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At the Oscars 2023, Florence Pugh arrived in head-to-toe Valentino—and her look proved to be more fitting than she could’ve ever imagined.
Before stepping onstage as a presenter for Best Original and Adapted Screenplay, she pointed out that her Haute Couture gown from the Italian house matched the carpet’s new champagne-colored hue, something she wasn’t expecting. “We tried on this gown last week in Paris whilst I was visiting Pierpaolo [Piccioli] for his show,” she tells Vogue of meeting with the designer during the last stretch of fall 2023 fashion month and selecting the punk-princess confection she compares to “wearing a cloud.”
According to her makeup artist Alex Babsky, the fashion was exactly what he wanted to keep in the spotlight. “Florence’s beautiful Valentino gown was so voluminous, and her Tiffany jewels were so stunning, that I didn’t feel the need to add a makeup statement,” he says of instead creating “soft drama” from the neck up to play of off the silk, diamonds, and pink tourmaline in the mix. Keeping this balance makes working with Babsky “a dream” for Pugh. For Pugh’s gaze, the pro applied a “deep plummy brown” using Eye2Cheek Blush and Eyeshadow in 09 Poudre and Twin Liner in Black & Nero “along Florence’s upper lash line to elongate her eyes.” And to cut any excessive sweetness, Babsky “added strength by redrawing Florence’s brows in a more straight, geometric shape” before polishing the look with Rosso Valentino Refillable Lipstick in 112R, a blushy neutral.
For a couture-level updo, hairstylist Peter Lux spent hours hand-sculpting Pugh’s blonde lengths into a bowtied pony that flowed forward into clever trompe l’oeil baby bangs. “I trust him completely as he just plays with shapes and twists and bows until eventually he gets inspired,” says Pugh of watching him work. “He’s an artist!” Then, after a toast on the terrace and a swirl around the garden, Pugh was off to the Dolby Theatre for an evening of historic wins.
Here, a look behind the curtain, in her words.
Photo: Greg Williams/Courtesy of Valentino1/9“Skipping with slippers as Luca, the genius who helped make this dress, holds my train down the wet stairs!”
Photo: Greg Williams/Courtesy of Valentino2/9“The Valentino team in the back, working and tweaking right up until the end. And Peter, my hugely talented hair stylist giving one last safety spray.”
Photo: Greg Williams/Courtesy of Valentino3/9“Blowing my kisses to Greg as he waved me goodbye.”
Photo: Greg Williams/Courtesy of Valentino4/9“I love working with Alex Babsky, his work always looks effortless and elegant. It’s a dream to collaborate with him.”
Photo: Greg Williams/Courtesy of Valentino5/9“We tried on this gown last week in Paris whilst I was visiting Pierpaolo for his show. It truly glowed in the LA sunlight, like wearing a cloud.”
Photo: Greg Williams/Courtesy of Valentino6/9“Tea and champagne. We toasted to attending the Oscars for a second time, three years later and it still feels just as thrilling.”
Photo: Greg Williams/Courtesy of Valentino7/9“Tiffany lent me this unbelievable necklace and earrings. Heavy and impressive!”
Photo: Greg Williams/Courtesy of Valentino8/9“Peter was working on my ponytail fringe for two hours and created yet another sculpture. I trust him completely as he just plays with shapes and twists and bows until eventually he gets inspired. It’s amazing to watch and work with him. He’s an artist!”
Photo: Greg Williams/Courtesy of Valentino9/9“A lot smaller without those Valentino heels on…”
