Katy Perry Goes 'Gatsby' in Nolan Miller Gown

Michael Kovac/Getty Images for City of Hope

Katy Perry channeled her inner Daisy Buchanan at Tuesday night's City of Hope event, a music and entertainment industry annual soiree, which this year honors Clear Channel CEO Bob Pittman.

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Katy wore a slinky rose and gold silk slip dress that is sure to come 23-skidoo-ing back in vogue when director Baz Luhrmann’s remake of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic 1925 novel, The Great Gatsby, is released in a few months.

The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio as the charismatic millionaire Jay Gatsby and Carey Mulligan as his lost love, Buchanan.

And here’s an interesting Behind the Seams tidbit: The gown was designed by the iconic Hollywood costume designer Nolan Miller, best known for his big-shouldered, over-the-top gowns on Dynasty. 

Nolan, who passed away last week after a long battle with lung cancer, had long dressed the red carpet greats including Elizabeth Taylor, Sophia Loren, Bette Davis, Joan Collins, and Lana Turner.

Cameron Silver, co-owner of the pre-loved clothing boutique Decades, on Melrose in Los Angeles, bought the gown a few years ago from one of Miller's private clients. 

When he got  a request from Perry's stylist's team for '20s and '30s inspired looks, he sent them a few selections, including that dress. "Katy definitely wanted something very period looking and I think it's a nice homage to Nolan Miller, wearing it just a week after he died."

Did Katie know about Nolan Miller? "I'm not sure," Silver says. "But I'm sure her stylist told her about him. And I'm sure she grew up watching Dynasty, as we all did."

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Silver was certain the style would flatter the singer's busty shape.

"I always knew that the dress could handle a bust," he explains.  "In fact, the original owner I bought it from, who lived in the Sierra Towers, had a simliar body type to Katy. The design is so un-Nolan Miller. It's a slip dress with no structure or shoulder pads. But I'm sure he probably showed it with a huge white fur."   

Read Silver's remarks on the dress at the Decades Inc Blog.

The pop singer's style team accessorized the dress with long strands of pearls and a jeweled headband. On her feet were a pair of Manolo Blahnik satin pumps that were designed and made for Kristen Stewart for her Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn: Part 1 wedding scene. The 4 1/4″ crystal encrusted satin pumps fetch a mere $1,295.

Usually we don’t care for dusty period costume get-ups, but Katy didn’t do the full-on fingerwave do. Instead, she kept her waves soft and full, making the retro '20s-'30s gown totally modern and fresh.

And if you're interested, Silver has another Nolan MIller original dress for sale. Check it out here.