Believe it or not, this year’s Academy Awards celebrates its 95th year. While the glittering occasion is just shy of its centenary, it prompts reflection on just how significant a role the red-carpet event has played in the evolution of red-carpet dressing.
From self-styled outfits that in hindsight feel even more endearing now, to the rise of celebrity stylists, the Oscars has well and truly influenced pop culture moments, from Halle Berry’s historic win in 2002 in a memorable Elie Saab gown, to Bjork’s iconic Marjan Pejoski swan dress (we love).
Like all good awards fashion, designer names have had immeasurable exposure from the event, providing a platform for lesser-known brands and amplifying the awareness around emerging talent.
While ratings for the awards have been on the decline in recent years, we’re still here for the fashion, this year set against a Champagne-coloured carpet, a softer complement to the myriad coloured ensembles on display. Here are our picks of the best looks.
Lady Gaga (above)
Fresh from its Los Angeles debut over the weekend, the Oscar-winning actor and musician selected this Versace gown from friend Donatella’s autumn/winter 2023 collection. The sheer panels and exposed corsetry detail is pure Versace, but it’s Gaga’s extreme makeup that makes this entire look a winner. As one of the few famous faces who can deliver a strong make-up look, long-time makeup artist Sarah Tanno offers up a convincing case for Bladerunner 80s eyes and a defined Robert Palmer femme fatale lip. — Dan Ahwa, fashion and creative director.
Rihanna
There to perform her song ‘Lift Me Up’ from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the singer continues her parade of pregnancy style in this Alaïa number, styled by Jahleel Weaver. With plenty of sheer looks today, this one was a standout worn with Riri’s typically cavalier attitude, bling and signature red lip. — Dan Ahwa, fashion and creative director.
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Advertise with NZME.Fan Bing Bing
She’s the Chinese megastar whose making something of a comeback to the awards circuit, playing up her porcelain features in an intricately beaded gown with an emerald green taffeta finish by Tony Ward from the label’s autumn/winter 2022 couture collection. — Dan Ahwa, fashion and creative director.
Cate Blanchett
This look is strikingly phenomenal, even for someone with Cate Blanchett’s red-carpet CV. The luminous silk satin ensemble by Louis Vuitton is something of a departure for the brand’s approach to award dressing — usually angular, striking, futuristic — and it’s a nice shift (granted, it’s archival) elevated by Blanchett’s poise and confidence. The grandeur of the shoulder pads and draping also offer a different incarnation of the aesthetic power she harnessed to play Lydia Tár in Tár, for which she’s nominated for Best Actress. — Emma Gleason, writer and commercial editor.
Angela Bassett
Nominated for Best Supporting Actress, will the Oscars finally recognise this woman as one of the greatest actors of our time? Her first nomination in 1993 for portraying Tina Turner in What’s Love Got to Do With It also faced stiff competition that year, losing out to Holly Hunter’s equally stunning performance in The Piano. For her nomination this year in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Angela is up against Hong Chau, Kerry Condon, Jamie Lee Curtis and Stephanie Hsu, and for the occasion, she doesn’t veer too far from one of her favourite colours in this violet-hued Moschino gown with a classic Bulgari Serpenti necklace. — Dan Ahwa, fashion and creative director.
Paul Mescal
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Advertise with NZME.The Irish actor is on something of a style streak and has come a long way from Connor’s chain. This custom Gucci look with Cartier jewellery (earring, diamond brooch and watch) styled by Felicity Kay, is great. And while it speaks to Old Hollywood there’s a modern, playful sensibility to it thanks to the loose proportions, floppy bow tie and big old trouser cuff (plus his gentle mullet). It’s also nice to see more lapel adornment from the men this year. The best accessory though, was his mum, who Paul brought as his date to the awards. He’s nominated for best actor for his role in Aftersun. — Emma Gleason, writer and commercial editor.
