Mary Steenburgen Honors 1981 Oscars Win by Revisiting Floral Jacket at 2024 Ceremony

Mary Steenburgen Presents Award in the Same Floral Jacket She Wore to the 1981 Oscars

Mary Steenburgen Getty Images (2)

Mary Steenburgen recently attended the Academy Awards ceremony on March 10. The 71-year-old actress wore a stunning strapless black gown by Tom Ford. The floor-length dress had a thigh-high slit and gold buckle detailing on the front, giving a nod to her 1981 Oscars win.

During the award presentation for Best Supporting Actress, Mary Steenburgen honored Da’Vine Joy Randolph by adding a black velvet jacket on top. Interestingly, this was the same velvet jacket that Steenburgen wore back in 1981 when she won Best Supporting Actress for her role in Melvin and Howard.

The mid-length jacket had long sleeves and was beautifully adorned with yellow floral embroidery all throughout.

Steenburgen presented the award to Randolph, 37, along with Lupita Nyong’o, Jamie Lee Curtis, Rita Moreno, and Regina King, all previous winners of the prestigious award.

Mary Steenburgen Presents Award in the Same Floral Jacket She Wore to the 1981 Oscars 2

Mary Steenburgen accessorized her red carpet look with a small beaded purse and bangle bracelets. She wore her hair straightened and sported black eyeliner, smokey eyeshadow, and pink lipstick for the occasion.

Before heading into the ceremony, Steenburgen told Etalk that this was her first time presenting an award at the Oscars.

Mary Steenburgen Presents Award in the Same Floral Jacket She Wore to the 1981 Oscars 3

Jamie Lee Curtis, Mary Steenburgen, Regina King, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Lupita Nyong’o, and Rita Moreno were all in attendance at the event.

Mary Steenburgen shared that she had never presented at the event before. She explained that the year after she won, she had a baby and was working in Europe, so she couldn't leave her and fly all the way back. She expressed that it feels sweet to be presenting now and she probably appreciates it even more than she would have back then.

Nyong’o, 41, also gave careful thought to her Oscars dress, just like Steenburgen. Viewers noticed that the baby blue Armani Privé gown she wore to Sunday’s ceremony is similar in color to the Prada gown she wore to the 2014 Oscars, where she won Best Supporting Actress for her role in 12 Years a Slave.

On the same day, Nyong’o’s stylist, Micaela Erlanger, shared on Instagram how the 2014 look “changed the course of my career.”

"It was an incredible journey," Erlanger said. "Right from the beginning, I knew our dress was unique. Its simplicity, elegance, soft blue color, and delicate beading made it stand out. But I never imagined it would have such a powerful impact."

Editor's P/S:

Mary Steenburgen's appearance at the Academy Awards was a testament to her enduring style and grace. Her stunning Tom Ford gown, reminiscent of her 1981 Oscars win, was a fitting tribute to her legacy. The velvet jacket, a nod to her past triumph, added a touch of sentimentality to the occasion. Steenburgen's choice to present the award alongside other previous winners highlighted the interconnectedness of the film industry and the significance of recognizing talent.

Lupita Nyong'o's choice of a baby blue Armani Privé gown, reminiscent of her 2014 Oscars win, demonstrated her keen eye for fashion and her respect for the tradition of the ceremony. The stylist's reflection on the impact of the 2014 dress underscores the power of fashion to shape not only careers but also the collective memory of iconic moments in cinema history.