The Academy Award for Best Costume Design was first given out at the
21st Academy Awards, held on March 24, 1949. The award had two subcategories, one for
films in black and white and one for films in color. At the
30th Academy Awards, held on March 26, 1958, these two subcategories were merged into one, The
32nd Academy Awards saw the category again be split into two for recognition of both black and white and color film. From 1949 to 1966, most Academy Awards for Best Costume Design in Black and White were given to a contemporary movie. On the other hand, epics, fantasies, and musicals dominated the color category. Since the merger into one singular category for color films in 1967, films set in modern times have won only three times. The three contemporary-set winners have been
Travels with My Aunt,
All That Jazz, and
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. All other winners during this period have been set in the past or in a science-fiction or fantasy setting. ==Winners and nominees==