Jason Merritt/Getty ImagesWhen it comes to selecting the Oscar gown, it's no surprise that quite a bit of careful analysis goes into the strategic style selection.
After all, an Oscar dress on a nominee, let alone a winner, will forever be remembered in history.
So upon seeing Anne Hathaway in a blush-pink Prada design on last night's red carpet, we couldn't help but wonder what happened to her trademark Valentino couture loyalty. After all, the star has consistently worn the designer on countless red carpets, and even had Mr. Valentino design her wedding dress months ago.
More peculiarly, Valentino even sent out a confirmation press release earlier in the afternoon declaring that the Les Misérables actress would be donning a design from the house, and shortly thereafter Fashion Police's George Kotsiopoulos predicted on-air during the E! Oscars preshow that she'd wear an ivory embellished gown with a high neckline by the designer.
So what happened?
A source close to the actress confirms to E! News that shortly before Hathaway stepped out on the red carpet she learned that Amanda Seyfried's Alexander McQueen Oscar gown was strikingly similar to her selected Valentino design, and opted for the Prada dress last minute.
A quick side-by-side comparison shows that both pale gowns were embellished with beautiful delicate floral embroidery—perhaps a little too close for comfort, in the opinion of the Oscar winner.
Hathaway explained to E!'s Ryan Seacrest on the red carpet that she "didn't know what I was wearing until about three hours ago," and said her work schedule was to blame. "This is the one that spoke to me in the end."
What did you think of Anne Hathaway's Oscar gown? Do you prefer the Prada or the Valentino design?