Oscars 2023: Elegant Event Inspiration From Hollywood's Most Glamorous Week

For the first time ever, the main stage of the Academy Awards was designed by women. Production designers Alana Billingsley and Misty Buckley were inspired by classic movie houses and theaters, leaning into warm materials like bronze and brass. About 3,500 square feet of high-resolution LED screens were embedded around the stage to highlight moments from this year’s films.

“The stage is very architectural and draws on the memories of the moment we first experienced the cinema,” explained Buckley in an interview with design publication Wallpaper. “Whether it was walking under the marquee of lights and into the foyer, the first smell of sweet popcorn, the warmth of the golden deco lighting, the texture of the elegant drapes, or the fully transformative experience of that huge projection screen. We have incorporated all these design notes, whilst ensuring [the design] very much occupies a place in the modern day. The design is not pastiche but very much a fantasy movie theatre.”

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences' annual Governors Ball—which was held immediately following the ceremony—leaned into similar gold tones, with a central archway displaying the Oscars statue surrounded by candles.

The event put a particular focus on sustainability this year, using energy-efficient LED lights and battery-operated LED candles throughout. All lighting, audio, rigging equipment, and furniture will be repurposed, while all floral arrangements were created in reusable glass vases and biodegradable floral foam; all flowers and greenery were later composted, and 50% of fabrication materials were reused, recycled, or composted. Food from longtime partner Wolfgang Puck Catering included 50% plant-based and vegetarian dishes; all leftover food was donated to Chefs to End Hunger.

As the first stop for most of the night's A-listers, the Governors Ball has a spot for winners like Jamie Lee Curtis (pictured) to get their trophies engraved.

The Academy made sure fans got into the action too by hosting the second annual Oscars Night at the Museum at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. More than 1,500 guests could explore the museum’s galleries, pose on a red carpet, shop for exclusive merchandise, and watch the show in the museum's David Geffen Theater.

Rolex has hosted the official Oscars greenroom since 2016—and this year, the brand doubled down on the green theme. The tropical space, designed by Rolex and produced by Event Eleven, aimed to highlight sustainability and serve as a celebration of the natural world; it featured a ceiling canopy with lighting elements shaped like leaves, while images of nature dotted the walls. Walls of carved bamboo surrounded the space.

The room also featured furniture in a palette of neutral tones and shades reminiscent of plants, along with a mosaic bar and oversized florals.

Warner Bros. effectively evoked the magic of Tinseltown with its 2023 Oscars event, which was held on Sunday at Ysabel. Drawing 350 guests, the glamorous gathering had an over-the-top event design from JOWY Productions, who leaned into a mix of black and gold with accents of red—and, of course, plenty of sparkle.

Over 300 glass hurricane candles filled with black sand flickered throughout the party, juxtaposed with twinkle lights in the trees. As a focal point, a tiered candle installation featured five-foot crystal and gold chandeliers. Props and decor came from Revelry Event Designers, while flowers came from Maggie Jensen Floral Design. Vogue Candles provided the candles, and Candlelight Designs handled lighting.

Other vendors included fabric from SS Scenic, sound from CBC Technical, rentals from Town & Country, and linens from La Tavola. DJ Daisy O’Dell entertained the crowd.

An LED cube by iTouchBooth offered a flower-covered photo op.

Last Thursday, Essence hosted its Black Women in Hollywood awards, which recognize the achievements of Black women helping tell diverse stories. This year’s event centered around “The Black Cinematic Universe” and honored The Woman King director and screenwriter Gina Prince-Bythewood, president of Onyx Collective Tara Duncan, Till actress Danielle Deadwyler, Blank Panther: Wakanda Forever actress Dominique Thorne, and Abbott Elementary actress Sheryl Lee Ralph. Boris Kodjoe hosted the star-studded affair, which took place at the Fairmont Century Plaza. 

MVD Inc. handled design and production and said they wanted to reimagine the event for its 16th year. “Starting with holding the event in an entirely new space, we played off the neutral tones and minimalist aesthetic of the Fairmont while adding color and flair,” explained Miatta Johnson, co-founder and CEO of MVD Inc. “The experience was a garden oasis, if you will, that took you from day to evening, starting with the stark black and white arrivals moment that spanned 90 feet with over 200 feet of white carpet."

