With a Recycled Oscar Dress, Rita Moreno Made a Statement on Hollywood’s Latinx Representation
By wearing the same dress 56 years apart, Moreno showed how little things have changed
“There are all kinds of Latins. Anita in ‘West Side Story’ was a Latin, and she had a temper. But she also had depth of character. The roles I am offered don’t.”
Rita Moreno wore a 56-year-old dress to the 2018 Oscars. It was actually the same dress she wore to the Oscars 56 years ago. Aside from some gray hairs, a few barely noticeable wrinkles, and the addition of glasses, Moreno looked largely the same. Still, during that more than half a century, Rita made some adjustments to the dress, which she acquired in the Philippines while shooting the 1963 B-movie Cry of Battle. She kept the stunning skirt, with its art deco pattern of flowers and leaves in gold brocade, but altered the bodice. She removed the bateau neckline — a look reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn — and went strapless. Fifty-six years later and now 86 years old, Moreno fully emphasized her regalness with her 2018 accessories: a gold cuff necklace, a black headband that doubled as a crown. “Rita Moreno is honestly an inspiration to us all,” wrote…
