Allegedly, the Academy Awards are a celebration of the best in acting, directing, and all of the other things that go into making movies. And, sure, that's true enough, but let's also be real: the Oscars are all about the fashion! For those of us who love the intersection of celebrity culture and high fashion, the Oscars is basically our version of the Super Bowl! And, just like the Super Bowl, there are always some winners and losers at the end of the night!
Obviously, one the of most fun things to do is to plop on the couch in our sweat pants and judge the fashion choices of people who have spent literally months planning their looks. The 2022 Oscars red carpet didn't disappoint, as we were treated to some major looks including some instantly iconic ensembles from designers like Valentino and Louis Vuitton. This was also a big year for color, as we saw reds and greens emerge from a sea of basic black gowns. We also saw some men stepping up and trying some not-so-basic tuxedo looks, as well as sleek looks in elegant metallics, and some epic gowns that were giving us that princess fantasy that award show red carpets were made for! Read on for our favorite looks of the night!
Alana Haim
Singer Alana Haim (who brought her Haim sisters/bandmates as her date, love that!) was sleek and elegant in a hand-beaded Louis Vuitton gown with a delicate scalloped pattern. She kept her makeup, hair, and jewelry simple and paired the look with some silver sandals that added to the metallic vibe!
David Oyelowo
OK, so this might be a controversial choice, but this is a bold suit look that we are so into this year! British actor David Oyelowo isn't a stranger to taking a fashion risk and we loved the pop of color that comes from his floral suit. He stood out on the red carpet in the best possible way!
Ariana DeBose
Best supporting actress winner Ariana DeBose was one of many who went with the red color story for this year's event. But she kept it really fresh with this Valentino pantsuit. The pantsuit could have looked a little casual, but she kicked up the drama in a big way by adding an epic cape that she was totally working on the red carpet.
Queen Latifah
OK, Queen Latifah! We see you out here, looking like a literal ray of sunshine! This color yellow could be hard to pull off, but Queen Latifah makes it look easy. If there was ever a time that called for adding some joy and brightness to the red carpet, 2022 is it. She understood the assignment.
Mila Kunis
Mila Kunis has been in the news lately thanks to her amazing fundraising work, having raised over $35 million to support Ukrainian refugees. That is obviously super admirable, but she's also going to be getting some headlines for her pale pink Oscars gown. It fit her like a glove!
Tiffany Haddish
Did we add Tiffany Haddish to the best dressed list because her emerald green dress fit her perfectly? Or was it because she rocked a major necklace that gave us all the jewelry envy? Or was it for how she proved that short hair can be super glam, too? All. Of. The. Above!
Jason Momoa
The always handsome Jason Momoa rocked an upcycled black tuxedo for the red carpet, which was both stylish and environmentally sustainable. He also made a subtle political statement with a pocket square in colors that were a shout-out to the people of Ukraine.
Venus Williams
If there was an Academy Award for "best outfit for looking like the world's sexiest superhero" the Oscar would for sure go to Venus Williams. This Elie Saab outfit was a testament to the power of double-sided boob tape and the Tiffany & Co silver bracelets were the perfect addition to this look.
Lupita Nyong'o
It just wouldn't be the Oscars if there wasn't someone paying homage to the iconic golden statue by rocking a gold dress! This year it was the always stunning Lupita Nyong'o in a Prada gown that featured enough tinsel to decorate any Christmas tree, but in major fashion way.
Kirsten Dunst
Kirsten Dunst, who attended the Oscars with her husband and fellow nominee Jesse Plemons, showed the power of texture in her vintage Christian Lacroix dress. Not only was the fuchsia color part of the trend toward red looks this year, but ruffles on this dress were striking without being overwhelming.
Pauletta & Denzel Washington
Now, this is how a red carpet couple should look! Denzel is classically elegant in a traditional tuxedo and his wife of almost 40 years (!) looks radiant in a deep orange one-shoulder dress that is cut perfectly. This is a textbook elegant Oscars couple look.
Jessica Chastain
Jessica Chastain stood out with this sparkling ombre Gucci gown. The purple color of the skirt stood out in a sea of mostly red this year and while we didn't totally love the ruffle on the bottom (it's giving a little bit of shower loofah vibes), the overall impact was stunning.
Saniyya Sidney
Actress Saniyya Sidney played Venus Williams to rave reviews in the Oscar nominated film Sir Richard and this year's Oscars was her first time walking the famed red carpet. She's only 15 years old and her Armani Privé gown is joyful, colorful, and perfect for a young star.
Wanda Sykes
Wanda Sykes was one of the three Oscar hosts this year, alongside Amy Schumer and Regina Hall, and she rocked several suits for both the red carpet and the telecast. We especially loved this black sequined number from the show, because if there is ever a place for a sequined suit, the Oscars is it!
Jamie Lee Curtis
One of the many things we love about Jamie Lee Curtis is that she's visual proof of the fact that, yes, people can age gracefully in Hollywood. We also love this regal blue dress that has a chainmail effect on the sleeves that gives it a little bit more edge.
Eva von Bahr
OK, so she may not be a household name and this look might not be everybody's cup of tea, but how fun is Eva von Bahr's dress and purse combo? Von Bahr, a Swedish makeup artist who was nominated for best makeup for Dune, wore a dress with Raphael's Madonna del Prato painting on it and carried a bag designed to look like the head of a statue. She was clearly in no danger of accidently wearing the same dress as anyone else on the red carpet this year!
