At last night’s Oscars, Mona Fastvold, who was nominated as a co-writer for The Brutalist, wore an architectural white gown by Khaite – a brand helmed by Fastvold’s longtime friend
When it came time for Mona Fastvold, the Norwegian co-writer of The Brutalist, to choose a dress for her very first Oscars, Khaite was a no-brainer. Not only is creative director Catherine Holstein a “dear friend” of Fastvold’s (“We’ve known each other for years”), but the striking white gown also offered a subtle nod to The Brutalist, the epic tale of a Hungarian architect trying to make his mark in America post World War II. “Her clothes are quite architectural,” says Fastvold. “Which is a little bit on-brand for the film.”
Despite the fact that The Brutalist, which Fastvold co-wrote with director Brady Corbet (who also happens to be her longtime partner), was nominated for a whopping 10 awards at last night’s Oscars, she went into the evening with no expectations. Not to mention, no speeches. “We’re winging it,” she says. Ultimately, the film took home three awards, including a Best Actor win for Adrien Brody.
Brady Corbet in custom Prada with Sauvereign bespoke brooch and Mona Fastvold at the 2025 Oscars. Photo: Getty
For Fastvold, it was vital she felt authentic for the occasion. “I still feel like myself,” she says of the look, which she complemented with a tennis bracelet and diamond necklace. “Sometimes with the Oscars or big award ceremonies it can be very glitzy and all of a sudden you’ve put on a something that feels more like a costume than your personal style. I just want to feel like myself.” To further emphasise this point, she opted for an unfussy blowout and glowing, natural makeup. The minimalist nature of the dress, with its asymmetric off-the-shoulder neckline and sharp-lined train, was also true to Fastvold’s Scandinavian heritage. “I’m drawn to those simple, clean lines,” she says. “I love the construction of the dress as well. It’s so up my alley, with my interest in architecture.”
Fastvold’s interest in – and personal connection to – architecture well predates The Brutalist. Growing up in Oslo, which she describes as a “mishmash” of architectural aesthetics, her grandfather was an architect and mid-century designer. “He would really teach me to look at architecture and look at buildings in a different way and speak to the thought process behind buildings and the use of light and draw my attention to architecture growing up,” she says. “The beautiful house that he built for his family, which I really loved, it was not brutalist but more functionalism. It was really this beautiful integration of nature and light and clean lines and unconventional shapes. I think that really shaped me.”
Mona Fastvold, Brady Corbet and their daughter Ada and Corbet's mother . Photo: Getty
The day of the Academy Awards was a friends and family affair for Fastvold. French actor Stacy Martin, a “dear friend” who also appears in The Brutalist, came to Fastvold’s hotel room so they could get ready together (“We share the same makeup artist, Yasuko Shapiro”). Fastvold and Corbett’s daughter, Ada, whose emotional reaction to Corbett’s Golden Globe win made her an instant star, was in the getting ready suite as well. “She and her best friend are having a sleepover at our hotel,” says Fastvold. Meanwhile, Fastvold’s family were rooting her on from Norway. Due to the nine-hour time difference between Oslo and Los Angeles, they took in the awards over an early morning coffee.
After the awards, Fastvold and Corbet were off to the Vanity Fair party. But first, a quick change into another Khaite gown – black this time. Fastvold wanted to hit up Vanity Fair specifically for the food; the party famously serves In-N-Out burgers. “That’s the main reason,” she says. “I changed into black, because you can’t eat a burger in that white dress.”