While the rest of the world waited almost four hours in anticipation for the end of the 86th Annual Academy Awards, I built up all of my excitement at the beginning for the red carpet. There is nothing like watching some of Hollywood’s best and brightest exit their limos, fix their dresses and then prepare to take thousands of photos for the next hour. This hour, however, is what I wait all year for.
If you were watching, it was easy to spot the crowd favorites and the gown similarities on the carpet. If you weren’t watching, that’s why I put together some of the most stunning trends seen on the red carpet in one place. You can thank me later!
Hues of Blues
The majority of Oscar-worthy gowns that walked the carpet featured subtle color and understated glamour. Nominees such as Amy Adams and Sandra Bullock opted for elegant navy. Bullock’s voluptuous curls hung over her strapless Alexander McQueen ensemble. The shiny navy gown hugged her curves, with a sweeping detail on her left side blending into the train like water running down the dress. She kept accessories simple, with a delicate diamond bracelet and stud earrings.
White and Sparkly
As seen on recent runways, sparkles are still very much alive and on-trend. This was no different for the Academy Awards, which saw actresses such as Kate Hudson, Jennifer Garner and Naomi Watts choosing dazzling ensembles to get noticed on the carpet. Watt’s cap-sleeved white beaded dress spoke for itself, fitting her body just right. A slit in the back of the Calvin Klein Collection dress exposed her black strappy heels, while an abstract choker hung on her neck. Her slicked-back straight hair added just the right touch for a sexy, age-appropriate look.
Textured Nudes
Possibly the most common trend seen on the 86th Annual Academy Awards red carpet was a nude dress with tons of texture and detail. Jessica Beil and Angelia Jolie were some of the stars showing off this neutral color. Cate Blanchett, however, exhibited this trend to a T in a short-sleeved sheer nude gown with a full skirt. The most eye-catching detail on the Armani Privé dress however, were dozens of beads and sequins hanging from the dress.
Luxurious Volume
Leave it to Lupita Amondi Nyong’o to stray from the norm to become possibly the most talked about red carpet arrival on social media sites. This woman is so stunning and fashion-forward, that I decided she gets her own category. Nyong’o strutted the Oscar’s red carpet in a voluminous, flowing baby blue gown. The custom Prada dress had a deep V-neck, but her delicate girly touches such as her matching light blue nails and headband made the gown more fantasy-like.
