Models Alessandra Ambrosio, Adriana Lima, and Josephine Skriver take a selfie at the 25th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation's Academy Awards Viewing Party. Photo / Getty
Models Alessandra Ambrosio, Adriana Lima, and Josephine Skriver take a selfie at the 25th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation's Academy Awards Viewing Party. Photo / Getty
It used to be one of the most exclusive Oscars parties in Hollywood with a guest list that included only the A-list.
But Vanity Fair's famous Academy Awards event raised eyebrows this week with guests that had limited relevance in Hollywood, and corporate sponsorships so OTT that one publication has declared it "past its prime".
John Legend and Chrissy Teigen attend the 2015 Vanity Fair Oscar Party. Photo / Getty
Vanity Fair event, held in Beverly Hills, was attended by a string of models and photo-hungry social climbers who had limited relevance in Hollywood.
One way to get in was to use hotel loyalty points to "bid" for tickets in a web auction, the New York Times said.
"It used to be a special insider event. Now it's a week-long corporate branding-palooza," a former studio executive told the Times.
The New York Times published a scathing take-down of the event where it stated: "For the insecure A-listers of the film business, an invitation to the Vanity Fair Oscar party used to be a status symbol".
Michael Jackson and Madonna during 63rd Annual Academy Awards after party. Photo / Getty
"When invitations went out this year, one of my big clients asked me, 'Is Vanity Fair still a hot invite?' which tells you everything you need to know," a public relations heavyweight told the Times.
The guest list was also taken up with "brand partners" and advertisers of Vanity Fair including executives from L'Oréal Paris, Giorgio Armani Beauty, Johnnie Walker, Hennessy X.O and IMG talent.
The mantle once held by VF party's as the hottest ticket in Hollywood has been replaced by Oscars events thrown by actual celebs like Jay Z and Beyonce, who held an ultra-private closed-to-media event inside the garage at Chateau Marmont.
Actor Diane Kruger attends the 2017 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Graydon Carter at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on February 26, 2017. Photo / Getty
There was no red carpet. No phones. And no photos.
Though it is no longer the status symbol it once was, at the Vanity Fair party, photos were being taken everywhere. It was all about posing and posting on Instagram.
Though one definite highlight of the Vanity Fair party, held at The Wallis Annenberg Centre for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, was Kendall Jenner who wore a jaw-dropping dress by Rami Kadi and no underwear.
