Come rain or shine, peace or chaos, hell or high water in the US, the Oscars won’t be the Oscars without this yearly Hollywood staple. And we’re not talking about outstanding performances as well breakthrough artistic and technical achievements.
By ALEX Y. VERGARA
Both Best Actress nominees Demi Moore and Mikey Madison looked every inch a winner in Giorgio Armani Privé and Dior, respectively. In the end though, there could only be one winner, as Mikey, lead star of the indie film Anora, ran away with the top plum in a strapless black-and-pink column with a built-in train. Giving the entire look a ’60s vibe was a huge ribbon tied below her chest.
A visibly disappointed Demi, who was heavily tipped to win for The Substance, came to the event with every single strand of hair in place in a beaded silver number with a fishtail silhouette that’s all about shape. It was perhaps the 62-year-old actress’ statement against ageism, as her toned physique, which was perfectly accentuated by the dress’ low sweetheart neckline and pleated detail on the hips, could easily put to shame not a few women of substance half her age.
In keeping with Wicked’s magical world on screen, its two lead stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande opted for volume that most likely shocked and awed Red Carpet watchers in a very good way.
Cynthia slipped into a dark green—what else?—Louis Vuitton dress made of velvet that was noteworthy for its huge skirt, high collar and humungous bow-like detail that was equal parts sleeves and fichu.
Ariana, Cynthia’s co-star, and one of this year’s Best Supporting Actress nominees, made an entrance in a strapless beige Schiaparelli Couture dress with a twirling peplum-like detail from which yards upon yards of glittery tulle dangled from.
In the end, Ariana bowed out to eventual winner Zoe Saldaña of Emelia Perez, who came to the show in a tiered scarlet column by Saint Laurent. For good measure, she slipped into a pair of see-through gloves, which echoed the bustline’s skin-tone fishnet-like material.
The evening’s other standouts were Elle Fanning, who looked divine in Givency, Fernanda Torres, in an age-appropriate black Chanel, Lupita Nyong’o in Chanel, Michelle Yeoh, in a strapless blue Balenciaga dress, and Emma Stone in Louis Vuitton’s beaded column.
Who says only girls can have all the fun? A good number of men weren’t content playing second fiddle to the ladies this year. Sure, black-and-white tuxedos were still aplenty inside the Dolby Theater, but a few good, daring men dared to defy conventions by going for the unexpected.
They included Best Actor nominee and one of Hollywood’s flavors of the season Timothee Chalamet in a cream ensemble by Givenchy, fellow Best Actor nominee Colman Domingo in Valentino’s red-and-black double-breasted suit cinched at the waist with a sash, and Andrew Garfield in a chocolate brown suit and shiny shirt sans tie by Gucci.
In the end, the classics won out, as a dashing Adrien Brody, in a black-and-white tux accented with a brooch by Armani, stole the thunder from every actor in the room with his second Best Actor win for his performance in The Brutalist.
