroom in the dress!” she said. “I’ve had a couple of moments where I’ve gotten totally sewn into the dress and then, then like, wait, how am I gonna go to the bathroom and, and everyone just being like, oops, sorry, bye. Good luck. I remember I ended up in the bathroom with Sarah Paulson and Amanda Peet helping me out one time. So they really had to get me in and out of a dress once in the bathroom.”
The other aspect of her planning for an awards show is sticking to the basics. “One of my main things is just staying hydrated, and it’s the best thing for skin,” she said. “I’m all about the skin! I’m getting old. I’m 49. I don’t wanna be puffy faced up there so it’s about good sleep and good hydration.” Makeup artist Kara Yoshimoto Bua made sure Banks glowed on and off the red carpet, while hairstylist Clayton Hawkins styled swept her locks into a chignon and nail artist Emi Kudo created her manicure.
She’s also looking forward to seeing Rihanna at Sunday’s show, but added that she feels honored to get the chance to celebrate the behind-the-scenes work that makes it all happen. “I have such great respect for all the artists and all the below-the-line people, the crews that work on, on things,” she said. “I’m presenting a technical award and I’m so excited to be honoring just the whole community that makes movies.”
As for after the ceremony, Banks had a costume change planned for the Vanity Fair Oscar Party later on. She last made an appearance at the party in 2020, where she wore the same dress she wore to the event in 2004. When asked what advice she would have for the younger version of herself, she reflected on the importance of believing in yourself. “Oh, my goodness. Keep going, just always keep going. Don’t stress about the little things,” she said. “I can picture that girl in my mind’s eye. I can picture her at the Vanity Fair Oscar party. I felt like I was amongst all my legends.”
Now she feels more excited than nervous to be in a room full of people she admires. “There’s so many amazing, amazing legends and I still feel that way when I get to be in these rooms, you know, like I’m still excited by Harrison Ford and Steven Spielberg,” she said. “But I also feel like there’s a younger generation now behind me, and I hope at least that they get to look up to me now, too. That’s why I’m feeling really good about the year that I’ve had. I feel very proud of the work that I’ve put out, and I know that it’s been noticed. I want the younger generation—especially young actresses—to feel like Hollywood is their oyster and they can have whatever they want!”