It's safe to say, the most talked about red carpet ensemble at the 2013 Oscars was the Prada "apron" donned by Anne Hathaway.
The pink dress sparked controversy not just because it seemed to highlight the 'Les Miserables' star's nipples, but also because it became a trending topic on Twitter (via a #LesNipplerables hashtag and an @HathawayNipple account).
People all over the web pondered how the 30-year-old could have made such a huge fashion misstep on Hollywood's most important red carpet — and now we may have a reason.
According to Refinery29, Anne Hathaway was never supposed to wear Prada to the Oscars; she had apparently tapped Valentino to design her gown. She changed her mind three hours before the awards show was set to start, reports US Weekly.
Which begs the question: what on earth happened, and how did Anne make such a terrible last-minute mistake?
The rumour is Hathaway saw what Amanda Seyfried was going to wear — a lace Alexander McQueen dress — and felt it was too similar to the gown she was set to don. (Valentino's press folks issued a release before the Oscars describing Anne's frock as "a pink embroidered tulle illusion gown," which sounds similar to the ensemble Seyfried actually wore.) Fashionista.com is reporting Anne "freaked out," not wanting to look similar to someone on the red carpet, and asked stylist Rachel Zoe to find something new for her to wear.
While all of this could just be conjecture, it is possible things like this happen behind closed doors. Take a look at the gown Anne wore compared with Seyfried's dress and the Valentino gown Ms. Hathaway was supposedly set to wear.




Jessica Chastain
in an Armani Privé dress, Christian Louboutin shoes and Harry Winston jewelry.
Anne Hathaway
in Prada.
Charlize Theron
in a Christian Dior Couture dress and Harry Winston jewelry.
Naomi Watts
in an Armani Privé dress, Jimmy Choo shoes, a Roger Vivier bag and Neil Lane jewelry.
Amanda Seyfried
in an Alexander McQueen dress, Roger Vivier shoes and Lorraine Schwartz jewelry.
Halle Berry
in Versace.
Kristen Stewart
in a Naeem Khan dress, Jimmy Choo shoes and Fred Leighton jewelry.
Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck
Garner in a Gucci dress and Neil Lane jewelry; Affleck in Gucci.
Renee Zellweger
in Carolina Herrera.
Sandra Bullock
in an Elie Saab dress and Oroton clutch.
Nicole Kidman
in a L'Wren Scott dress and Fred Leighton jewelry.
Kerry Washington
in a Miu Miu dress, Christian Louboutin shoes, Prada clutch, Chopard earrings and Fred Leighton ring.
Salma Hayek
in Alexander McQueen.
Jennifer Aniston
in a Valentino dress, Salvatore Ferragamo clutch and Fred Leighton jewelry.
Adele
in a Jenny Packham dress and Lorraine Schwartz jewelry.
Olivia Munn
in Marchesa.
Jennifer Lawrence
in a Christian Dior Couture dress, Brian Atwood shoes, Roger Vivier clutch and Chopard jewelry.
Reese Witherspoon
in Louis Vuitton.
Amy Adams
in an Oscar de la Renta dress and Moa jewelry.
Bradley Cooper and guest
Hugh Jackman
in Tom Ford.
Julie Yaeger and Paul Rudd
Rudd in Giorgio Armani.
George Clooney and Stacy Keibler
Clooney in Giorgio Armani; Keibler in a Naeem Khan dress, Giuseppe Zanotti shoes and Lorraine Schwartz jewelry.
Emmanuelle Riva
in Lanvin.
Naomie Harris
in Vivienne Westwood.
Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw
Helen Hunt
in H&M.
Christoph Waltz and Judith Holste
Melissa McCarthy
in David Meister.
Helena Bonham Carter
in Vivienne Westwood.
Sally Field
in Valentino.
Zoe Saldana
in an Alexis Mabille Couture dress, Roger Vivier shoes, Salvatore Ferragamo clutch and Neil Lane jewelry.
Octavia Spencer
in a Tadashi Shoji dress, Prada shoes, Edie Parker clutch and Lorraine Schwartz jewelry.
Harvey Weinstein and Georgina Chapman
Richard Gere
Quentin Tarantino and Lianne Spiderbaby
Mark Ruffalo and Sunrise Coigney
Jamie Foxx and Corinne Bishop
Foxx in Calvin Klein.
Jeremy Renner
in Givenchy.
Justin Theroux
in Salvatore Ferragamo.
Queen Latifah
in Badgley Mischka.
Daniel Day-Lewis and Rebecca Miller
in Domenico Vacca.
Dustin and Lisa Hoffman
Dustin in Calvin Klein.
Tom Hooper
Jane Fonda
in a Versace dress and Chopard jewelry.
Norah Jones
in a Tadashi Shoji dress and Swarovski clutch.
Marcia Gay Harden
in a David Meister dress, Swarovski clutch and John Hardy jewelry.
Catherine Zeta-Jones
in a Zuhair Murad dress and Lorraine Schwartz jewelry.
Jennifer Hudson
in a Roberto Cavalli dress, Giuseppe Zanotti shoes, Jimmy Choo clutch and Sutra jewelry.
Bryan Cranston and Robin Dearden
Gloria Reuben

