kate hawley was presented the award for best costume design on Sunday night (ET) at the Dolby Theatre during the 2026 Oscars, in a ceremony moment that mixed high fashion and lighthearted stage banter. Anna Wintour joined Anne Hathaway onstage to hand out the prizes, and the pair leaned into a playful reference to The Devil Wears Prada before the winners were named. The presentation capped a tense awards stretch and honored the team behind Frankenstein’s look.
Expanding details and winners
Onstage, Anne Hathaway and Anna Wintour presented the awards for best costume design and best hair and makeup, awarding Frankenstein costume designer Kate Hawley and hair and makeup artists Mike Hill, Cliona Furey, Jordan Samuel, and Megan Many. The moment stood out for its mix of celebrity presence and comic timing: Hathaway asked, “Anna, just curious… what do you think of my dress tonight?” and Wintour deadpanned, “And the nominees for best costume design are…” The exchange cut through the room’s tension and immediately became a talking point for attendees.
The named winners represent the creative teams recognized onstage that night; the costume and beauty credits were presented sequentially during the segment where Hathaway and Wintour took the microphone. The presentation was one of several surprise cameo-driven highlights of the 2026 ceremony, drawing attention both for the awards and for the rapport between the presenters.
Kate Hawley onstage moment
Kate Hawley, credited as the Frankenstein costume designer, was the central recipient in the costume category tied to that onstage exchange. The pairing of Hathaway and Wintour amplified the moment: after the opening joke, Wintour went on to add, “Thank you, Emily, ” a wink that referenced her real-life assistant Emily, who was present in the audience. The brief dialogue underscored both the theatricality of the presentation and the personal connections visible on the Oscars stage.
Immediate reactions and voices
Anne Hathaway, Oscar-winning actress, leaned into the bit and later drew attention for her choice of gown; Anna Wintour, global editorial director, delivered the lines with signature deadpan timing. The hair and makeup team—Mike Hill, Cliona Furey, Jordan Samuel, and Megan Many—stood alongside Hawley as the onstage recognition concluded. Attendees responded to the comedic beat and the award announcements with audible applause and visible relief as the segment moved quickly from joke to accolade.
Quick context
On the red carpet that night, Anna Wintour wore Dior and Anne Hathaway appeared in a Valentino gown, a deliberate nod to the late designer. Hathaway had attended the designer’s funeral in Rome alongside Wintour and later wrote in a personal message that he had been a dear friend who brightened her life in many ways.
What’s next
Expect further discussion in the hours after the ceremony about the presentation’s staging, the winners’ career trajectories, and the red carpet tributes to fashion figures honored in the evening. Coverage will track any statements from the credited winners and their teams, and the conversation around kate hawley’s work on Frankenstein is likely to continue in industry roundtables and award-season commentary.
