Miniskirts and Movies

On April 10, 1967, Inger Stevens attended the 39th Academy Awards ceremony. The event was hosted by Bob Hope at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. I believe Mr. Hope hosted a whopping 19 Oscar ceremonies during his lifetime!

Inger bucked tradition of long evening gowns in favor of a minidress ensemble. She looked radiantly happy and absolutely gorgeous.

Inger at the Academy Awards. Photo by Gene Lester.

In The Farmer's Daughter Remembered, author William T. Patterson writes that Inger was asked to accept an award for the film Born Free if it should win at the ceremony that year. In preparation, Inger watched the film (and with friend Chris, waited in the theater until everyone had left because the film made her cry so much.)

Inger was interested in wearing something a little different to this year's ceremony and asked her friend and wardrobe designer Katy Theodore for advice. When Katy suggested a mini skirt, Inger answered that she could not wear a miniskirt, that she would be too afraid to go with something that untraditional. Katy told her to trust her, that the ensemble she would make for her would make her look and feel incredible; Inger reluctantly agreed.

Inger and Dick McKenzie at the ceremony.
Source: Flickr (kategabrielle)

Inger was a hit that evening and she did indeed look as incredible as Katy promised. Along with the minidress and cape, Inger wore silver stockings, white gloves and carried a matching purse. Although the cameramen loved Inger's look, the show's producers were worried about Inger coming on stage in the outfit. Born Free did not end up winning the award so their fears were not realized. Inger was not the only celebrity to test out the minidress look that night; Julie Christie also showed up in a miniskirt.

Inger at the Academy Awards.
Source: https://fanpix.famousfix.com/

Although it was a cold evening (reportedly only 45 degrees) and Inger later confided that although she enjoyed all the attention she ultimately felt uncomfortable in the dress, Inger glows in the photographs. Inger took an art dealer friend named Dick McKenzie as her escort and he looked quite handsome as well.

As a result of Inger and Julie Christie's short dresses and the controversy over the attention they received, the next year miniskirts were banned from the ceremony! Edith Head, famed designer and special advisor to the Academy, issued a formal ban on any attendees wearing miniskirts as she stated that even the nicest legs "look better when the kneecap is covered."

Inger at the 39th Academy Awards.
Source: Margaret HerrickLibrary Digital Collections.
http://digitalcollections.oscars.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15759coll9/id/1518

MPTV Images has a great photo of Inger at the Awards. Click here for that photo.

And Getty Images has my absolute favorite photo of Inger from that night. Inger is walking outside holding the program over her head and it looks like she is speaking to someone off camera. Click here for that photo.

Sources:
Patterson, William T. The Farmer's Daughter Remembered. 2000. p. 158-159.
Bader, Jenny Lyn. "Ideas & Treads; The Miniskirt as a National Security Threat." The New York Times. September 10, 2000.