This year’s Oscars awarded the best in film from 2023 and brought together an impressive array of past winners to celebrate the nominees and their achievements. The ceremony, while always long, felt more personal and touching than those of the past few years, and the camaraderie shared between casts and creatives shined through the speeches. While I have many thoughts and feelings about who ended up taking home statues, I choose to overlook my disappointingly incorrect ballot this year and focus instead on fashion. The red carpet started especially early this year and brought a refreshing array of daring looks and commitment to personal style. Four people stood out to me and delivered impressive conclusions to a whirlwind award season.
Emma Stone
I have to start with Emma Stone, who took home her second award for Best Actress. The votes were likely split between her and the equally deserving Lily Gladstone, and so the chances of Stone’s dress making its way onto the stage were high. An actor being favored to win an award is always interesting to me from a fashion perspective, as it usually results in them playing it safe with their looks, trying to be as comfortable and timeless as possible. That is why I was pleasantly surprised when Emma Stone decided upon a seafoam green jacquard Louis Vuitton gown with a dramatically oversized peplum and a stunning, large diamond and sapphire necklace. She darkened her hair for this carpet as well and chose a clean natural makeup look, enhancing her features. All in all, she delicately crafted a look that was true to her personal style while giving a nod to the costuming and aesthetic of the role she was nominated for, Bella Baxter. Stone set the tone for the night, choosing an ethereal and pastel color juxtaposed with a structurally daring silhouette. It was the first time in a long time that I felt that Louis Vuitton, one of the leading brands in ambassadorship deals, catered to the occasion and hit the mark tonally. The dress got even more attention as Stone announced to the crowd upon receiving her award that it was broken in the back, solidifying the gown in the fashion hall of fame.
Carey Mulligan
I rarely find a black dress to be truly interesting on a carpet, but Carey Mulligan’s Balenciaga archival recreation was stunning. Mulligan and her stylist Andrew Mukamal—who also dresses the likes of Margot Robbie and Billie Eilish—have been consistently selecting elegant looks for this awards season, and this gown is the perfect example of saving the best for last. Mulligan kept her hair sleek and modern in a jaw-grazing bob and let the dress speak for itself. The bodice is a simple strapless sweetheart neckline and hugs her figure until it tightly curves in at her knees, billowing out into a mountain of white tulle with the black velvet draped over with an elongated, scalloped edge. Opera gloves as an accessory have skyrocketed in popularity over the past few years, so much so that most of the time, they feel unnecessary and distracting. This look, however, uses these items to add continuity and drama to the gown; they bolster its shape and sleekness rather than pulling focus. This modern interpretation of the classic design has proven that you can still find interest in simplicity and that textural variety can be as stunning as a bold color or pattern choice.
Florence Pugh
Taking a step away from the “Dune: Part Two” press tour to remind everyone that she is, in fact, in “Oppenheimer,” Pugh also abandoned the comfort of her usual Valentino gown. Instead, she looked toward the daring and modern fashion house Del Core for one of the most interesting but elegant looks of the night. The dress, from the waist down, is a flowing metallic silver, a popular shade for the night, sprinkled with water-drop-esque beading that transitions seamlessly into the totally unique bodice that is covered in the same translucent gems. The top is perfectly fitted into a low v-neck that curves into a slight peplum-adjacent structure that hugs her waist. The corset-like bodice is complete with floating, elevated straps, reminiscent of Emily Blunt’s Schiaparelli look. However, Pugh’s is more delicate and gives balance and intrigue to the entire gown. Stylist Rebecca Corbin Murray topped the look with a plunging, snake-inspired Bulgari necklace completed by Pugh’s shaggy, tousled, Madonna-inspired bleached bob. The gown was a welcomed departure from the classic brands that rule Oscars fashion, giving Pugh room to maintain her completely original, feminine and bold style while taking risks. The overall aesthetic of the dress is uniquely Oscars-worthy while still subtly giving a nod to the sci-fi aesthetic she has been bringing to the array of “Dune: Part Two” looks she has been sporting.
Colman Domingo
While I always appreciate a beautifully well-tailored suit on a red carpet, the monotony of men’s fashion can undoubtedly get tiring. That is, until Colman Domingo came along. While he has been an important part of the acting community for decades, recognition for his role in “Rustin” resulted in Domingo as a red carpet regular and cemented him as, possibly, the best dressed man in history. He works with the styling duo Wayman and Micah and seems to have the entire fashion world at his fingertips, selecting an array of amazing brands throughout the season. For the Oscars, he tapped the newly Pharrell Williams-led Louis Vuitton for a custom tuxedo that has flair, embellishment and the perfect combination of both Western and Old Hollywood influence. The jacket itself is double-breasted with detailed buttons and a bowtie fixed with a dazzling brooch. The pants are flared just enough to remain fitted and proportionate, and the look is completed with gold cap-toe cowboy boots. He is sporting an Omega watch and David Yurman bracelets and rings, a level of accessorizing that feels sophisticated and completely natural to Domingo. While many of the more daring men’s fashion looks quickly veer into feeling performative or costume-y, Domingo has proved himself as the case study for remaining chic, confident and fashion-forward, but never boring.