On Sunday night, the champagne carpet was rolled out at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California — and the 95th annual Academy Awards played out in style.
For the official ceremony, guests turned to their favourite design houses to create showstopping looks broadcast worldwide. Here’s what you missed…
Star power statements
Restrained glamour is usually the port of call for the Oscars, proved this year as sophisticated gowns rolled onto the newly champagne-coloured carpet. Cara Delevingne was the picture of Old Hollywood in a deep red Elie Saab couture gown which came with a corseted waist, hip-high slit and billowing taffeta skirt.
Rihanna in Alaïa
/ Getty Images
Rihanna was one of 2023’s most hotly anticipated guests, as a first-time nominee for Best Original Song. She was radiant as she showed off her pregnancy bump in a brown Alaïa dress, with slashed skirt detailing and a strapped, harness top. Florence Pugh was equally headturning in a princess-style poof in a pale caped, Valentino top and black micro shorts, while Lady Gaga opted for the dropped waist, sheer-panelled bodice Versace gown which Gigi Hadid walked down the LA catwalk on Thursday night.
All-white everything
Woman of the night Michelle Yeoh led the trend for white, which swept the carpet, wearing a classic feather and tulle gown courtesy of Dior Haute Couture. Joining her in opting for ivory was Emily Blunt in a strapless, long-sleeved Valentino column dress and Michelle Williams in bridal-style, crystal embellished Chanel.
Ariana DeBose chose an art deco-embroidered chalk shade Atelier Versace dress, Mindy Kaling stunned in a boned, white Vera Wang frock and Halle Berry took to flicking her pearl-coloured train in the air, sporting a peekaboo slit gown with bronze rosettes by Tamara Ralph of Ralph & Russo.
Michelle Yeoh in Dior
/ Getty Images
The nominees are…
Cate Blanchett, up for Best Actress, nabbed the prize for best dressed runner up in her shimmering blue silk, padded shoulder gown which came with a bias-cut black skirt from Louis Vuitton. She finished the look with a blue ribbon, a subtle nod in support of the United Nations Refugee Agency’s #WithRefugees campaign.
Cate Blanchett in Louis Vuitton
/ Getty Images
Blonde actress Ana de Armas, also up for the top female accolade, nodded to her onscreen role Marilyn Monroe’s 1957 film The Prince And The Showgirl, in a sparkling silver mermaid gown from Louis Vuitton. Of the best supporting actresses, Angela Bassett brought a rare splash of colour with her violet Moschino frock. Irish actress Kerry Condon also braved a pop shade, in an intricately pleated, one strap yellow Atelier Versace dress, while Jamie Lee Curtis betted on bling wearing a fully crystal studded, nude shade gown from Dolce and Gabbana.
The boys
Contrary to the red-carpet fad of the moment, men revered away from headline-grabbing outfits in favour of traditional tuxedos. Elvis actor Austin Butler opted for a peaked lapel, velvet dinner jacket from Saint Laurent, paired with patent, block heel leather boots, while Aftersun’s Paul Mescal wore a white Gucci blazer with flared black trousers, and a chic satin red rose boutonnière.
Subtle collar details were instead the statement du jour. Pedro Pascal wore a classic black Zegna suit and collarless shirt without a bow tie, while Riz Ahmed plucked the detachable, 70s pink and taupe Prada collar from the AW23 menswear runway for an unconventional, undeniably fashion forward style.
Paul Mescal in Gucci
/ Getty Images
Click through the gallery above for the best dressed guests at the Oscars 2023
