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2019 Oscars Red Carpet: An Affair to Remember

The biggest night for fashion and Hollywood collided last night at the 2019 Oscars, or for your you Hollywood purests the Academy Awards. With much hubbub and controversy, leading up to the evening,  surrounding who was going to host and which films got snubbed; we have to admit we had a needling twinge of curiosity and  anticipation propelling us to watch the potential trainwreck which could have ensued… no judgement please! Much to our surprise, the evening was a hit. Correction. Actually, we thought it flowed much better without the constant awkward interruptions of forced comedy from a MC/host. Who knew?

2019 Oscars top film contenders
2019 Oscars top film contenders
2019 Oscars who's who
2019 Oscars who’s who

Money and branding have changed fashion forever and no clearer example was evident than the discussion of brand ambassadorships at the preshow broadcasts last night. No longer a dirty little secret amongst  Hollywood’s A-List elites, more and more top names are engaging in pay for play with some of the top design houses. A lucrative and wise business move no doubt, this premanufactured way of looking at red carpet dressing has left us a bit nostalgic for the days when dresses were chosen because they “spoke to you”. With these new found goldmine partnerships in play, it has unfortunately deeply diminished the role of the independent stylist and inevitably (don’t shoot the messenger) hampers creativity in fashion styling. Everything has a price we guess! We must differentiate to some extent this year, as some celebs seems to genuinely pay tribute to Karl Lagerfeld on this year’s carpet.

2019 Oscars
Brands like Louis Vuitton and Christian Siriano enlisted celebs to promote an eco-friendly and sustainability messaging under The Red Carpet Green Dress initiative which was founded by environmental advocate Amis Cameron

With that said, we dismount our soapbox and humbly admit that the 2019 Oscars red carpet was a sea of beautiful and striking well tailored dresses that made this fashion girl’s heart sing. It was also an evening enriched by diversity. Diversity in styling, and diversity in women and men that walked the carpet. It was one of the most beautiful Academy Awards that we have ever witnessed.

2019 Oscars
This is what diversity looks like! 2019 Oscars winner’s circle. Rami Malek, Olivia Colman, Regina King and Mahershala Ali
2019 Oscars diversity
Ruth E. Carter and Hannah Beachler became the first African-Americans to win in their respective categories. Carter was first up as she took home an Academy Award for costume design, then Beachler followed her with a win in production design at the 91st annual Academy Awards
2019 Oscars diversity
Becky Neiman-Cobb and Domee Shi, winners of Best Animated Short Film for Bao

So what were the standout trends and who caught out eye, and ire with their fashion picks?

Pink, Pink and More Pink on the 2019 Oscars Red Carpet

We were tickled pink, sorry we had to go there, by the array pink shades of pink gowns on display on the red carpet. From your vibrant hot pinks, hello Ms. Julia Roberts, to  your more muted pastels, the ladies brought all sorts of girlish vibes to the carpet. No saccharin little  girl’s pink here, these ladies reclaimed the color of youthful innocence and made it smoking hot!

Gemma Chan at 2019 Oscars
Gemma Chan was a vision of comfort, elegance and style in this Valentino Couture gown and her Bulgari jewels
Angela Bassett 2019 Oscars
Aging backwards is Angela Bassett’s true craft! The stunning actress wore an equally stunning hot pink Reem Acra one-shoulder gown that set the carpet on fire.
Kacey Musgraves at 2019 Oscars
Kacey Musgraves in her Giambattista Valli gown with diamond broach waist embellishment looked like the pretties gift box we’ve ever seen. What could have come off as a flouncy disaster, was a beautiful Mid-winter’s Night Dream!
Awkwafina at 2019 Oscars
Awkwafina , from the groundbreaking movie Crazy Rich Asians, put her own spin on the color trend of the evening in this show-stopping metallic pink DSquared 2 tuxedo with matching pussy bow blouse and accessories
Julia Roberts at 2019 Oscars
When she effortlessly wafted across the 2019 Oscars stage as the evening’s final presenter, we couldn’t help but say how much we missed this “Pretty Woman”.
Jason Momoa at 2019 Oscars
Even Aquaman’s Jason Momoa and wife Lisa Bonet got in their matching pinks both sporting custom Fendi looks
Emilia Clarke at 2019 Oscars
Emilia Clarke, from Game of Thrones fame, was almost unrecognizable with her auburn locks; but that compact little frame gave her away in this custom Balmain dress
Marie Kondo at 2019 Oscars
Marie Kondo in a light pink Jenny Packham gown
Sarah Paulson at 2019 Oscars
Sarah Paulson, wearing a seductive and tasteful Brandon Maxwell gown, with pockets! The right amount of skin mixed with the right amount of comfort. Does it get any better than that?

Anything But Traditional

In the presence of such overtly spectacular, bold and ostentatious red carpet looks last night some of the dresses that skewed more tame got a bit overshadowed. These ladies brought the drama in their own way with a heavy focus on fit, detail and quirky elements.

