The Oscars represent the biggest event in Hollywood as it culminates the award season with what is considered the most prestigious award in the film industry.
The visibility of these awards makes the fashion and the red carpet a spectacle as relevant as the ceremony itself, because the fashion seen in the Oscars illustrates the mood in the film industry that can trickle down to potential future trends in months to come. Let’s go over some highlights on the Oscars looks and what these clothes tell us about the Political Fashion status of Hollywood and the US.
Andrew Garfield
During the last decade, we have seen an interesting shift in formal menswear flirting with options outside of the classic black tuxedo. These shifts speak about new generations owning their creativity, individuation, and eagerness to make menswear interesting while still following the dress code.
Andrew Garfield executed the assignment gracefully with his Gucci chocolate brown suit. The color couldn’t be more timely as Pantone called it the Color of the Year, and the tailoring and combination of textures are very well-balanced.
Ariana Grande
Ariana Grande arrived on the red carpet as a first-time Oscars nominee, still amazed, grateful and joyful for the recognition of being an Oscar-nominated actress. As she walked her way into the Dolby Theater and talked to the press, she said she would keep that feeling of joy and gratitude throughout her life. Grande wore a custom Schiaparelli gown that was inspired by a 1950s look from the Italian fashion house.
Grande managed to deliver a consistent color palette throughout an entire year of red carpets and press appearances as she celebrates the success of Glinda in Wicked. This look represents the culmination of the Wicked: Part One era, and it is as memorable as the gown she wore to perform with her co-star for the opening of the awards ceremony.
Cynthia Erivo
Throughout the many red carpets and press tour stops of Wicked, Erivo has worn black or green gowns in reference to her character of the Wicked Witch of the West. So for the last appearance during the Wicked Part One era, it made perfect sense for Erivo to wear a dark green-almost-black velvet dramatic gown by Louis Vuitton. The dramatic volume in her waist and chest balances perfectly with the negative space on her shoulders. Both Erivo and Grande have shown how they can own the character outside of the screen through their red carpet appearances, creating a year-long marketing campaign of Wickedness that is consistent.
Demi Moore
The Best Actress nominee wore a crystal embroidered gown by Giorgio Armani Privé with a pleated hip and a dramatic train that makes the gown sexy, timeless, glamorous and winning-looking. Another aspect of Moore’s look that has been celebrated on social media is how she has embraced her long hair as a 62-year-old woman given that this was not common in decades prior.
Selena Gomez
Selena Gomez’s look is another great example of Old Hollywood reigning on red carpets and potentially in prom dresses and evening gowns in upcoming months this year.
Gomez wore a Ralph Lauren gown with 16,000 drops of glass droplets affixed by hand by extremely talented artisans. The styling, hair, and makeup can destroy or elevate a look to another level. In this case, the subtleness of the makeup refines the overall look even further.
Scarlett Johannson
Several looks during this award season have made references to Old Hollywood aiming for a classic aesthetic. Scarlett Johannson’s navy velvet gown and matching gloves are the latest of this series of classic looks that are bringing back some of the silhouettes and textures from Old Hollywood. This look is perhaps one of those that mass fashion corporations will try to replicate in more accessible materials for young customers, especially as navy velvet can be adapted to a variety of price ranges, and dresses of all forms for all sizes.
Timothée Chalamet
Chalamet is leading the young generation of celebrities who are paving the way in menswear with grace, elegance and character. Chalamet’s selections have been a hit-or-miss in his late red carpet appearances as he receives praises and recognition for his work in A Complete Unknown, a biographical musical drama telling the story of the early years from Bob Dylan.
Chalamet’s pastel yellow suit by Givenchy might not be everyone’s cup of tea in March 2025. But fashion trends usually begin with those who are willing to take a risk and there were several pastel looks on the Oscars 2025.
Karla Sofía Gascón
Gascón made history as the first trans nominated actress in the Oscars. Her role in Emilia Pérez was extraordinary as she portrays the role of a drug dealer who transitions into a woman and seeks to do good and support victims of the problems her cartel caused in the first place. Yes, there is a long list of plot holes and culturally insensitive decisions in the direction of the movie (situated in Mexico but filmed in France?), but Gascón did an extraordinary job with the script that was handed to her.
Gascón’s presence at the 97th Oscars will go down in history, and her timeless Yves Saint Laurent asymmetrical black dress was a smart and sophisticated decision for the occasion.
Karla Sofía Gascón is not perfect, nor anyone else who was at the Dolby Theater nor those of us watching the Awards Ceremony. Hopefully she will be remembered in history not by what she tweeted, but by the doors she opened with her acting and by how —despite the continuous backlash, being deadnamed, and facing suicidal attempts —she stands as a true example of what being a pioneer in the entertainment industry looks like.
Zoe Saldaña
Almost as unfortunate as the script and direction of Emilia Pérez, the gown Saldaña wore was unflattering and confusing as it completely hides and almost swallows her body with a set of gatherings that look accidentally asymmetrical. The color was a great choice for her skin tone.
Adrien Brody
Adrien Brody’s diamond brooch is becoming a signature piece of his appearances as he pushes to offer some distinctive visual elements on the red carpet. It is not a memorable look, but as celebrities continue to approach the men’s tuxedo in different ways, we will see less ‘classic’ black plain tuxedos and more individuation in the person wearing them.
Conclusion:
The overall trends on the Oscars red carpet were classic Old Hollywood and pastels. There was timelessness that was often repetitive but on other occasions was embracing new technologies, and celebrating the bodies, beauties and talents that walked down the red carpet.
As the city of Angels begins to recover from the devastating wildfires that took place at the beginning of this year, there was a prevalent lack of joy and excitement that was reflected in the lack of color and volume that we’ve seen in other years.
The red carpet looks illustrate the sociopolitical context that the city of Angels is facing, and many of the elements that we saw on the carpet: such as velvet and pastels, are very likely to trickle down to the mass consumer in upcoming months.
