In Dior For The 1984 London Yentl Premier And 1986 Academy Awards
Barbra Streisand wore this cream Dior ensemble to the London Premier of Yentl on March 29, 1984 and again to the Academy Awards on March 24, 1986.
The Royal Charity premier of Yentl took place at Leicester Square Theatre and in the presence of Princess Alexandra of Kent who is the first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. The event raised funds for the National Association for Mental Health (now known as Mind). For this event, Barbra paired her Dior ensemble with a matching glamorous 1940’s style gathered turban, wrapped in cream Russian netting which created birdcage veil that fell just above her eye line.
Two years later, Barbra wore this look again as she presented the Academy Award for Best Director to Sydney Pollack for Out Of Africa. On this night she wore her hair down with a relaxed natural wave. Barbra would continue wearing this hairstyle through the entirity of 1986. She accessorized with a statement choker with two long tiered diamond strands, sheer white tights and matching heels.
Barbra’s long jacket flowed elegantly behind her as she walked to the podium where she began her presentation.
“Putting it together. That’s what a director does. He or she takes the many diverse elements that go into making a motion picture and tries to put them on the screen in a way that touches peoples hearts and minds. It’s always a challenge, sometimes a burden and ultimately a privilege. But it’s not an easy task. A director needs the stamina of an athlete and the patience of a saint. A director is part artist, part politician, part father confessor and part Jewish mother. Directing is a constant battle to get the best from yourself and the best from your collaborators. It’s a fight against the weather, against the schedule, against the budget. Sometimes you dine on success and sometimes you simply eat crow. But all the time you are following a vision. And wonder of wonders, sometimes that vision comes true. Franco Zeffirelli who was nominated for Romeo And Juliet sent a cable to Stanley Kubrick who was nominated that same year for 2001 (they both lost by the way.) Zeffirelli wrote “You made me dream, eyes wide open.” It’s time now to honor the nominated directors for the dreams they’ve given us this year. The nominees are…..
Just after announcing “and the winner is” Barbra sang a bit of her hit song The Way We Were before declaring the winner as Sydney Pollack (1934-2008), whom had directed her in 1973’s The Way We Were.
Barbra’s gorgeous outfit was designed by Marc Bohan for Dior and features many of the elements that were popular at the time including dramatic shoulder pads and belted waists.
1980’s Dior Patterns
The floor length, crepe silk gown has spaghetti straps and was hand embellished with silver sequins as well as white and iridescent bugle beads crossing the torso on the bias. The loose fit is cinched at the waist with a belt which has a triangular silver edge and slide. There is a French seam, slit on the left side and a side zipper, hook and eye closure. The matching open front, floor length jacket features a notched lapel with deep hidden side pockets, defined padded shoulders and French seams.
This outfit sold at auction in 2004 for $1,150.00.