Lupita Nyong’o’s Oscar Dress Stolen From Hotel Room, Pearl Gown Valued At $150,000

The pearl-studded dress worn by actress Lupita Nyong’o to Sunday’s Academy Awards may have been stolen from her Los Angeles hotel room Tuesday, according to reports from TMZ. The much-discussed dress, adorned with 6,000 Akoya pearls and valued at $150,000, had gone missing from her room sometime between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., TMZ reported.

Authorities were investigating the alleged theft after the sheriff’s office received a call at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday that the gown, a white Francisco Costa for Calvin Klein, had been taken from the London West Hollywood hotel near the Sunset Strip on San Vicente Blvd. Investigators were at the hotel Thursday morning, according to the Los Angeles Times. “This is a terribly unfortunate situation, and we are working with law enforcement on their investigation,” a rep for the hotel said in a statement to E! News. Authorities were reportedly combing through the hotel’s security footage to try to pinpoint who could have stolen the gown.

At Sunday night’s 87th Academy Awards event in Hollywood, Nyong’o presented J.K. Simmons with the award for best supporting actor for his role in “Whiplash.” Just a presenter this year, Nyong’o in 2014 won best supporting actress for her role in Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave.”

Nyong’o’s custom pearl embellished dress was a departure from her 2014 look, which was a simpler pale blue dress with a plunging neckline and flowing skirt. Fashion fans were pleased with the actress’ choice this year. “The fit and flare bodice is so flattering on her frame, and nobody could pull off a dress made almost entirely of pearl embellishments like this beauty,” Hollywood Life writer Kindra Bailey wrote. “The halter neckline was jaw-dropping and gorgeous, as she showed just enough skin with the keyhole center and the strappy back of the gown.”