Hathaway honored her late friend Valentino with a gorgeous tribute gown while celebrating her career resurgence in a season of major comebacks.
The fashion choice was calculated — Hathaway is clearly positioning herself at the center of the Devil Wears Prada cultural moment as the sequel drops this spring.
The gown featured an 8.02-carat Fancy Vivid Yellow diamond necklace exceeding 35 carats total. Hathaway's last Oscars appearance was in 2014 — twelve years ago.
Anne Hathaway just executed a masterclass in nostalgic fashion with purpose. The floral Valentino wasn't just gorgeous — it was a calculated love letter to her most iconic role, and the timing couldn't be better for Devil Wears Prada 2.
Anne Hathaway returned to the Oscars red carpet on Sunday night at the Dolby Theatre, and she brought her A-game — with a side of clever cinematic references. The 43-year-old actress wore a stunning black Valentino Haute Couture gown featuring allover embroidered flowers, a design choice that instantly called back to the most quoted line from 2006's The Devil Wears Prada: "Florals for spring... groundbreaking." The mermaid silhouette, anchored by a wide black belt and paired with opera-length black velvet gloves, showcased her hourglass figure in classic Hollywood fashion.
The Bulgari jewelry she chose was nothing short of spectacular — she debuted pieces from the brand's new Eclettica collection, including an 8.02-carat pear-cut Fancy Vivid Yellow diamond necklace surrounded by additional yellow and white diamonds, totaling over 35 carats. Her matching drop earrings and rings completed the look, while her elegant half-updo pulled her hair back to let the diamonds take center stage. It's worth noting that Hathaway is a longtime friend of the late Valentino designer, making this particular fashion choice deeply personal — he passed away just two months ago in January.
Beyond the fashion, Hathaway had a significant presence during the telecast itself. She presented the awards for costume design and makeup alongside Anna Wintour — the Vogue editor-in-chief who famously inspired Meryl Streep's Miranda Priestley character. But perhaps most exciting for fans, she's reportedly reuniting with co-stars Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt during the show as part of the upcoming Devil Wears Prada 2, which hits theaters May 1. Hathaway returns as Andy Sachs while Streep and Blunt reprise their roles as Miranda Priestley and Emily Charlton, respectively. The trio first teased the sequel at the 2024 SAG Awards, where Hathaway wore a cerulean Atelier Versace gown as another nod to the original film's most iconic scene.
This marks Hathaway's first Oscars appearance since 2014 — a twelve-year gap between red carpet moments at the Academy Awards. She won Best Supporting Actress in 2013 for Les Misérables and hosted alongside James Franco in 2011, a gig The Post famously declared the "worst" Oscars ever. With Devil Wears Prada 2 marking the 20th anniversary of the original film and Hathaway clearly back in Hollywood's good graces, this Valentino moment wasn't just about fashion — it was a calculated statement about legacy and where she's headed next.
