Bobs? For the red carpet? Not exactly groundbreaking. Except when they're given a fresh Oscars spin. Florence Pugh rocked a Madonna bob, and Zendaya a baroque bob at the 2024 Academy Awards – but Sydney Sweeney majorly got jaws dropping when she served up a super-short, modern Monroe bob at the 2024 Oscars after party this weekend.
In fact, the inspiration for the Madame Web actor's head-to-toe look seemed to have come from the red carpet archives. Not only did her hair channel a ‘50s starlet – her ivory gown, created by US designer Marc Bouwer, conjured up Marilyn's iconic white dress in the 1955 film The Seven Year Itch. That plunging neckline and ruched waist is majorly Monroe-coded.
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And if you think you've seen this exact dress before, your eyes are not deceiving you. Angelina Jolie originally wore the elegant gown, which pooled around Sydney’s feet, to the Academy Awards in 2004. But unlike Angelina, who styled the look with a casual half-up half-down hairstyle, Sydney chose the event to debut a modern Monroe bob.
Sydney's hair transformation began at Miu Miu's recent Paris Fashion Week show, where she traded in her signature, long mane for a textured, shoulder-skimming shag. She looked virtually unrecognisable. At last night's Oscars, she went shorter still.
Still leaning into the silver screen vibes, Sydney's curled-under, side-parted bob – with a soft wave over one eye – seemed to be a nod to Marilyn's hairstyle at the Call Me Madam premiere in 1953. The only difference was that rather than going platinum blonde, Sydney Sweeney kept her deeper, linen blonde hue.
She also avoided a literal interpretation by opting for nude makeup and subtly defined eyes (there was a noticeable absence of dramatic black liner or red lipstick) – making hers a soft, dreamy take on an icon.
For more from Fiona Embleton, GLAMOUR's Associate Beauty Director, follow her on @fiembleton.
