Margaret Qualley, CHANEL Ambassador, had a moment at Oscars that balanced archival references and contemporary flair. For a special performance at the 97th Annual Academy Awards, she wore a custom red satin dress with a trompe-l’œil brooch inspired by the brand’s Spring-Summer 1989 Ready-to-Wear collection. The piece, which took 170 hours of work and featured 160 embroidery elements, highlighted CHANEL’s commitment to craft, while Coco Crush earrings in 18K beige gold and diamonds made for a subtle flash of fine jewelry.
On the red carpet, she revealed another look: a custom black silk velvet dress with a train and an open back, drawn from CHANEL’s Spring-Summer 2005 archives. This sleek silhouette required 153 hours of construction and glimmered with new High Jewelry additions, including the “Motif Russe” necklace in 18K white gold and diamonds.
These two dresses stood out as a study in CHANEL’s heritage meeting the demands of the present. The house, led by Virginie Viard, has been revisiting key pieces from decades past, reviving them for a new generation of ambassadors and collectors. Margaret Qualley’s double feature wasn’t just about wearing vintage-inspired looks, but about celebrating the hours of handwork that define CHANEL’s legacy and keep the brand firmly in the now.
