The annual Academy Awards have become an opportunity for celebrities to rise to the fashion challenge — or fall short. The annual spectacle honored the films of 2024 with 23 different categories, but celebrities turned it into a fashion show in its own right. On March 2, fashion designers and viewers were captivated by the styles worn on the runway.
The fashion at the 2025 Oscars resurfaced vintage looks and highlighted bold statements. A recurring look that never fails to leave the Oscars’ runway are tight-fitting dresses with crystal embellishments. Guests like Selena Gomez, Demi Moore and Emma Stone showcased this classic bodycon look, although these repeated styles may get boring for the audience.
Lauren Sherman, the host of the Fashion People podcast, revealed her thoughts about the styles worn by Moore and Mikey Madison.
“[Moore] has looked incredible this entire run,” Sherman said. “She wore Armani last night in silver, and she looked beautiful and amazing. Neither of those dresses were my favorite things they’ve worn on this tour.”
Sherman’s views about Moore’s dress demonstrate how the audience becomes uninterested in these rehashed trends. Further into the podcast, Sherman is joined by Hillary Kerr, the co-founder of WhoWhatWear, who shares how she would rather see celebrities in failed statement pieces because they are trying to spice up the runway. Playing the safe option displays a lack of creativity on the designers’ and celebrities’ parts. Fashion critics and viewers would rather see interesting flairs of fashion because it keeps the fashion season interesting.
“The civilian in me would not have understood some of the things that were on the red carpet; the fashion editor in me was thrilled,” Kerr said. “We saw sculptural moments, the likes of which we don’t usually see. We saw so much interesting texture and embellishment and beading and design. It was a much more interesting red carpet than some of the classic jewel-toned, strapless mermaid gowns that we’ve seen a hundred thousand times.”
One of the most notable stars on the runway was Ariana Grande, clothed in a beautiful Schiaparelli gown designed by Daniel Roseberry. Mimi Cuttrell, Grande’s stylist, was the mastermind behind her adventurous dive into new dimensions. Although the champagne-colored dress was underwhelming and blended with her skin tone, the sculpture moment this dress brought to the red carpet was unmatched. The plastic-looking top to her dress offered a sleek and clean architectural shape, which brought singularity to her outfit. The top was strapless, highlighting her collarbone and teardrop-shaped diamond necklace. The wave-like ending to her top allowed her skirt to jut out from her body, creating dimension. The shimmer of the sheer bottom half of the dress elevated her overall look. The color of her gown may have been underwhelming, but the architectural cut of the dress was stunning.
The women were not the only celebrities dressed to impress because the men came prepared to catch the paparazzi’s cameras. Timothée Chalamet was nominated for best actor in the movie “A Complete Unknown,” and his clothing choice displayed his confidence. Chalamet wore a butter yellow outfit crafted by Sarah Burton at Givenchy. His bold choice of the yellow monochromatic color made him shine on the runway. Along with his bright suit, he completed his look with Cartier jewelry. He wore a Cartier diamond choker, gold bracelets and rings to pair with his outfit. Sitting beside Chalamet was his girlfriend Kylie Jenner, wearing a custom black Miu Miu gown. Jenner’s dress displayed a toned-down color palate to place all the attention on Chalamet. However, a lot of attention was drawn to her exposed torso, the busty bra top and the studded jewels of her dress. These stylistic choices amplified her look, but the center of attention remained on Chalamet.
Another memorable male on the runway was Adrien Brody. Making his way down the carpet in a custom Giorgio Armani suit, Brody presented his sleek and traditional style with the suit’s black satin-trimmed lapel, white evening shirt and midnight-colored bowtie. On his right lapel sat a diamond-studded brooch that enhanced his look from classic to cutting-edge. Elsa Jin was the brilliant designer behind the feathery brooch on Brody’s lapel. Moments after his win, Brody shared with the reporters how “It’s just beautiful.” This season’s fashion flair has come from these decorative pins, as he has sported them at many events. Brody’s outfit would have been incomplete without this elegant jewelry addition.
“Brooches aren’t a new move on the red carpet — they’ve been especially prevalent in recent years as men have embraced all manner of jewelry, from bracelets and rings to tie pins and necklaces, beyond the standard high-end watch,” Tres Dean wrote in a fashion review for GQ. “But last night’s Oscars felt like a confirmation of the brooch as the mode of formalwear expression for Hollywood actors.”
Overall, the Oscars was a combination of unusual statement pieces, causing the critics to whirl, and classical fits the audience has seen for decades. Celebrities have the opportunity to display their personalities through their style in comparison to the characters on the live screen. Although not everyone strutted the runway dressed to the nines, the Oscars showcased many traditional getups and conventional styles that created rivaling opinions among the audience.
