Honestly, the red carpet at the 97th Academy Awards felt different this year. Usually, you get a sea of "safe" black columns and maybe one person trying too hard in neon. But the oscar dresses 2025 cycle was something else entirely. It wasn't just about looking pretty; it was about "method dressing"—that thing where actors basically dress like their characters to keep the movie’s hype alive right up to the final envelope.
We saw it everywhere. From the Wicked duo practically living in Oz to some surprisingly dark, anatomical nods from the cast of The Substance, the fashion felt like a final act of the films themselves.
The Pink and Green Domination
If you weren't following the Wicked press tour, you might have been confused by the literal bubble and the forest floor walking down the carpet. Ariana Grande was basically a dream in a custom Schiaparelli Haute Couture gown. It was pink (of course), but the structure was the kicker—a sculptural, floating peplum that looked exactly like the bubble Glinda travels in. It had 190,000 crystals. Imagine trying to sit down in that.
Cynthia Erivo went the opposite direction but just as hard. She wore a dark, forest-green velvet Louis Vuitton gown. It had these massive, wide shoulders and a collar that felt very "don't mess with the Witch." Even her nails had Oz-coded symbols. It was commitment. Pure and simple.
Best Oscar Dresses 2025: Who Actually Nailed It?
People are still arguing about the "best" list, but there were a few undeniable wins. Mikey Madison, who ended the night winning Best Actress for Anora, looked like a literal 1950s starlet. She wore custom Dior—a black velvet bandeau top paired with a soft pink skirt and a massive bow. It was a recreaton of a 1956 "Bal à Paris" dress. It felt timeless, which is exactly what you want when you're about to give a winning speech that will be replayed for decades.
Demi Moore also had a massive moment. She’s been having a bit of a "renaissance," and her Armani Privé dress was basically a suit of armor made of crystals. It was silver, had these sharp, pleated hip details, and just shimmered every time she moved. People are calling it the "Sparkle" dress, a nod to her character Elisabeth Sparkle. It was clever without being a costume.
Then you had Selena Gomez. She’s been leaning into this very "Old Hollywood" vibe lately, and her Ralph Lauren was just... elegant. It was black with a white off-the-shoulder neckline, dripping in over 16,000 hand-sewn crystals. It looked expensive. Because it was.
The Weird and Wonderful Trends
- Ribbon Season: Bows weren't just for hair. They were on waists, shoulders, and even backs.
- Mirrorball Energy: Halle Berry and Yvonne Orji both went for highly reflective, mirrored gowns that probably blinded the photographers.
- The "Tiara" Bun: Forget the messy bun; everyone had these high, structured ballerina buns.
- Men in Color: Colman Domingo in a bright red Valentino and Timothée Chalamet in a butter-yellow leather Givenchy suit. The "basic black tux" is dying, and I'm kind of here for it.
The Risks That Didn't Quite Land
Not everything was a home run. Fashion is subjective, sure, but some choices left people scratching their heads. Margaret Qualley wore a black Chanel gown that was actually quite beautiful, but it was her jewelry that got people talking. She wore a diamond tassel necklace backward so it draped down her spine. It was a nod to the body-horror elements of The Substance, but on camera, it just looked a bit "wait, is her necklace falling off?"
💡 You might also like: When Does Hunter x Hunter Come Back? What Togashi’s Latest Tweets Actually Mean
Zoe Saldaña’s Saint Laurent look was also polarizing. It was a "bubble" gown in a deep burgundy. The color was stunning—again, a method dressing nod to her role in Emilia Pérez—but the sheer volume of the ruffles and the tiered skirt sort of swallowed her up. When the dress is wearing the person, it's usually a sign that the proportions are a bit off for a red carpet.
And then there was Timothée Chalamet. Look, he can pull off almost anything. But a head-to-toe yellow leather suit? It was... a choice. It certainly stood out against the red carpet, but some critics felt it looked a bit more "raincoat" than "Academy Award nominee."
Why 2025 Was the Year of "The Bow"
Bows were the unsung heroes of the night. We saw them on Elle Fanning’s white Givenchy (which was designed by Sarah Burton, by the way). Fanning looked like a literal porcelain doll. The dress was simple white lace, but it had a massive black bow at the back that trailed behind her.
Lupita Nyong'o also got in on the action with a Chanel dress that featured pearl straps and a corset detail that mimicked a bow shape. It reportedly took 600 hours to make and featured 22,000 pearls. That’s the kind of math that only happens at the Oscars.
Takeaways for the Next Award Cycle
If you're looking at these oscar dresses 2025 and wondering how it affects what we'll actually wear, keep an eye on "Butter Yellow" and "Petal Pink." These weren't just random choices; they're the colors of the upcoming season.
For anyone planning a formal event, the move is definitely toward structure over flow. Think peplums, rigid bodices, and heavy fabrics like velvet rather than just wispy chiffon. And if you're a guy? Please, buy a brooch. Every single well-dressed man at the 97th Academy Awards had some sort of vintage jewelry pinned to his lapel.
To really lean into the 2025 aesthetic:
- Go Monochromatic: Match your shoes and accessories to the exact shade of your dress or suit.
- Invest in a Statement Choker: The "bare neck" trend is over; 1950s-style necklaces are back in a big way.
- Embrace "Method" Styling: Wear something that tells a story about who you are or what you're celebrating, rather than just picking a pretty color.
- Watch the Proportions: If you go big on the bottom, keep the top skin-tight to avoid getting "lost" in the fabric.
The 2025 Oscars proved that Hollywood is finally bored with being "classy" in the boring sense. They want to be interesting again. Whether it was through literal character references or just wildly impractical leather suits, the red carpet regained its status as the world's most expensive runway.