Deepika Padukone
It’s been great to see all these international superstars — many of who have much bigger audiences than Hollywood actors — ascend into Hollywood and give their spin on awards fashion. The Bollywood veteran is there on presenting duties, looking undeniably chic in a Louis Vuitton gown and some breathtaking Cartier jewels. — Dan Ahwa, fashion and creative director.
David Byrne and Mala Gaonkar
Famously good at wearing a suit, David’s really pulling off this crisp white ensemble; somehow, it doesn’t come across as clinical or uniform, and perhaps it’s his visible joy that’s softening the look, or those great boots. He’s hand in hand with investor and writer Mala Gaonkar — the two worked together on the immersive production Theater of the Mind — wearing a beautifully draped sari in chartreuse with elegant pewter trim. David will be performing his Oscar-nominated song from Everything Everywhere All At Once. — Emma Gleason, writer and commercial editor.
Jessica Chastain
Winning an Oscar last year for Best Actress for her lead role in The Eyes of Tammy Faye, this year she returns dressed again in Gucci on presenting duties and keeps the Veronica Lake dream alive in a form-fitting gown and 1940s waves. Judging by this year’s overwhelming number of elegant choices, she’s on the money thanks also in part to celebrity red-carpet styling queen Elizabeth Stewart. — Dan Ahwa, fashion and creative director.
Laverne Cox
The beauty of Laverne’s red-carpet choices is that they teeter toward the extravagant, and while the front of this custom Vera Wang is great, the drama is all in the back with a floor-sweeping turquoise train trailing behind her, worn with Hanut Singh earrings and a David Webb ring. — Dan Ahwa, fashion and creative director.
Ashley Graham
Also opting for full drama, this playful custom Alberta Ferretti gown has a free-flowing silhouette, balanced by an intricate plait up-do and equally dramatic choice of jewellery. — Dan Ahwa, fashion and creative director.
Riz Ahmed
One of the better-dressed men in the acting world, Riz Ahmed clearly loves clothes. He wears Prada regularly, and this outfit is from the brand’s autumn/winter 2023 collection — an ingenious way to show a dash of skin. — Emma Gleason, writer and commercial editor.
Vanessa Hudgens
Collaborating once again with stylist Jason Bolden, Vanessa’s vintage Chanel strapless gown is an elegant choice, complete with a complementary updo and black and white nail art. Some might say it’s a little too understated, but the fact that it’s a vintage treasure is already something to applaud. — Dan Ahwa, fashion and creative director.
Salma Hayek
There’s something Christmassy about this Gucci but we love the unapologetic showgirl aspect of this. What’s better, Salma looks like she’s having the time of her life in this. — Dan Ahwa, fashion and creative director.
Sofia Carson
The Disney alumni hasn’t veered too far from the princess fairy tale in this Giambattista Valli mermaid gown, complemented by a rather large octagonal-shaped emerald Chopard necklace, because why not. — Dan Ahwa, fashion and creative director.
Lukas Dhont
Nominated for Best International Feature for his coming-of-age drama Close, the Belgian director adds a touch of European sophistication in custom Prada and Boucheron jewels. Bonus points for bejewelled gloves. — Dan Ahwa, fashion and creative director.
Michelle Yeoh
The look might appear pedestrian to some which can sometimes be the case with Dior, but by now, we’ve come to get to know Michelle a little better during award season and her love of an avant-garde look. So it’s nice to see her at the end of the marathon of campaigning wearing something a little more relaxed. One thing we love about her style is she’s one of the few actors (maybe the only one) who loves a dinner watch, so it’s great to see her select this complementary timepiece from her famously extensive collection of Richard Mille watches. — Dan Ahwa, fashion and creative director.
Harvey Guillén
The What We Do in the Shadows actor brings a refreshing dose of personality to red-carpet events favouring colour and volume. That latter was the MO for the Oscars, with this theatrical suit (a tuxedo tail-cape hybrid) by Christian Siriano and a very elegant finger-waved hairstyle. — Emma Gleason, writer and commercial editor.
