“I believe it’s my favorite gown I’ve ever worn,” gushes Carey Mulligan over the cellphone from LA, two days forward of the Oscars. She’s speaking concerning the archival Balenciaga robe, relationship again to 1951, that the French trend home has recreated for the 96th Academy Awards, the place she’s nominated for Finest Actress for her highly effective efficiency as Felicia Montealegre Bernstein–actor and spouse of conductor Leonard Bernstein (Bradley Cooper)–in Maestro.

The strapless robe, which is cinched in on the waist and incorporates a dramatic white tulle practice, is an ideal selection for Mulligan, whose understatedly elegant fashion has made her probably the greatest dressed on the pink carpet this awards season. “It’s probably the most unbelievable form and so basic, however feels actually trendy,” she says of the gown. “It simply feels superb to put on, and never constrictive; I’m not going to be sitting there holding my breath for 3 hours.”

In addition to being aligned with the British actor’s private fashion, the unique gown additionally occurs to be from the exact same yr that Felicia and Leonard bought married – making it a becoming tribute to the exceptional lady she performs on display screen. “Andrew Mukamal, my stylist, discovered this reference and confirmed it to [Balenciaga]. We have been simply so thrilled they needed to do it,” Mulligan explains, including that that is the primary time that Balenciaga had remade a glance from its archives for the pink carpet. The actor additionally wore classic recreations from Schiaparelli and Dior on the Golden Globes and BAFTAs respectively, describing it as “such a privilege” to work with these manufacturers to deliver the designs again to life.

For Oscars evening, Mulligan is including to the sense of Outdated Hollywood glamour with black opera gloves and Boucheron jewels, whereas on the sweetness entrance, she is popping to trusted hairstylist Jenny Cho and make-up artist Nina Park, who will create a pared-back look utilizing Lancôme merchandise. “[They make me] really feel simply so like myself, however the very best model of myself who has been labored on by professionals for hours,” the actor says of her glam workforce.

After not too long ago telling British Vogue that occurring the pink carpet is like getting into Physician Who’s Tardis (“Most days I’m simply me… After which each infrequently I step right into a magic cellphone field, and –whoosh–I come out the opposite facet in a designer robe and there are lights flashing in every single place”), the actor finds awards ceremonies “extra enjoyable [than] nerve-wracking” these days, as a result of “this a part of job is such a distinct world.”

Living proof: Mulligan can be arriving on the Dolby Theatre in a “large celebration van” with all her pals (“I’m going to be standing in order that the gown doesn’t get creased”). On the playlist? “Solely the hits, nothing cool,” she says.

It’ll be a really totally different expertise to Mulligan’s final Oscars look in 2021, the primary one after the Covid-19 pandemic started, when solely her husband, Marcus Mumford, was allowed to accompany her on the pink carpet. “[He] was in control of all the things: he had to verify the gown was laid out properly; he was texting my hair and make-up workforce. He was extremely harassed,” she laughs.

After the ceremony, Mulligan will change right into a yet-to-be-decided after-party look, in order that she will “sit and eat, and never fear about getting ketchup on myself,” and keep away from anybody spilling wine on that lovely white practice (“I’d homicide them!” she jokes.) And after that? “I’m formally unemployed as of 11 March, so I’ll fly residence and return to the college run for some time,” the actor replies. “It’s going to be very nice to bunker down and revel in a little bit of downtime.”