Anne Hathaway & Sarah Silverman
Anne Hathaway carrying her Oscar for best supporting actress greets comedian Sarah Silverman as they arrive for the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on February 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Fashion credit: Custom dress by Saint Laurent) (Photo credit should read ADRIAN SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Jennifer Lawrence
Jennifer Lawrence carrying her Oscar for best actress arrives for the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on February 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo credit should read ADRIAN SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Christoph Waltz
Christoph Waltz poses with his Oscar for best supporting actor after arriving for the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on February 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo credit should read ADRIAN SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Daniel Day Lewis
Daniel Day Lewis carrying his Oscar for best actor arrives for the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on February 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo credit should read ADRIAN SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
John Travolta & Kelly Preston
John Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston arrive for the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on February 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo credit should read ADRIAN SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Tommy Lee Jones & Jon Voight
Tommy Lee Jones is greeted by Jon Voight as they arrive for the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on February 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo credit should read ADRIAN SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Jean Dujardin
Jean Dujardin arrives for the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on February 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo credit should read ADRIAN SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Patricia Clarkson
Patricia Clarkson arrives for the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on February 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo credit should read ADRIAN SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Miranda Kerr & Orlando Bloom
Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom arrive for the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on February 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Fashion credit: Bloom's tuxedo by Saint Laurent.) (Photo credit should read ADRIAN SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Jesse Tyler Ferguson arrives for the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on February 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo credit should read ADRIAN SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Reese Witherspoon
Reese Witherspoon arrives for the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on February 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo credit should read ADRIAN SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Bradley Cooper
Bradley Cooper arrives for the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on February 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo credit should read ADRIAN SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Jeremy Reiner & Olivia Munn
Jeremy Reiner and Olivia Munn arrive for the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on February 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo credit should read ADRIAN SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Ben Affleck
Director Ben Affleck arrives for the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Graydon Carter at Sunset Tower on February 24, 2013 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Larry Busacca/VF13/Getty Images for Vanity Fair)
John Travolta
John Travolta attends the Oscars Governors Ball at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Amy Adams & Charlize Theron
Amy Adams and Charlize Theron attend the Oscars Governors Ball at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Kelly Preston & John Travolta
Kelly Preston and John Travolta attend the Oscars Governors Ball at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Amy Adams, Joseph Gordon-Levitt & Charlize Theron
Actors Amy Adams, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Charlize Theron attend the Oscars Governors Ball at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Diane Kruger & Joshua Jackson
Diane Kruger arrives for the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on February 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California following the 85th Academy Awards ceremony. (Photo credit should read ADRIAN SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Richard Gere and Elizabeth Banks
Richard Gere and Elizabeth Banks arrive for the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on February 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California following the 85th Academy Awards ceremony. (Photo credit should read ADRIAN SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Allison Williams
Allison Williams arrives for the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on February 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California following the 85th Academy Awards ceremony. (Photo credit should read ADRIAN SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Anne Hathaway
Anne Hathaway carrying her Oscar for best supporting actress and her husband arrive for the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on February 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo credit should read ADRIAN SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Natalie Portman & Benjamin Millipied
Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millipied arrive for the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on February 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California following the 85th Academy Awards ceremony. (Fashion credit: Millipied's tuxedo by Saint Laurent) (Photo credit should read ADRIAN SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Amy Poehler
Actress Amy Poehler arrives at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Graydon Carter at Sunset Tower on February 24, 2013 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
Jennifer Westfeldt
Jennifer Westfeldt arrives at the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Graydon Carter at Sunset Tower on February 24, 2013 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
Jon Hamm & Jennifer Westfeldt
Jon Hamm and Jennifer Westfeldt arrive for the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on February 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo credit should read ADRIAN SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Zooey Deschanel
Zooey Deschanel arrives for the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on February 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo credit should read ADRIAN SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ/AFP/Getty Images)
Miley Cyrus & Kelly Osbourne
Miley Cyrus and Kelly Osbourne attend Grey Goose at 21st Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party at Pacific Design Center on February 24, 2013 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alexandra Wyman/Getty Images for Grey Goose Vodka)
Elton John & Chris Brown
An alternate view of Sir Elton John and singer Chris Brown at the 21st Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party at Pacific Design Center on February 24, 2013 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for EJAF)
Elton John & Heidi Klum
An alternate view of Sir Elton John and model Heidi Klum at the 21st Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party at Pacific Design Center on February 24, 2013 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for EJAF)
Gerard Butler
Actor Gerard Butler arrives for the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Graydon Carter at Sunset Tower on February 24, 2013 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Larry Busacca/VF13/Getty Images for Vanity Fair)
Christoph Waltz & Jennifer Lawrence
Actors Christoph Waltz and Jennifer Lawrence attend the Oscars Governors Ball at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Quvenzhane Wallis
Actress Quvenzhane Wallis attends the Oscars Governors Ball at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Khloe Kardashian, Kim Kardashian & Heidi Klum
TV Personalities Khloe and Kim Kardashian and model Heidi Klum attend the 21st Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party at Pacific Design Center on February 24, 2013 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for EJAF)
Amanda Seyfried & Samantha Barks
Amanda Seyfried and Samantha Barks arrive for the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Graydon Carter at Sunset Tower on February 24, 2013 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Larry Busacca/VF13/Getty Images for Vanity Fair)
Vanessa Hudgens & Selena Gomez
Actors Vanessa Hudgens and Selena Gomez arrive for the 2013 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Graydon Carter at Sunset Tower on February 24, 2013 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Larry Busacca/VF13/Getty Images for Vanity Fair)



The Huffington Post Canada | By Sarah Kelsey Posted: 02/26/2013 3:08 pm EST | Updated: 03/11/2013 4:37 pm EDT