Final Best Costume Design Oscar Nomination Predictions

With the Academy’s nominations announcement drawing closer by the day, it’s time to lay it all on the line with my final Oscar nomination predictions. While the Costume Designers Guild nominations gave us a good indication of the overall players, the guild separates their awards into contemporary, period, and sci-fi/fantasy, so it’s not quite so helpful when picking the final five Oscar nominees.

So, what films nabbed nominations from the CDG, BAFTA, and Critics Choice? That would be Emma., Mank, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, so we should likely consider those our three locks for the Oscars. Mulan scored at both CDG and Critics Choice and was longlisted with BAFTA, so that feels safe in the top five too, especially given the Academy’s penchant for Disney live-action films in this category (Alice in Wonderland, Maleficent, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Mary Poppins Returns).

That leaves the fifth spot up for grabs. The smart money would be on a period piece like News of the World, but the fact it was snubbed by the CDG is rather telling. Perhaps the Academy will want to make a statement and acknowledge contemporary designs and the likeliest there would be Promising Young Woman. It scored a nomination at CDG and Critics Choice and was longlisted by BAFTA, so it’s definitely in the mix here. I’m likely going to be wrong, but sometimes you have to go out on a limb. And what a wonderful nominee it would make.

BEST COSTUME DESIGN PREDICTIONS:
1. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix)
Ann Roth
2. Emma. (Focus Features)
Alexandra Byrne
3. Mank (Netflix)
Trish Summerville
4. Mulan (Disney)
Bina Daigeler
5. Promising Young Woman (Focus Features)
Nancy Steiner

Alternate: Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (Netflix)