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Gwyneth Paltrow recalls being hurt by criticism of 2002 Oscar dress that ‘everybody hated’

Actor and Goop entrepreneur said she had a ‘weird hangover’ about infamous look

Adam White
Thursday 29 April 2021 02:38 EDT
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Gwyneth Paltrow discusses criticism of her 2002 Oscar dress

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Gwyneth Paltrow has revealed she was hurt by criticism of her 2002 Oscar dress.

The Shakespeare in Love star attended that year’s Academy Awards in a gothic Alexander McQueen dress topped off with a sheer bodice, which was widely condemned at the time.

During a new video for Vogue, in which Paltrow revisited a number of her past looks, the actor and entrepreneur admitted she was affected by the criticism.

“Everybody really hated this [dress] ... but I think it’s kind of dope,” she said. “I’m into it.”

She continued: “I had a weird hangover about it for a while because people were really critical. I think at the time it was too goth, I think people thought it was too hard, so I think it sort of shocked people. But I like it.”

The infamous look was dubbed “unflattering” and “a fashion disaster” by critics in 2002.

Paltrow previously defended the dress in a 2013 interview, with some caveats.

“I still love the dress itself but I should have worn a bra and I should have just had simple beachy hair and less makeup,” she said. “Then, it would have worked as I wanted it to – a little bit of punk at the Oscars.”

Gwyneth Paltrow discusses her infamous 2002 Oscar dress
Gwyneth Paltrow discusses her infamous 2002 Oscar dress (Vogue)

Also in the Vogue video, Paltrow joked that she had become an expert in never exposing too much of herself despite occasionally wearing revealing outfits to events and premieres.

“If I’ve learnt one thing, it’s how to not show your vagina on the red carpet,” she said.

Last year, actor Glenn Close derided Paltrow’s Oscar win for Shakespeare in Love, claiming that the victory “didn’t make sense”.

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