Karolina Kurkova
Jake Shideler

After the glitz and glamour of the Academy Awards comes an even more star-studded affair as Oscar winners, nominees, and A-list guests make their way to the Vanity Fair Oscars afterparty. For model and entrepreneur Karolina Kurkova, she couldn’t wait to arrive to connect with friends she hasn’t seen since the COVID-19 pandemic, and took GRAZIA USA along for the ride by sharing her full getting-ready process, ahead. 

“For my look, I didn’t go for a big gown, I wanted something with meaning and a story,” Kurkova says of her look for the night. “I wore designs made by women that are sustainable, authentic, unique and used this opportunity to highlight and empower them and ethical fashion.”

The piece that captured everything she was seeking was a Gabriela Hearst crochet dress from the designer’s Spring 2022 collection. “I liked it! It was something different, not your typical red carpet dress, but glamorous in a different way,” the former Victoria’s Secret Angel shares. “Gabriela collaborated with artisan weavers Manos del Uruguay and Madres & Artesanas Tex in Bolivia, as well as with weavers from the Navajo nation to design the dress. You can’t cut Navajo weaving because they are sacred, so I found this dress even more beautiful with that in mind.”

She complemented the soft feminine look with one of her go-to jewelry brands, Paula Mendoza. “It made the look tougher, more high-fashion and different.” For shoes, she opted for a classic pair of Christian Louboutin pumps and topped the look off with a Gabriela Hearst bag. 

Just like the tougher edge her jewelry added, she wanted her makeup to do the same. “With the soft, see-through effect of the crochet dresses, I wanted the makeup to reflect structure so I had a sultry eye and clean skin.” Her short, straight lob hairstyle was actually cut right before the carpet. “The overall look with hair and makeup was definitely something modern, timeless and classic with its own twist. It was not over-the-top or crazy. It was appropriate for a glamorous night celebrating artists and still felt that I could tell my own story through the way that I dressed.”

To see how the full look came together, check out Kurkova’s full getting-ready process, below.

Masked Up

Karolina Kurkova
Jake Shideler

“First things, first,” says the model who prepped with a 111Skin face mask.

Snack Time

Karolina Kurkova
Jake Shideler

“You can never go wrong with a burger and fries before a long night.”

Date Night

Karolina Kurkova
Jake Shideler

“Mom and dad night out,” says Karolina pictured with her husband, Archie Drury.

Room Service

Karolina Kurkova
Jake Shideler

“I like to be helpful and productive.”

Pucker Up

Karolina Kurkova
Jake Shideler

“The last touch-ups before heading out.”

Snip Snip

Karolina Kurkova
Jake Shideler

“Getting fresher, shorter cut for the night.”

Tidying Up

Karolina Kurkova
Jake Shideler

“Cleaning my own mess after mine and Archie’s haircut.”

The Essentials

Karolina Kurkova
Jake Shideler

“The details.”

Red Carpet Ready

Karolina Kurkova
Jake Shideler

“Ready, set, go.”