"Once guests entered the space, they were taken into more of a modern whimsical garden donned with mirrored and multi-screen elements,” added Massah David, co-founder and creative director of MVD Inc. “From the custom-built set for the Essence Photo Moment (pictured) to the multi-screen honoree garden installation to the custom-designed, three-screen dual entry stage, the experience was meant to feel fluid and effortless as you moved throughout the event.”

Oversized Essence covers, grounded in florals and greenery, celebrated each honoree.

“We worked closely with Essence’s senior vice president of creative, Corey Stokes, to bring this vision to life, and collectively it was our goal to bring an elevated experience that would allow guests to leave feeling seen, loved, beautiful, and recharged,” added David. MVD Inc. also worked with Calune Eustache, Essence Communications’ experiential director, on the project.

In addition to MVD Inc., vendors included Above The Line, who handled the honoree screens, custom stage screens, and lighting; AESOS, who handled the stage flooring; and 15|40, who handled the arrivals wall and carpet. Shawna Yamamoto Event Design handled the florals and photo-moment fabrication.

On Friday night, WME ushered in Oscars weekend at one of LA’s most historic properties, the Hearst Estate in Beverly Hills. The multi-level, multi-room party—hosted by WME co-chairmen Christian Muirhead and Richard Weitz—welcomed guests through a foyer that had a WME photocall draped in pink curtains.

The party’s ambiance aimed to exude old Hollywood glamour with a futuristic twist. Artwork loaned by Frieze was exhibited throughout the mansion, and the ornate dining room had an oversized table topped with a “fallen” chandelier adorned with peonies in porcelain vases, gold candle holders, and trays serving antipasti and hors d’oeuvres. Drinks came from Tequila Don Julio and Johnnie Walker, while h.wood handled catering.

Downstairs, the vibe shifted to a glitzy art deco disco, which featured music from DJ Allie Teilz along with a vintage ice cream shop serving Dippin’ Dots.

The estate’s atrium was transformed into a jazz club with live music from The Apollo Trio; other spaces included a cigar lounge and espresso martini lounge, a pizza parlor, and a hidden tiki bar speakeasy (pictured) with actual sand and cocktails served in coconuts.

Earlier in the week on March 8, Vanity Fair and TikTok teamed up for “Vanities: A Night for Young Hollywood” at Mes Amis in Hollywood. The private event–co-hosted by a committee of rising stars who have been featured in the publication's "Vanities" column–spotlighted the actors, musicians, artists, and #filmtok community that make up the new creative class. The event was hosted by Halle Bailey (pictured), Paul Mescal, and Julia Garner, and featured a simple-but-effective step-and-repeat with logos illuminated with gold lighting.

A fun touch? Bite-sized desserts featuring the Vanity Fair and TikTok logos.

The event was part of Vanity Fair’s Campaign Hollywood, a weeklong event series leading up to the Oscars that’s now in its 23rd season. Other events included a private cocktail party honoring A24’s Everything Everywhere All At Once.

Universal hosted its Oscars party on Sunday night at Osteria Mozza. Designed and produced by Bespoke Bohéme, the night also centered its decor around red florals from Floral Crush and vibrant groupings of candles from Vogue Candles.

The event also featured lighting and AV from Shine On Lighting Co. and Launch AV, furniture rentals from Found Rental Co. and FormDecor, and printing and graphics from Messex Industries.

On Sunday, the Elton John AIDS Foundation hosted its 31st annual Academy Awards viewing party. Hosted by Sir Elton John and David Furnish, along with Eric McCormack and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, this year’s star-packed benefit raised over $9 million for the global effort to end AIDS. Held at West Hollywood Park, the gathering featured a performance by singer-songwriter Rina Sawayama.

On Friday, WIF (Women in Film) hosted its annual Oscars party, honoring all 65 women—in front of and behind the camera—who were nominated this year. Co-hosted by Oscar-winning producer and WIF board president emerita Cathy Schulman, along with Oscar-winning actor Marlee Matlin and Oscar-winning screenwriter Siân Heder, the event was held at NeueHouse Hollywood and was designed and produced by Event Eleven.