Humber fashion experts review Oscars red carpet

By Katia Sist

The Oscars is Hollywood’s biggest night for awards and the red carpet is always highly anticipated.

As the most formal award show, there are high expectations for the gowns on the carpet. However, this year there was a mix of garments that represented personal style while others held onto traditional Hollywood glamour.

“The men stood out way more than the women last night. There was a lot of velvet and different colours definitely unexpected but it was very tasteful,” says Julia Mella, a fashion management and promotion postgraduate student. “Jason Mamoa was wearing Karl Lagerfeld for Fendi, it was one of the last couture pieces Karl made for him. It was a really cool, unconventional baby pink colour”.

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Many of the men were on trend in velvet and sporting various colours last night. A few of these stylish men include Chris Evans in Salvatore Ferragamo, Michael B. Jordan in Tom Ford, Stephan James and David Oyelowo both in Etro.

(Instagram/mensselfie)                         (Instagram/tomford)                         (Instagram/etro)

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There were many women in pantsuits last night. Elsie Fisher wore Thom Browne. “She was in a black tuxedo. Even though she’s really covered up, her little bob with a pin in it brought back youthfulness to her outfit,” says Tess Scornaienchi, a fashion management and promotion postgraduate student.

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Allison Janney wore a plunging Pamella Roland gown. Couture designer, Mark Belford loved her look, “she was impeccable in a menswear-inspired tuxedo gown with its beautiful silk sash,” he says.

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With the many pantsuits, there was also a sea of pink on the carpet which brought femininity.

(Instagram/glamouruk)

In Giambattista Valli Haute Couture, “Kacey Musgraves looked like she was walking on a cloud. Her look is really fresh and the pale pink looked really nice against her skin. There’s a lot of volume, tons of layers and ruffles but you can still see her body, it’s not too overpowering,” Scornaienchi says.

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In custom Versace, Amy Adams’s gown was perfect for the Oscars in Mella’s opinion. “It’s simple and white but it has this metallic pattern going through it. It fit her really nicely, that’s my kind of look for the Oscars,” she said. Belford agreed, simply saying, “she looks so young and fresh”.

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Belford declared Michelle Yeoh in Elie Saab Haute Couture as his best dressed. “Once again, the magic of the understated line creates the most exceptional visual presentation. The structured bodice and the layered skirt is magic! You will look at this dress in 20 years and it will remain refined elegance,” he says.

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Another classic Oscar look was an Oscar de la Renta gown worn by Regina King. “It was a very simple white gown with structure, because it had that big slit in the side and a bit of ruching that held up around her hip. It’s timeless,” Mella says.

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This red carpet truly varied from timelessness to making a statement.

Billy Porter walked the carpet in a controversial outfit. Keeping with the velvet trend, he wore a Christian Siriano tuxedo jacket with a ball gown skirt. “He always comes in something crazy. I think he really wanted to do something out there because that is his style, but he did tame it for the Oscars,” Mella says.

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While program coordinator and professor of fashion management and promotions postgraduate degree, Rossie Kadiyska described his look as resembling a centaur. “This look was about breaking ground, bringing some controversy,” Kadiyska says.

Laura Harrier wore a light blue Louis Vuitton gown. “It was made with ethical and sustainable materials. A trend that is emerging among designers, but Louis Vuitton is not known for using these materials. It’s really pretty and has that old Hollywood glamour. Having her hair in an effortless bun keeps it young,” Scornaienchi says

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Kadiyska enjoyed the trend last night of simple gowns with one colour and clean lines, specifically the Dior dress worn by Charlize Theron. While Scornaienchi calls the gown boring and dull, with too much going on up top.

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Everyone agreed that Jennifer Lopez looked amazing last night in, what Mella describes as a “head to toe mosaic, mirrored dress” by Tom Ford. “She always looks amazing, but last night she stood out because her dress was so reflective. Her whole body is covered but she still looks really sexy,” Scornaienchi says.

(Instagram/tomford)

Many were not happy with the Giambattista Valli dress that Maya Rudolph wore. According to Mella, “the cut did not do anything for her”. Kadiyska thought that there were too many colours and ruffles, also saying that Rudolph did not pose well with the cape.   

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Last night’s red carpet was not nearly as formal as the Oscars is typically known to be. This year people showed their style and seemed to have fun with unique looks rather than a traditional gown. “I’ve seen way better on the carpet, maybe with no host people are just getting comfortable,” Mella says.