UPDATE, 2-28-15: Nyong'o's dress has been reported RETURNED by the thief who, according to a tip called into TMZ, removed two pearls from the stolen dress and had them tested in the L.A. Garment district, whereupon they learned that the pearls were "not real." The dress was found in a garment bag hidden in a trash bag, back in the actress' original hotel.
UPDATE, 2-26-15: In a hair-raising turn of events, Lupita Nyong'o's famous pearl gown was reported stolen late Wednesday evening, on February 25, 2015 from the actress' hotel room. The dress is estimated to cost appx. $150,000, and will likely either be held for ransom, or sold on the black market.
If you didn't watch the Oscars last Sunday night, you may not know who won each category, but that doesn't mean that you have to go on without knowing who turned the most heads! Lupita Nyong’o, winner of last year’s Academy Award for "Best Supporting Actress" in the film 12 Years a Slave, has been proclaimed this year’s “Best Dressed” by the popular vote.
Not one to shy away from making waves, Lupita graced the red carpet last year in a grand, Cinderella-like blue gown of “Nairobi blue.” This year, she caused an equally significant splash in her outstanding custom Calvin Klein dress, designed by old favorite Francisco Costa. “From the onset, I wanted the dress to be graphic, yet warm and luxurious,” Costa said. He began with a base of luxurious tulle and lamé fabrics, and then systematically–and carefully–went on to apply a mesmerizing mermaidly design of no less than 6,000 pearls.
“We looked at a variety of different pearls—South Sea, iridescent, and natural—and decided that the natural pearls looked the most beautiful.” And we certainly agree! Costa’s team didn’t stop until they had assembled five variations of pearl sizes, all of which were hand sewn onto the gown...And because the devil’s in the details, it would be unforgivable not to mention Nyong’o’s stunning Nicholas Kirkwood slingbacks, which were an “obvious choice” according to Costa, and which are also, happily, pearl-encrusted peeptoes.