BEST EXAMPLE OF CARPET MATCHING DRAPES
Jamie Lee Curtis
The “Everything Everywhere All At Once” actress is such a national treasure (yes, I went there) that she could have walked the carpet in an ill-fitting tracksuit and fuzzy slippers, and we’d still be in love. Instead, she sparkled in a romantic Dolce & Gabbana gown studded with white and silver crystals. The nude, floor-length frock hinted at old Hollywood, perhaps a nod to mom Janet Leigh, but with the avant-garde touch of exterior boning in the corset. Curtis was unaware that this year’s Oscars carpet would be champagne instead of red. She poked fun at herself on Twitter, writing, ”Oscars, their carpet is going to match my drapes.”
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BEST MALE SASH, EVER
Harry Shum Jr.
In the past, Oscar gasps and gulps were reserved for women storming the carpet in exaggerated mermaid silhouettes or gowns with racy back cleavage. But “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once” actor Harry Shum Jr. (minus Raccacoonie) arrived in a wholly unique, crisply-tailored, asymmetrical Adeam white tux with navy piping. But it was the length of the jacket — somewhere between a mourning coat and a minidress — and the sash (technically an obi), that truly elevated the look. The East-meets-West mash-up was the most groundbreaking look of the night.
BEST EXAMPLE OF CARPET NOT MATCHING DRAPES
Sandra Oh
There were several smart sartorial choices on the champagne carpet (can we just call it a red carpet?) and far too many safe choices. And then there was Sandra Oh. She deserves credit for her bold choice of color. No one else attempted this yellow-orange hue. But the color couldn’t save the look. Oh was swimming in her Giambattista Valli gown. More accurately, she was drowning in it. The batwing sleeves, along with all of that gathered fabric, gave the illusion that Oh was running late, grabbed several pairs of curtains from the set of “The Partridge Family,” belted said curtains, and then tried to distract anyone from noticing she was wearing curtains with a statement necklace.
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SHE DID THE BEST DRESSED THING
Angela Bassett
There was so much white, black, and silver — otherwise known as “not really colors” — on a carpet that also had barely any color that Angela Bassett’s vivid purple Moschino gown was the fashion equivalent of an espresso shot. The lovely lavender was a welcome change in the sea of white gowns worn by Michelle Williams, Rooney Mara, Halle Berry, and about 30 other actresses. All of those lovely and safe dresses simply faded into the pale carpet. The “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” star not only went risky with color, but she also pulled off a challenging silhouette: a mermaid-style gown with a train that fanned out from a riot of ruching.
BEST EXAMPLE OF LESS IS MORE
Cate Blanchett
Of course Cate Blanchett would be the actress who arrived at the Oscars in the most sophisticated dress of the night. Whereas other actresses opted for frills, lace, and tulle with strapless or plunging necklines, Blanchett wore what could best be described as a power gown. Her silk, custom Louis Vuitton, sans embellishments, was the definition of sartorial power. Her only conceit to the (unspoken) requirement of revealing skin at the ceremony were the slits in the topaz sleeves of her gown. Even the color combination of deep blue and black (with shoulder pads!) said, “If I don’t win this award, I’m taking you all down with me!”
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BEST DRESSED, RUNNER-UP
Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman consistently arrives on the red carpet in a dress that screams “born too late.” Every year she captures old Hollywood glamour in Giorgio Armani, modernizes it, and then struts along, knowing that she nailed it. Other actresses are often unsteady in their fashion. You can see the terror on their faces. But not Kidman. Her heavily embellished black custom gown was almost sinister, the massive black sequined blooms kept her squarely in glamorous territory.
BEST LEG REVEAL
Cara Delevingne
Taking a page from Nicole Kidman’s Oscar fashion handbook, Cara Delevingne, arrived wearing a very traditional old Hollywood silhouette that was provocatively updated for 2023 from designer Elie Saab. The revealing leg slit, the likes of which have not been seen since Angelina Jolie’s 2012 Oscar gown, along with the exaggerated bow on the shoulder, elevated the model/actress/singer/socialite’s look. It may be the first time that the “Only Murders in the Building” star has attended the Oscars, but she came off like an old pro.
BEST DISCO BALL DRESSES
Jessica Chastain, Eva Longoria, Kate Hudson, and Ariana DeBose
Rihanna was not shining bright like a diamond (she opted for baby bump black), but there were plenty of other attendees who added ample sparkle and shine to the evening. If I had to choose one disco ball dress winner, it would have to be Eva Longoria, with Kate Hudson a close second. Longoria’s dress from Zuhair Murad was as confusing as Ethel Merman’s 1979 disco album, but in the best way possible. Jessica Chastain was lovely as the human embodiment of Jessica Rabbit, and Ariana DeBose’s disco dress placed a very distant fourth in the race.
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MOST FASHIONABLE CULTURAL HOMAGE
Hong Chau
Several actresses used the word custom to describe their Oscar gowns, but Hong Chau wore a Prada gown that was the definition of custom. “The Whale” actress had a hand in designing it. She told E! host Laverne Cox that when Prada sent her sketches of the dress, she requested the addition of a short Mandarin collar as a nod to her Vietnamese roots. It was a beautiful dress, but the collar made it even more special. The gown’s unusual black train offered a striking contrast to the soft, powdery pink.
OTHER LOOKS WE NOTICED (AND GRADED) ON THE CARPET
Malala Yousafzai in Ralph Lauren. Grade: A+
Mindy Kaling in Vera Wang. Grade: A
Florence Pugh in Valentino Couture. Grade: Fire your stylist. Immediately.
Danai Gurira in Jason Wu. Grade: B+.
Dwayne Johnson in Dolce & Gabbana. Grade: C. Emily Blunt in Valentino. Grade: A.
Rihanna in Alaïa. Grade: B-.
Fan Bingbing in Tony Ward Couture. Grade: A++.
Lenny Kravitz in Saint Laurent (or maybe one of mom Roxie Roker’s old Halston pantsuits). Grade: Confused.
Pedro Pascal in Zegna. Grade: Yes, daddy. Selma Hayek in Gucci. Grade: Cher+.
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Questlove in Zegna. Grade: (jacket, shirt, and pants) B . Grade: (shoes) F.
Jay Ellis in Fendi. Grade: A+.
Lorenzo Zurzolo in Gucci. Grade: B+.
Michelle Williams in Chanel. Grade: Mia Farrow+.
Lady Gaga in Versace. Grade: A.
Sofia Carson in Giambattista Valli. Grade: A (as a wedding dress), D (as an Oscars dress).
Stephanie Hsu in Valentino. Grade: B (for bubblegum).
Michelle Yeoh in Dior Couture. Grade: The dress is a little snoozy, but she still gets an A because she’s Michelle Yeoh.
Paul Mescal in Gucci. Grade: No, no, no.
Christopher Muther can be reached at christopher.muther@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @Chris_Muther and Instagram @chris_muther.