Regina King at 2019 Oscars
Winner of the Best Supporting Actress Award, Regina King looked like a regal ruched goddess in her Oscar de la Renta gown. The actress described her choice of the gown as stemming from wanting to wear a designer that was as much a part of the fabric of American history as her winning film “If Beale Street Could Talk” Now that’s a star!
2019 Oscars
Bradley Cooper, his mom, and wife Irina Shayk (in a stunning Burberry body hugging dress) looked like an ad out of a Neiman Marcus catalogue
Lady Gaga 2019 Oscars
Lady Gaga played it safe last night, but the dramatic silhouette of her Alexander McQueen dress and gobstopping canary yellow Tiffany jewels, reportedly worth upwards of $30 million screamed major star power.  The diamond necklace was last worn by Audrey Hepburn in 1962 for a photo shoot to promote “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”
2019 Oscars
Melissa McCarthy in Brandon Maxwell
Amy Adams at 2019 Oscars
Amy Adams in Atelier Versace
2019 Oscars
Long time brand ambassador for Dior, Charlize Theron turned heads in this steel blue figure flattering sleek dress.
2019 Oscars
A back worth checking out… Charlize Theron in Dior

Metallic Mania at the 2019 Oscars

 

Danai Gurira at 2019 Oscars
Danai Gurira, from Black Panther fame, in a gorgeous crushed shantung silk Danai Gurira In Brock Collection gown looked like a beautiful golden doll
Emma Stone at 2019 Oscars
Emma Stone was truly a standout in this bronze honeycomb Louis Vuitton dress. The futuristic shoulder silhouette reminded us how out of this world she really looked. A “stone: cold fox! One of the most interesting dresses of the evening.
Glenn Close at 2019 Oscars
She sure dressed like a winner. Red carpet veteran Glenn Close was regal and majestic in her 42lb, yes you read correctly, Carolina Herrera gown
Jennifer Lopez at 2019 Oscars
When Jennifer Lopez, in her head-turning mirrored tile Tom Ford gown, stepped onto the red carpet, the air literally got sucked out of the room! As always, this Jenny shut down the block.
Amandla Stenberg at 2019 Oscars
Amandla Stenberg in a muted pewter Miu Miu dress looked every bit the princess
Michelle Yo in Elie Saab
Michelle Yo in Elie Saab
Brie Larson at 2019 Oscars
Brie Larson made a turtleneck look anything but matronly in her body hugging Celine dress
Molly Sims at 2019 Oscars
Molly Sims in Zuhair Murad

Easter Sunday Not Oscars Sunday

Pastels, among all the pink was also trending. Easter came early for these ladies in their pastel hues and “bubblegumized” combos.

Yalitza Aparicio at 2019 Oscars
Yalitza Aparicio, star of the Netflix hit movie Roma, wearing Rodarte
Meagan Good at 2019 Oscars
Oh soo good on Meagan Good!
Constance Wu was flirty and playful in her custom buttery yellow Versace Dress
Laura Harrier at 2019 Oscars
Laura Harrier wearing a Louis Vuitton custom gown which was in partnership with the Red Carpet Green Dress initiative focusing on top brands trying to strike the right chord
between fashion and true sustainability from sourcing to finished design.
Maria Menounos at 2019 Oscars
Maria Menounos
Laura Marano at 2019 Oscars
Laura Marano would definitely get the win for Easter Sunday’s best dressed in this Celia Kritharioti gown
Shangela at 2019 Oscars
In all her lilac glory Shangela, from RuPaul’s Drag Race and A Star Is Born, became one of the first drag queens in drag to walk the red carpet at the 2019 Oscars
Elaine Welteroth at 2019 Oscars
Elaine Welteroth wearing a seafoam green Celia Kritharioti dress

Man Oh Man

Kudos to the guys. Stepping out of traditional stereotypes for “formal dressing” and tuxedo styling, the 2019 Oscars red carpet saw the men taking some of the most notable risks for maximum reward.

Billy Porter at 2019 Oscars
Love it or hate it, Pose star Billy Porter, wins Oscars red carpet gold for taking a risk in velvet tuxedo gown by Christian Siriano. He sold the look from start to finish.
Spike Lee at 2019 Oscars
Director Spike Lee did the right thing by doing it his own way on last night’s red carpet. He paid homage to the late singer Prince, in his Ozwald Boateng suit and custom gold Jordans
Stephan James at 2019 Oscars
Stephan James represented well in a perfectly tailored custom Etro 3-piece velvet tuxedo in an iron red shade
Nicholas Hoult at 2019 Oscars
For those not as extroverted as Billy Porter, actor Nicholas Hoult wore a phenomenally creative Dior wrap tuxedo with sash that was wildly suave
Henry Golding at the 2019 Oscars
Henry Golding went for the white tie option making his dashing good looks even more blindingly obvious

Peacocking at the 2019 Oscars

Is there any other way to display oneself? With the help of a whole lot of tulle, ruffles and big volume dresses, peacocking was in full swing on the red carpet and we lived for every single moment of it!

2019 Oscars

Linda Cardellini In Schiaparelli Haute Couture at 2019 Oscars
Linda Cardellini in Schiaparelli Haute Couture
Helen Mirren at 2019 Oscars
Helen Mirren’s layers of hot pink chiffon.  Her gown was playful, youthful and exuded confidence
Jennifer Hudson in Elie Saab at the 2019 Oscars
Jennifer Hudson in Elie Saab

That’s a wrap for us folks, and the 2019 Hollywood red carpet season!