How many ways can you skin a black dress? There was slinky (Elizabeth Olsen in Givenchy),feathered (Marlee Matlin in Dolce&Gabbana),ruffled (Harvey Guillén in Christian Siriano),bandaged (Ashley Graham in Alberta Ferretti) and corsaged (Nicole Kidman in Armani Prive).
And,withParis Fashion Week only wrapping last week,the pared-back aesthetic from the runways continued courtesy of Jennifer Connelly in Louis Vuitton and Emily Blunt in Valentino.
But the “freshest off the runway” honour went to Lady Gaga,in a Versace frock that was so hot from the brand’s show in Los Angeles on Thursday it likely still had Gigi Hadid’s antiperspirant lingering in the mesh bodice.
Still,if there was one colour that dominated the “champagne” carpet,it was white. For her first Oscar win,64-year-old Jaime Lee Curtis wore an elegant column dress by D&G,adding to the evidence that the brand’s exile from Hollywood over allegations of racism against its namesake designers is truly over. The swan brief was also strong for best actress winner Michelle Yeoh,in Dior,and nominee Michelle Williams,who enlisted Chanel to create a cape so sheer that it looked as though a light sprinkling of silver rain was dusting her shoulders.
And although sequins at the Oscars are like prawns at a hotel buffet (Eva Longoria in Zuhair Murad,Ana de Armas in Louis Vuitton and Jessica Chastain in Gucci),the surprise packet was activist Malala Yousafzai in custom Ralph Lauren.