L’HISTOIRE: Björk’s Swan Dress and Egg-Laying Stunt at the 2001 Oscars
Björk’s swan dress look for the 73rd Academy Awards was peak camp and spawned a pop culture moment so famous, it has its own Wikipedia page.
L’HISTOIRE explores fashion history moments you should know, from what actors wore on a red carpet to celebrities who made cameos on the runway. Some are unsung, and some are better known. Each is part of the fabric of today’s fashion world, be it barrier breakers or culture makers.
The 73rd Academy Awards largely followed predictions, with Julia Roberts winning Best Actress for Erin Brockovich. Gladiator claimed Best Picture, dashing hopes for a surprise win by Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. But there was a surprise, which came on the red carpet and remains buzzy to this day. Björk, who was nominated for Best Original Song, was the true show-stopper of the evening.
Macedonian designer Marjan Pejoski created the “swan dress,” featuring a crystal-encrusted bodysuit enveloped in a voluminous swirl of white tulle. The design featured a long swan neck draped around the Icelandic singer’s shoulders, with its orange beak delicately on her chest. As Björk glided down the red carpet, she left a trail of eggs in her wake, adding a surrealist touch to the already unconventional ensemble. The same dress was worn by Björk for the cover of her 2001 studio album, Vespertine, and inspired Spanish singer Rosalía, who reimagined it as a Halloween costume ahead of their collaboration, “Oral.” Though widely mocked at the time by the public and comedians alike, she ultimately had the last laugh.
The look, though initially met with criticism by the general public, proved to be a touchstone for the fashion elite. "There's something about Björk not fulfilling expectations of female celebrity that made it difficult for people to comprehend or understand," Caroline Stevenson, head of cultural and historical studies at London College of Fashion, told BBC in a previous interview.
Its influence evidently pulsated in a look from Valentino’s Spring 2014 couture collection and later resurfaced in the Dior Cruise 2022 collection, cementing its legacy. Rising pop star Addison Rae drew attention when she wore a custom two-piece, feathery set by Miss Claire Sullivan at the 2024 MTV VMAs, which prompted many to interpret the ensemble as a reference to Björk’s look. The actual dress was prominently featured in the Design Museum’s REBEL: 30 Years of London Fashion exhibition in September 2023, which closed in February 2024.
Inspired? To mimic the 2001 swan dress outfit, go for a fully feathered dress (like this one by The Bar) to mirror the theatrical, animal-like nature Björk accomplished. If you want to mimic the look but aren’t keen on an abundance of feathers, this Loewe dress is the perfect understated medium. These T-strap stilettos will do the trick with either dress you choose. Finish off with relaxed makeup similar to hers to let the dress speak for itself.
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