Jason Wu Designs First Ever Red Carpet Oscar Gown

Having one of your gowns worn by an A-list celebrity on the red carpet is a goal for all fashion designers. Having a gown worn at the Oscars? That is the ultimate designer dream. Jason Wu can cross that goal off his list because, this past Sunday, the stunningly beautiful and fashion forward actress Kerry Washington wore a Jason Wu gown to the 2014 Oscars.

The designer has dressed the likes of Michelle Obama and Diane Kruger but made his Academy Awards debut with a silky violet gown worn by the pregnant Scandal star. The presenter’s growing baby bump was the perfect accessory to her ultra feminine gown with a sexy slit. Wu, a New York-based designer, told Pret-a-Reporter, “Kerry and I have been friends and great collaborators since the beginning of my career. It was an honor to create a custom dress for her to wear to the Academy Awards.”

The Django Unchained actress accessorized with Jennifer Meyer jewels (the jewelry designer wife of actor Tobey Maguire), including double bracelets and petite earrings, along with embellished platinum pumps. Her beauty choices included gorgeous oxblood lipstick and a half up wavy do.

Wu, 31, is perhaps most famous for designing dresses for Obama, including gowns worn by her during the first and second inauguration of her husband, President Barack Obama. Mrs. Obama also wore a Jason Wu dress on a Barbara Walters special shortly before the November 2008 election, which many in the media considered her his career-launcher.

Born in Taiwan, Wu’s family then moved to Vancouver, Canada. He learned how to sew by designing and sewing for dolls and went on to study sculpture in Toyko. Wu continued forming his career path at age sixteen by developing freelance doll clothing designs for toy company Integrity Toys. The following year, he was named the creative director of the company. He then went on to study at Parsons The New School of Design in NYC, where he remains to be based.

Wu launched his ready-to-wear line of clothes with earnings from his years of doll clothing designs. His first full women’s collection debuted in 2006 and the designer won the Fashion Group International’s Rising Star award in 2008. Wu’s other career highlights include being nominated in 2008 for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund award, being named as the Art Director of Hugo Boss in 2013 (overseeing all womenswear), and now having Kerry Washington stroll the red carpet in his strapless work of art.

Shop the official Jason Wu online store here, featuring his women’s designer dresses, bags, and shoes.

(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)