THE AWARDS EDITION 2011-2012

Sun, Sand, Surf and(Indie) Spirits: How a OnceLaid-Back Awards ShowHas Become High FashionBy MonicaCorcoran HarelFinding the perfect gown for the Academy Awards® is tough enough. But for aclutch of fashionable young ingénues, there is now the day before to fret over too.Indeed, what are you wearing to the Indies?40 The Awards Edition 2011-2012 Issue 07In the past few years, the once-casual FilmIndependent Spirit Awards — which take place onthe afternoon before the Oscars, ® beachside in SantaMonica — have become the tousle-haired but veryglamorous little sister to bigger award shows. Theunofficial dress code may be “casual beach chic,” butthe limos are sleeker, the dresses are sexier and theheels are higher than ever.Why the shinier attire? One major impetus is theexpanding economics of the red carpet. (Incidentally, theIndies now asserts its rebelliousness with a blue carpet.)“If you’re a celebrity, you can’t afford to make a misstepon any red carpet — whether it be an award show ora store opening,” says Los Angeles Times fashion criticBooth Moore. “These fashion statements can lead tobusiness opportunities with designer contracts or evenmagazine covers.”Not to mention that fashion magazine websites andbloggers alike now critique the fashion at the awardshow. Last year, everyone from the unforgiving FugGirls to InStyle.com to British Vogue reported on thedresses. Elle magazine, a premier sponsor of the showsince 2007, gets the most access to the event anddevotes a spread to it in its issue.Such scrutiny would have been silly back in 1996,when Sandra Bullock showed up in a tee shirt andnondescript navy blue suit, carrying a big, brownknapsack. Or two years later, with Cameron Diazwearing a simple black top and pants (right) over asheer dress. Reese Witherspoon’s black turtleneck andcamel leather pants combination in 2000 wouldn’thave garnered ink in InStyle either. On the male front,Tobey Maguire wins the least dressed award for hisbaggy jeans, sneakers and oversized plaid shirt in 1993.But it’s refreshing to stroll down carpets of yore and seeHollywood unzipped and unshaven at the Indies. Theshow, now in its 26th year, felt a bit more carefree whenJennifer Connelly wore white Bermuda shorts in 2001and Naomi Watts donned jeans and a gauzy blouse incameron diaz, 1998 2009