Oscar-winner Halle Berry has always been comfortable taking risks, not just in her career or her
personal life, but also as a style icon and sartorial trailblazer, especially when it
came to appearances at the Academy Awards.
In 2002, the year she became the first Black woman to win Best Actress for "Monster's Ball,"
Berry made headlines for a second reason — she arrived in what many consider her edgiest
gown choice to date. As CR Fashion Book wrote,
"The dress was an immediate wow moment."
Berry rocked a see-through top with strategically embroidered flower designs and a dramatic
burgundy skirt, and made a huge impact. Designer Elie Saab even told Vogue in 2019,
"Halle Berry made the name Elie Saab more popular. She managed to really put the name
Elie Saab on the international market. [Halle Berry is] the reason my brand took off."
It takes true power to take a brand global simply by wearing it once!
At the 2011 Oscars, Berry once again set hearts aflutter by pouring herself into a figure-hugging,
flesh-hued, and embroidered tulle Marchesa gown. The Huffington Post wrote at the time
that Berry's choice of evening wear, quote, "not only looked gorgeous, but actually enjoyable
to wear."
It is notable that both of these Best Dressed occasions featured a pixie haircut-Berry,
a version of her hair she generally seems content wearing. At the 2021 Oscars, however,
Berry decided to shock onlookers and fashion critics alike in an entirely different way
than with her choice of frock.
In a strapless lilac gown adorned with ultra-feminine details like a large center bow and a flowy
tail, Berry looked her usual classy sex-symbol self on the 2021 Oscars red carpet ... until
you noticed her fresh haircut. Wearing her highlighted locks in a bob that cut off just
below her razor-sharp cheekbones, Berry also showcased short and deliberately uneven bangs.
The new look is specifically startling given that Berry had been cited in December 2020
by Oprah Daily as an example of long, eye-sweeping curtain bangs done well.
Twitter seemed to side with Oprah Daily that Berry should have adhered to her longer, more
versatile bangs. One tweet read,
"Why is Halle Berry rocking Josh Harnett's hair from the 2000's?"
Another Twitter user cracked,
"I will destroy halle berry's bob"
To which another jokingly replied,
"damn, how much more damage can it take?"
Perhaps this is a rare miss for the decorated style maven, but her taste in wardrobe at
least seemed to remain tried and true, with most agreeing that the dress, at least, was
fabulous. Hey, hair can always grow back.
Berry actually teased fans about her hair hours before hitting the Oscars red carpet.
She shared a picture on her Twitter on April 25 that showed some of her honey brown locks
cut off and lying on the floor, hinting that she was trying out a very different look.
"By accepting who you are, all of who you are, you can be free. And freedom is power."
The actor, who has been known for her chic hairstyles in the past, previously told InStyle
that she has, quote, "an affinity for short hair" and she felt like her "best self" when
she had her first dramatically short haircut. Berry told the outlet,
"I had no hair to hide behind, it was just all me, take it or leave it, love it or hate
it."
Berry also claimed that her first short haircut was the reason for her acting success. The
"X-Men" star told InStyle that she landed the part of Emily Franklin on the '80s sitcom
"Living Dolls" after the change. She explained,
"I think that was because the directors and producers actually saw me. Before that, I
had long hair like every other girl like me."
She revealed to the Huffington Post in 2014 that even though her manager hated the new
look at first, it filled her with confidence. She said,
"Growing up as a Black woman, I felt that if I didn't have long hair, I wasn't going
to be beautiful. I always thought that. Someone saying you're beautiful and the fact that
you have no hair makes you even more beautiful, said to me it's not about my hair. It's about
something else we emanate. I've lived with that my whole life."
Only time will tell if she keeps the head-turning look, but Berry has proven time and time again
that she loves to make a statement. Can't wait to see what she does next.
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