Hong Chau
Nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her stellar performance in The Whale, the first-time Oscar nominee shines in this quintessential Prada gown with a textured train. — Dan Ahwa, fashion and creative director.
Jonathan Majors
The actor deftly integrates fashion history and tradition in his attire — as seen in some recent press outings —and it’s giving his Oscars look (he’s presenting an award) a very stylish point of difference. Referencing early 20th-century menswear, there is an innate timelessness to it, thrown off a little in the best possible way, but the unexpected choice of white socks. — Emma Gleason, writer and commercial editor.
Janet Yang
The producer behind movies as varied as The Joy Luck Club and The People vs. Larry Flynt, and current president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, this fantastically fluid silver gown is befitting such an esteemed title. Yang looks stellar — quite literally — and all this silver and embellishment has an effect both regal and armour-like; powerful indeed, particularly for an event that could prove history-making for Asian women in Hollywood if Michelle Yeoh wins the best actress gong. — Emma Gleason, writer and commercial editor.
Malala Yousafzai
The youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate and advocate for female education produced the Oscar-nominated short documentary Stranger at the Gate with director Joshua Seftel. Having achieved more than most at the event, the formidable presence is dressed in a Ralph Lauren gown with shimmering paillettes. — Dan Ahwa, fashion and creative director.
Sarah Polley
The Canadian director is up for two Academy Awards, including Best Picture, for Women Talking, a film about patriarchal oppression, so suitably she selects this chic Saint Laurent tux, accessorised with a Tyler Ellis bag, Christian Louboutin shoes, and Irene Neuwirth jewellery. — Emma Gleason, writer and commercial editor.
Kate Hudson
This Louis Vuitton gown could have been a hard sell, but somehow Kate manages to breeze on by and bring her easy-going Cali vibes to this ode to mermaids everywhere. A soft blow wave and a complementary silver eye makes an otherwise fussy look immediately chic. — Dan Ahwa, fashion and creative director.
Cara Delevingne
Actor and model Cara Delevingne has had a big week, with the release of her US Vogue cover and interview. We read it over the weekend, so it’s very nice to see her back in the public eye and looking so good in this striking scarlet dress by Lebanese fashion designer Elie Saab — and that operatic swathe of red calls to mind another of his famous red carpet looks, the 2002 gown Halle Berry wore to collect her historic Oscar win. — Emma Gleason, writer and commercial editor.
Danai Gurira
Giving us pure Black hair fantasy, we love the way Danai adds a sense of power to an otherwise simple black gown from Jason Wu. The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever actor is on presenting duties for the night, and supporting Wakanda’s cast and crew for its impressive nomination tally of five awards. — Dan Ahwa, fashion and creative director.
John Cho
A very elegant look, that demonstrates how to reference historic formalwear without looking too costume-y or uptight. The key here is the lustre and texture of luxurious fabrics — the velvet shawl-collar jacket with a glimpse of what may be a scarf or trimming underneath, sheen of the trousers, and gleaming patent shoes — and the accessories, pivotally, a very excellent broach. Men, take note. — Emma Gleason, writer and commercial editor.
Rooney Mara
We love a vintage look from the archives, and this one comes from Alexander McQueen’s The Girl Who Lived in The Tree collection from autumn/winter 2008. The familiar silhouette is great for traipsing the carpet, with the actor giving this a modern finesse with low-maintenance hair and makeup and a layer of necklaces. — Dan Ahwa, fashion and creative director.
Jenny Slate
A very handsome, elegant look from Jenny Slate, who is nominated for Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, which she voiced, co-produced and co-wrote. This structured, hourglass dress (custom Thom Browne) is at its best when paired with the cropped jacket — the pocket square is a nice touch — and the strong, classic notes of the jewellery (Gismondi 1754) and hair are just perfect. — Emma Gleason, writer and commercial editor.
