Sandy's Motherhood Blog: Food, Fun, Fashion: The Oscar Look for Less, or, Shopping for Prom

With the 2022 Oscars in the rearview mirror and the 2022 prom season just ahead, I thought I'd see if I could find some Oscar-inspired looks that would work for the prom and be - although not cheap - a little more affordable than the designer originals.

Jennifer Garner and Julianne Hough wore similar styles designed by Brandon Maxwell and Pamella Roland, respectively. Both column dresses featured an off-the-shoulder horizontal neckline with a deep, narrow v and draped shoulder details, and Hough's added a short but full train.

Xscape's off-the-shoulder sparkle gown from Macy's features a similar silhouette and neckline, with slightly less draped shoulders and no train, but in a beautiful shade of cobalt blue, for just over $100.

If you absolutely have to have the red, and don't mind a slightly more fitted silhouette (and a larger price tag), go with La Femme's version from Neiman Marcus for $378.

Lily James' blush pink lace Versace gown was tightly fitted to the hip and featured narrow shoulder straps, a thigh-high side slit, and a full skirt with hint of a train.

La Femme's deeper pink lace mermaid gown is also fitted to the hip, and features a plunging illusion neckline with narrow shoulder straps, a thigh-high side slit, and a flared mermaid skirt. Just under $500 from Neiman Marcus.

Maggie Gyllenhall's black Schiaparelli gown featured a fitted silhouette topped by a structured wrap around the shoulders, embellished with gold decorations forming a line down the front and across the shoulders.

If you're willing to add a few embellishments yourself, consider this Betsy & Adam off-the-shoulder gown from Macy's as a base, and add these pretty gold appliques from Amazon, for a combined price of about $190:

Mila Kunis wore a stunning blush pink satin one-shouldered wrap gown with long side train and narrow belt by Zuhair Murad.

For a similar look, try this draped one-shoulder champagne satin gown by Romona Keveza from Neiman Marcus. It has a similar wrapped waist and a short side train, plus a daring side slit, but it's a bit (!!) pricy at $6,550.

Marlee Matlin's simple but stunning red satin Monique Lhullier gown featured a wrapped waistline, long sleeves fitted at the wrists, a demure jewel neckline, and a short train.

This Badgley Mischka side-draped gown has a similar silhouette, with jewel neck, long sleeves fitted at the wrists, and a short drape falling from the wrapped waist in lieu of a train. Just under $700 from Nieman Marcus.

Megan Thee Stallion's blue-gray ruffled gown designed by Gaurav Gupta is a bit much (or perhaps not quite enough) for the prom. But the lines of its beautiful pleated and ruffled skirt/train are lovely and graceful.

But Bronx and Banco's one-sleeved tier ruffle gown from Bergdorf Goodman has a lot of the same beautiful features, including an asymmetrical ruffled skirt cascading into a train, a hint of exposed midriff, and a visually interesting fabric, for $850.

Olivia Colman's metallic silver pleated Dior dress featured super-long bell sleeves, a high neckline, a narrow belt, and a full skirt.

Mac Duggal's metallic gold pleated gown from Macy's features a similar silhouette, but with short flutter sleeves and a jewel neckline, making it a slightly more youthful version of the original, for about $600.

My favorite details about Penelope's Cruz's black Chanel halter gown were the gathered bustline over the ruched bodice, the drawn-in halter straps tied with a bow, and the full skirt.

This soft chiffon dress from Simply Dresses echoes the style with its criss-cross bodice and gathered bustline with halter straps and full skirt. For only $50, it might be worth taking the risk of ordering online.

Sian Heders' Michael Kors silver gown is a simple long-sleeved, jewel-necked column covered in tiny mirrors.

This Eliza J sequined gown from Macy's has a similar silhouette, with long sleeves, a slightly more bateau neckline, and a slightly fuller skirt. But it also has a price tag of less than $175.

Zendaya's two-piece Valentino ensemble might be a bit daring for some, with its man-cut cropped satin shirt and silver sequin column skirt with full train.

For a more toned-down but still elegant version of this look, try this two-tone bow-waist dress by Jessica Howard from Macy's. The shirt has just a hint of sheen and a plunging neckline, and the flared skirt has a flattering bow at the waist to add visual interest. And it's less than $120.

Some of these are still a bit pricy, so I'm adding in a few of my favorite Oscar-worthy looks with price tags under $150!

This cobalt blue gown features a gathered halter top belted into a sheer skirt with cascading ruffles over a short underskirt. Less than $100 from Macy's.