Angelina Jolie wasn’t at the 96th Academy Awards, but her work dominated the stage. At the famous ceremony, an actor and humanitarian who recently launched her multidimensional fashion venture Atelier Jolie made a fantastic debut as a fashion designer. Angelina chose writer and journalist Suleika Jaouad to wear her first creative design.
Suleika Jaouad wears Jolie’s design
Jaouad was the first person to showcase a gorgeous Jolie design on the red carpet. A masterpiece, the garment was made of delicate, flowing silk in a brilliant stormy grey. Elegant and artistic, the design was appealing. A high-waisted skirt and fluttery cape sleeves enhanced Jaouad’s figure. The train, illustrated by Chaz Guest in graphite-black, was the star.
A red-carpet interview with Canadian entertainment outlet Etalk showed Jaouad’s excitement about the attire. “This dress was designed by the one-and-only Angelina Jolie,” she said. “It’s her first time designing a red-carpet gown, and she even invited the amazing artist Chaz Guest to paint a symphony on the back of it!”
Upon closer inspection, the illustration resembled Jaouad’s spouse, Jon Batiste, who was nominated for an Oscar for his documentary “American Symphony.” The exquisite outfit was made much more poignant by this detail.
Why Angelina chose Jaouad
Jolie chose Jaouad to wear her garment for more than just aesthetics. Jolie said she was inspired: “I like Suleika and how she handles challenges with grace. She’s a creative genius who inspires everyone. I would have dressed her for anything she needed—it should never be about the garment, but how anything worn adds to the individual.”
This statement matches Atelier Jolie’s ideology, as Jolie told Harper’s Bazaar in December 2023. “We are a collective that aims to show that an ethical and sustainable lifestyle isn’t a lesser life with limitations,” he said. “It is a path to a better quality of life, with personal creativity and community at its center.”
Jolie’s Oscars debut as a designer made a dramatic statement about Atelier Jolie’s vision. Jolie is unique in fashion by combining artistic expression with sustainability and ethics. On Academy Awards night, Jaouad’s stunning gown exemplified this concept.
