Biography

The dress that she wore at the Academy Awards was originally conceived for the film for which she won the Oscar, The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert (1994), but the idea was shelved when American Express passed on the idea. However they relented when she later told them that she would wear the outfit to the ceremony. They were generous enough to supply here with 300 AmEx cards (according to Gardner she used 254) all with her name printed on them and all one number short as to make them all invalid. After she won Gardner was featured in magazine ads wearing the dress that said "You only need one in your wallet" and beneath in small print "Congratulations - and thank you".

No matter what she ever creates as a costume designer, she will forever be remembered for one of the most unique dresses ever seen at the Academy Awards. Receiving an Oscar for Best Costume Design, Gardiner accepted the award wearing an outfit made entirely of American Express Gold Cards, all in her name and, she averred, all expired.

The famous American Express dress that she wore to The 67th Annual Academy Awards was auctioned off in March of 1999 for $12,650. The proceeds went to the American Foundation for AIDS Research.

She studied at Accadamia di Italiana.

Tony Award for Outstanding Costume Design for a Musical (shared with Tim Chappel) for the stage adaptation of The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994).