Oscars 2022: Classic white shirts, monochrome tailoring and a return to red — trends that dominated red carpet

Along with _Writing with Fire_ — the Indian film nominated for Best Documentary Feature — we saw another notable Indian representation on the red carpet of the 94th Academy Awards. Rapper Megan Thee Stallion made her debut at the event in a frosty blue sculptural gown by Delhi-based designer Gaurav Gupta. Encrusted with crystals, the high-slit, strapless gown with gill-like ruffles took over 1,500 man-hours to make. Gupta’s gown was grand, befitting the carpet. As were the choices of several other attendees: Zoe Kravitz wore a soft-pink column gown by Yves Saint Laurent, channelling Audrey Hepburn; Lupita Nyong’o shimmered in a gold Prada gown; Nicole Kidman, Best Actress nominee for _Being The Ricardos_ , looked elegant in a powder-blue Armani Privé gown with a poofy peplum and crystals-sprinkled train; and the Best Actress winner Jessica Chastain (for The Eyes of Tammy Faye) looked like an ethereal forest nymph in an ombre lilac Gucci gown trimmed with ruffles. Absolutely beautiful!   [caption id=“attachment_10498261” align=“alignnone” width=“640”]  Zoe Kravitz[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_10498271” align=“alignnone” width=“640”]  Lupita Nyong’o[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_10498311” align=“alignnone” width=“640”]  Nicole Kidman[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_10498321” align=“alignnone” width=“640”]  Jessica Chastain[/caption] But ‘beautiful’ was not the word that best described the red carpet last night. The looks that captivated the internet were not the ‘standard’ Oscar-worthy fare. Not a big gown with a billowy train but itsy-bitsy shorts. Not luxe, deep-coloured men’s evening wear but candy-coloured suits.

The best looks of the night had one thing in common: They flouted the stuffy rules of ‘high-society’ dressing, marking the phasing-out of highbrow conservatism that no longer does — or at least should not — characterise the movie industry.  

The Classic White Shirt Zendaya, Kristen Stwart, Uma Thurman — some of the best-dressed attendees — came dressed in some version of the white shirt. Zendaya wore a midriff-baring satin Valentino shirt with a cascading, floor-length sequined silver skirt in silver by the same brand. Kristen Stewart unbuttoned all but one crystal button of the sheer Chanel shirt that she wore under a black tuxedo jacket and hot pants. Uma Thurman stayed loyal to the traditional proportions of a button-down shirt, opting for a conservative number by Bottega Venetta, and teaming it with a floor-length black satin skirt.   [caption id=“attachment_10498331” align=“alignnone” width=“640”]  Kristen Stewart[/caption] Red-carpet critics discussed whether it was Thurman or Zendaya who successfully channelled Sharon Stone’s Oscar look from 1998 of a lavender satin Vera Wang dress with a simple white GAP button-up shirt, which so flustered viewers. Whoever it may be, it is clear that the subversive potential of a white shirt at an event like the Oscars still holds — precisely because it is so elemental and indecorous a choice on the red carpet, it comes to be a radical.   [caption id=“attachment_10498341” align=“alignnone” width=“640”]  Zendaya[/caption] For men, on the other hand, where a dress shirt is usually the foundation of a tuxedo look, its absence became symbolic. Flouting every kind of red-carpet dressing rule possible, actor Timotheé Chalamet chose to go shirtless under an embroidered women’s lace jacket by Louis Vuitton — a look so provocative and disruptive, it will stay on in Oscar history.   [caption id=“attachment_10498361” align=“alignnone” width=“640”]  Timothy Chalamet[/caption] Monochrome Tailoring Amidst the usual army of actors that wore black-and-white tuxedos — the red-carpet uniform — some gave us some much-needed respite in head-to-toe colour. Marvel star Simu Liu wore a firetruck red Versace suit and perhaps, taking cues from Chalamet, ditched the shirt altogether at the after-party. Colombian singer Sebastian Yatra appeared in a soft pink Moschino tailcoat and brogues to match. Blade star Wesley Snipes forwent the usual tailored pants, favouring a custom burgundy jacket with matching Bermuda shorts worn over leggings. [caption id=“attachment_10498381” align=“alignnone” width=“640”]  Simu Liu[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_10498391” align=“alignnone” width=“640”]  Sebastian Yatra[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_10498401” align=“alignnone” width=“640”]  Wesley Snipes[/caption] But none wore colour better than Kodi Smit-McPhee, the 25-year-old actor nominated for his role in The   _Power of the Dog_ , who chose a baby blue Bottega Veneta suit with matching booties and dripped in custom Cartier diamond jewellery.     [caption id=“attachment_10498421” align=“alignnone” width=“640”]  Kodi Smit-McPhee[/caption] Return to Red Long considered a fashion faux-pas, there has been no dearth of red on the proverbial red carpet lately. It is the instinctual colour for those meaning to make a splash, and this time around, there was a sea of red. But it did not feel old. Thanks, in part, to Ariana DeBose, winner of the Best Supporting Actress award for _West Side Story, _  and frontrunner of the red trend. She wore red Valentino pleated pants, a bralette, and a trailing cape tied to her arms with insouciance — the red victory outfit of the first openly queer woman of colour to win an acting Oscar.   Black-ish actress Tracy Ellis Ross was another attendee who wore red but managed to make it look fresh in a Carolina Herrera number with a deconstructed sweetheart neckline that had poof, fitted tailoring, and so much elegance. And while most turned their attention toward Kourtney Kardashian’s vintage black Mugler dress, Kirsten Dunst —  nominated for Best Supporting Actress for The Power of the Dog — pleasantly surprised everyone with a frothy strapless gown made of tiered ruffles from French designer Christian Lacroix’s collection from 2001.   [caption id=“attachment_10498431” align=“alignnone” width=“640”]  Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons[/caption] All photos by Hunter Abrams c. The New York Times Company 2022 Swareena Gurung is a freelance fashion and culture writer. Read all the  Latest News ,  Trending News ,  Cricket News ,  Bollywood News , India News  and  Entertainment News  here. Follow us on  Facebook,  Twitter and  Instagram.