Expert claims to have found Oscar-winning dress formula

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The winning design includes a train, is black, opaque and either shiny or sparkly and features a sheath silhouette
Other popular features of Academy Award-winning outfits included a V-neck, sleeveless, no belt and embellishments
Cosmopolitan's style director Charles Manning analysed the dresses of Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress winners to work out the matching features
He identified a dress with all the key characteristics from the spring 2015 Armani Privé couture collection

Published: 17:14 EST, 23 February 2017 | Updated: 08:27 EST, 24 February 2017

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The process of deciding on an outfit for the Oscars normally begins months in advance of the highly anticipated Hollywood awards ceremony.

But if any nominated actresses have left their outfits for Sunday's ceremony to the last minute, they may wish to take note of this advice.

Fashion experts at Cosmopolitan claim to have calculated the winning formula for what hopefuls should wear to be in with the best chance of winning an Academy Award.

Winning combination? Style expert looks back on dresses of winning actresses from the last 30 years to find their common characteristics illustrated in a graphic, pictured

Stunning: The winning design includes a train, pictured right on Renee Zellweger in 2004, is sleeveless and has a V-neck, as pictured left on Lupita Nyong'o in 2014

Details: It is also black and opaque, pictured right on Julia Roberts in 2001, and either shiny or sparkly, pictured left on Reese Witherspoon in 2006

Charles Manning, style director at the magazine, analysed the dresses of the past 30 years of female Oscar winners to work out the common features of their outfits.

Taking into account ten different aspects of style - including color, neckline and train - he said the luckiest dress would have 'a shiny or sparkly opaque black sheath dress with a train, worn without a belt or a wrap'.

In case nominees do not have time to find a dress with all the key characteristics, he identified a dress from the spring 2015 Armani Privé couture collection that would fit the bill.

Black was found to be the most popular dress color or shade. It was worn by around a third of Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress winners - including Julia Roberts when she was awarded best actress for Erin Brockovich in 2001.

Making shapes: The sheath silhouette, modeled center by Anne Hathaway, was also popular but Jennifer Lawrence, pictured left in 2013, went for a ballgown

Timeless: Sleeveless was a popular choice - as demonstrated left to right by Kate Winslet and Penelope Cruz in 2009 and Cher in 1988

Winning women: Hilary Swank, left in 2005, and Jennifer Connelly, center, bucked the trend with sleeves and scarves while Hilary fitted the formula in 2000 by going shiny

The sheath won the battle for best silhouette after it was worn by 60 per cent of winning women.

The V-neck, as modeled by Reese Witherspoon in vintage Chanel in 2006, was found to be the most common neckline.

Winning actresses historically go for bare arms in sleeveless dresses such as Lupita Nyong’o's 2014 Prada outfit, while favorite fabrics were either shiny or sparkly.

Although the analysis noted that sheer has been a consistent trend over the last few years - not when it comes to Oscar-winning dresses.

Breaking with convention: Cate Blanchett, left, went for an A-line silhouette in 2014, while Mo’Nique wore blue and Natalie Portman wore purple in 2010

Unique: Jodie Foster, left, constitutes only three per cent of winning actresses who have worn trousers while Halle Berry, center, and Nicole Kidman, right, went for unusual necklines

Striking: Julianne Moore, left, went strapless in 2015, followed by Alicia Vikander, center, last year. Meanwhile Meryl Streep, right, wore gold in 2012

Only 18 per cent of winners - including Cher in 1988 - went for sheer with most opting for opaque gowns.

When it comes to a train, actresses were split almost down the middle: 53 per cent, including Renee Zellweger in 2004, went for one, while 47 per cent followed Anne Hathaway's lead by going without.

Brie Larsen wore a belt with her Gucci dress at last year's Oscars but the research claims that generally Oscar-winning actresses do not. Only 15 per cent of winners have worn one.

Embellishment also divided actresses in half - with winners split 50-50 - while wraps were shunned by the vast majority of winners.

Star power: Octavia Spencer and Marisa Tomei, left and center, opted for white dresses, the second most popular color while Susan Sarandon, right, wore a wrap

Award winners: Rachel Weisz, left, looked elegant in black in 2006, while Sandra Bullock, center, showed her arms in 2010. Jennifer Hudson, right in 2007, wore a miniature jacket

Classic looks: Geena Davis, left, wore her own design in 1989, Brie Larsen, center, wore Gucci. Marion Cotillard, right in 2008, wore Jean Paul Gaultier