Red Carpet Highlights: The Best Trends, Aesthetics, And Looks From The 2024 Oscars

The biggest night in Hollywood, aka The Academy Awards, is known for one thing and one thing only: the fashion. Sure, we tune in for the winners and nominees, but everyone knows the red carpet is the main attention grabber — and the 2024 fashion statements were worth the watch. 

Naturally, Zendaya blew everyone out of the woods, dressed down in a Giorgio Armani Privé gown embroidered in palm tree motifs. The “Dune: Part Two” actress is the queen of red carpet looks, a testament to the talent of Law Roach, her long-term stylist. But Lily Gladstone is becoming a close second. The Native American actress has drawn acclaim for her fashion choices, boosting bright bold colors and fabrics by Indigenous designers on the red carpet. Her A-list stylistic choices were evident in her Oscars look: a midnight-blue velvet custom-made Gucci gown held together by a cape adorned with floral monograms. 

The 2024 Academy Awards also featured one last go-around on the “Barbie” train, with nominee America Ferrera all dolled up in signature pink. In addition, there were some surprising takes on velvet and vintage, old-Hollywood glam. Below, we’re digging into the 2024 Oscars fashion trends that we may see again throughout the awards season. 

Even Hollywood isn’t immune to nostalgia. Peplums, the signature look in the mid-aughts, made a surprising resurgence in the A-list crowd. “Poor Things” actress Emma Stone wore a Louis Vuitton sea foam dress with an oversized, dramatic peplum top. Gabrielle Union joined Emma, sporting a structured peplum dress from Carolina Herrera’s fall/winter 2024 collection, according to InStyle magazine. Florence Pugh took a different approach, meshing old Victorian and futurism into a silver, silky Del Core gown that gave “Dune” vibes.

Typically, black is reserved for men, but not this year. Many thought Margot Robbie would sport another “Barbie” look — the actress had been wearing doll-inspired fits since the press tour — but she swapped her signature pink for a sculpted black Versace gown. Sandra Hüller followed suit, wearing a dramatic off-the-shoulder black Schiaparelli dress. Catherine O’Hara, too, dressed in all black but added some sequins and Rahaminov Diamonds earrings to add some flair. 

Though all the leading women killed their all-black ensembles, there were two whose gowns drew the most eyes: Vanessa Hudgens and Issa Rae. Vanessa debuted her baby bump in a Kardashian-esque turtleneck gown accentuated with sparking silver jewelry. Issa, on the other hand, teased some skin in a deep-V neck gown with a figure-hugging bodice and thigh-high slit. She paired the look with a braided updo and subtle jewelry (dazzling earrings and silver rings). With a show-stopping dress, the “Insecure” actress didn’t need the accessories to do the work for her. 

Aside from black, watery blues were the next color choice among the Hollywood crowd. Many wore bluish hues and under-the-sea motifs, such as pearls, bejeweled beads, and silver glitter. Emma Stone’s look, in particular, mimicked mermaid-core with its peplum structure, minty color, and muted ruffled fabric that resembled a shell. 

Lupita Nyong’o’s ensemble took after the ocean too, with sequins and sea-adjacent features. But it was Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s getup that was truly a representation of the mermaid aesthetic. The nominee-turned-winner wore a shimmery A-line blue dress with oversized tulle fringe sleeves, finished with a classic wavy blonde side part, drop earrings, and Swarovski-adorned nails — a mermaid through and through. 

The Academy Awards are over, but conversations about the 2024 Oscars fashion trends are ongoing. Next up is the Met Gala—the fashion event of all fashion events. Will these aesthetics make an appearance on the first Monday of May, or will celebs stick to the theme this year? We’re excited to find out.