The Oscars are regarded as one of the most prestigious nights in Hollywood. This award season was nothing short of controversial, it celebrated talented actors and filmmakers, and often left people disappointed. The choice of winners was not the only thing that could make or break the night, as many celebrities’ fashion sense for the evening was either deemed beautiful or boring.
A star’s wardrobe is an essential tool to promote their nominated films. Showcasing subtle elements from their movies through the A-lister’s choice of clothing is very popular, especially for an award show of such grandeur. Ariana Grande has utilised that technique in her glamorous red-carpet looks. For the Oscars, Ariana wore a sparkly tulle Schiaparelli gown. The look had a rigid bodice that went outwards enough for her to rest her phone on it. To honour her movie Wicked, Ariana wore another Schiaparelli gown during her performance with Cynthia Erivo. The red dress was a nod to Dorothy with a ruby shoe or “slipper”, in the back. The popstar has endlessly aligned her personal style with her character Galinda’s this year, making her positively stand out. 2023 Oscar-winning actress Michelle Yeoh ventured onto the carpet in a strapless Balenciaga ensemble. Coming to support her fellow nominated Wicked actors, her Matisse blue dress was a showstopper. The cascading train proved her classic kind of elegance.
Chanel has always been a hit or miss designer on the red carpet. Lily-Rose Depp came to represent her film Nosferatu for its incredible costume design. She wore a black lace halter dress, inspired by a 1995 runway look. She expressed in her Vogue interview that she wanted to channel classic Old Hollywood and did so to perfection. The dress was simple at a glance but hid meticulous embroidery and detailing. However, another infamous Chanel ambassador did not give the same impression with her ceremony look. The Substance’s Margaret Qualley attended the Oscars wearing a black backless number from Chanel’s 2005 Spring/ Summer collection. While the dress was not exactly bad, there is a certain boredom felt by viewers from celebrities who play it safe. The gown was a classic piece, but more can be expected for the Oscars. Customised attire can definitely be seen as a way to make someone stand out from the crowd. Mikey Madison won her first Oscar for her performance in Anora in a Christian Dior gown. The dress is an exact replica of the Bal à Paris look from 1956, demonstrating her timeless allure. Her ensemble wasn’t complete without the vintage Tiffany & Co platinum and diamond jewel she wore around her neck. Mikey’s taste was impeccable during the Oscars, from the moment she walked the red carpet to her speech on the winner’s stage. Emma Stone walked this year’s carpet in another custom gown, this time by Louis Vuitton. The dress featured a silver sequins covering its entirety and a plunging neckline. This dress made spectators feel nothing, which is probably worse than daring to be different and failing miserably. The ensemble could have been elevated with better hair or accessories, but lacked the effort to do so. If one thing is clear, after her many Academy Award wins, Emma is unbothered—and rightfully so.
Throughout the years as an actor, Timothée Chalamet has shown his abilities when it comes to beating traditional tuxedo expectations given to men. Making current trends his own, the Academy Award nominee wore a Givenchy butter yellow suit. This shade of yellow has caught the attention of fashion enthusiasts recently, making it an evolving colour trend. The trousers were unconventional and looked more like jeans than regular suit trousers. Timothée likes to incorporate elements from his on-screen projects into his looks as well. Many fans speculated the colour choice to be a tribute to the subject of his A Complete Unknown performance, Bob Dylan, and his song “Big Yellow Taxi”.