Read Costumer Edith Head's Amazing Dress Code for the 1968 Oscars

It's hard to be obsessed with the Oscars sometimes because they're often predictable, boring, and tolerant of things like Black Swan, but VINTAGE OSCARS is a whole different story. I could think about the discarded wedding dress Lee Grant wore for her Shampoo victory in '76 for days. And I have. Even better now, the Academy has released a dress code that legendary costumer Edith Head wrote for the 1968 ceremony. It is cold, direct, and bossy. It is awesome.

Check it out: This is the signature Edith Head rigidity you see in Grace Kelly's Rear Window wardrobe -- only verbalized!

We in the Academy are delighted to know that you will appear on our 40th Awards presentation Telecast Monday, April 8th.

However, so many questions have been asked about the style of dress expected on stage that I send you this information:

Actresses are requested to wear formal evening gowns either Maxi or floor length, preferably pastel shades since the setting is very formal and done entirely in white and gold. As you know, long dresses (no Mini or day length) are more graceful on stage and on camera in this type of background. The Academy feels that the dignity of this traditional affair on our 40th Anniversary deserves formal dress.

Men are expected to wear white tie with conventional formal evening accessories.

NO DAY LENGTH DRESSES, PLEBES. Should I be shocked or titillated that Estelle Parsons, who picked up a trophy for Supporting Actress at the '68 ceremony, wore an all-black number? Well, it's Estelle Parsons, so I suppose I'm shocked and titillated anyway. I hope Edith Head smacked her around a little.

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