Which designer created Nicole Kidman’s chartreuse gown for the 1997 Academy Awards?

John Galliano created Nicole Kidman’s chartreuse gown for the 1997 Academy Awards.

Kidman wore the vividly colored gown at the 69th Academy Awards, where she attended with her then-husband Tom Cruise. The dress’s yellow-green shade, narrow silhouette, and decorative detailing made it one of the ceremony’s most discussed fashion choices.

Galliano was known for theatrical historical references and highly distinctive couture language. His design for Kidman helped demonstrate that an Oscar gown could stand out through unusual color as well as through shape, sparkle, or volume. The strong hue was especially memorable against the traditionally black, white, and metallic eveningwear common on awards carpets.

The look is sometimes called “acid yellow,” while other descriptions use chartreuse or lime. Those labels describe the color impression rather than changing the designer credit. Kidman was not nominated for an acting Oscar that year; the ceremony honored films released in 1996, including The English Patient, which won Best Picture.