This 1993 Outfit Kept Whoopi Goldberg From Dressing Up For “a Very Long Time”

Nineties-era fashion is back in full force, but one of Whoopi Goldberg‘s outfits from 1993 has been haunting her all these years.

Goldberg attended the 1993 Academy Awards in support of her turn in The Color Purple, rocking a metallic brocade jumpsuit in an allover seafoam and purple print, topping the look off with a shiny purple and lime green jacket-cape-open-front-skirt. At the Fashion Group International Night of Stars gala Tuesday evening, where she was honored with the American Icon Award, Goldberg reflected to Page Six Style that “everyone hated” that look, landing her on Worst-Dressed lists the next morning.

“It hurt my feelings, I’m not going to lie. It hurt my feelings,” she said. Though she said she “absolutely” stands by her choice to wear the ensemble, she did let the reaction impact how she dressed for events after that. “It kept me from dressing up for a very long time. You have to remember, in those days, they would say things and you’d think, ‘Do I really look that ridiculous?’”

Goldberg, who has since founded her own fashion line, called DUBGEE, and delights in displaying unique fashion finds like her infamous decapitated Barbie-filled platform shoes and high-heeled Crocs on her Instagram and on air, said that look was inspired by I Love Lucy star Lucille Ball’s bold sartorial choices.

“Lucy would always come out in these great ensembles,” she said. “And I thought, I would like to wear that! And green is not a color I would normally wear; let me try it!”