The Oscars 2025 red carpet occurred on March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, kicking off the 97th Academy Awards. Celebrities brought their A-game, showcasing a mix of bold glamour, sustainable fashion, and nods to their film roles.
Ariana Grande turned heads in a pink Schiaparelli gown dripping with over 190,000 crystal sequins, channeling her Wicked character Glinda. At the same time, her co-star Cynthia Erivo stunned in a dramatic dark green Louis Vuitton dress with a theatrical collar.
Timothée Chalamet, nominated for A Complete Unknown, went bold in a custom Givenchy look with Cartier jewels, and Selena Gomez shimmered in a rose gold Ralph Lauren gown.
Demi Moore, up for The Substance, sparkled in a silver Giorgio Armani Privé dress, and Zoe Saldaña, a supporting actress contender for Emilia Pérez, wore a crystal-latticed maroon Saint Laurent number.
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The carpet saw trends like satin (Mikey Madison in Louis Vuitton), velvet (Scarlett Johansson in Thierry Mugler), and sculptural designs inspired by Schiaparelli’s Daniel Roseberry. Men mostly kept it classic—Adrien Brody added a brooch to his black-tie look—though Colman Domingo and Jeremy Strong flexed forward-thinking style.
Presenters like Andrew Garfield, Halle Berry, and Bowen Yang (in a floral Etro jacket) also made waves. The event, hosted by Conan O’Brien, balanced Hollywood dazzle with tributes to LA firefighters after recent wildfires, setting the tone for a night where Anora later dominated with five wins, including Best Picture. Fashion and film collided in a spectacle that rivaled the Met Gala for 2025’s style stakes.
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Oscars 2025 Trends Analysis
Based on the Oscars 2025 red carpet on March 2, 2025, here’s an analysis of the standout fashion trends that defined the night:
Satin Sophistication
Satin emerged as a key fabric, offering a sleek, reflective elegance. Mikey Madison’s Louis Vuitton gown exemplified this trend with its smooth, liquid-like finish, signaling a return to polished minimalism. The material’s subtle sheen caught the light, making it a favorite for stars aiming for understated luxury.
Velvet Revival
Velvet brought a plush, tactile richness to the carpet. Scarlett Johansson’s archival Thierry Mugler gown leaned into this, blending retro glamour with modern tailoring. The fabric’s depth and warmth suggest it’s staging a comeback as a go-to for cooler seasons, offering comfort without sacrificing drama.
Sculptural Silhouettes
Inspired by Schiaparelli’s theatrical DNA under Daniel Roseberry, sculptural designs stood out. Cynthia Erivo’s Louis Vuitton gown with its towering collar and Ariana Grande’s voluminous Schiaparelli piece showed how architecture-influenced shapes are pushing boundaries. These looks prioritize form over function, turning wearers into living art.
Crystal Embellishments
Heavy sparkle dominated, with crystals and sequins amplifying glamour. Grande’s gown, encrusted with over 190,000 sequins, and Zoe Saldaña’s crystal-latticed Saint Laurent dress highlighted a trend toward maximalist shine. This reflects a post-pandemic appetite for bold, celebratory excess.
Sustainable Statements
Eco-conscious fashion made waves, subtly woven into the glitz. While not overtly advertised, designers like Ralph Lauren (Selena Gomez’s rose gold gown) and Giorgio Armani Privé (Demi Moore’s silver look) nodded to sustainability through timeless cuts and responsibly sourced materials, aligning with Hollywood’s growing green ethos.
Monochromatic Boldness
Single-color looks in vivid hues—like Erivo’s dark green or Grande’s pink—commanded attention. This trend ditches patterns for solid, striking palettes, letting silhouette and texture do the talking. It’s a confident move that ties into character-driven dressing (e.g., Grande as Glinda).
Menswear Evolution
Men stuck to classic black-tie (Adrien Brody, Timothée Chalamet) but added flair—Brody’s brooch, Chalamet’s Cartier jewels, or Bowen Yang’s floral Etro jacket. Colman Domingo and Jeremy Strong pushed further with experimental cuts, hinting at menswear’s slow shift toward risk-taking without abandoning tradition.
Character-Inspired Dressing
Stars tied their looks to their roles, amplifying narrative through fashion. Grande and Erivo’s Wicked-infused gowns and Chalamet’s Dylan-esque Givenchy vibe showed how red carpet style doubles as storytelling, blurring lines between performance and promotion.
Overall, the 2025 Oscars red carpet fused high glamour with purpose—sustainability, bold textures, and filmic nods—reflecting a Hollywood that’s both looking back at its roots and forward to fresher, louder expressions. Expect these trends to ripple into award seasons and runways ahead.