The gowns! The gossip! The glamour! The only thing we love more than awards season is discussing, and dissecting at length, the fashion at awards season. You’ve debated the looks in your group chats, now who gets the top honors? This season, Grazia ranks the boldest, spiciest, sassiest, dreamiest, most conversation-worthy looks from the red carpet — as the awards shows happen.
The best green goddess: Sandy Powell
The costume designer Sandy Powell tipped her hat to BAFTA's 'sustainable fashion' theme in the most brilliantly understated fashion. Her cream-coloured two-piece was actually a template from a previous trouser suit - and turned out to be the perfect canvas for collecting autographs. Al Pacino, Scarlett Johansson, Margot Robbie and Renee Zellweger all signed on the proverbial dotted line - and Sandy plans to auction off the results through the Art Fund charity.
The best black-and-white: Jessie Buckley
Jessie Buckley looked like a modern day angel in custom-made Miu Miu - and proved she had the voice of one, too, with her rendition of 'Glasgow' from her film Wild Rose during the ceremony. Renee Zellweger shed an actual tear, people.
The best hat: Billy Porter
Billy Porter had his very own Sia moment on the step-and-repeat, wearing a turquoise hat with silver fringe by Baja East. The one big difference? His ‘fringe’ automatically parted when he arrived on the red carpet so the photographers could see his eyes. Mind. Blown.
The best pyjama suit: Billie Eilish
The night, in terms of awards, belonged to Billie Eilish, who scooped a whopping five, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Album of the Year. She’s not prone to flouncy princess dresses, but a neon Gucci pyjama suit, to match her green-tinged roots no less, felt like a fitting alternative.
The best cowboy: Lil Nas X
Lil Nas X arrived looking splendidly rootin tootin' in a hot pink Versace look that featured a cowboy hat, Cuban-heeled boots and, naturally, a body harness. We say, yeehaw!
The best vintage: Jennifer Aniston
The SAG Awards belonged to Jennifer Aniston, who won Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in A Drama Series for The Morning Show and set the internet ablaze with that reunion. Her silk gown, in a pleasingly palette-cleansing snow-white, was vintage Dior by John Galliano and perhaps the ultimate proof that old is always better than new.
The best princess: Jennifer Garner
Jennifer Garner melted our at the SAG Awards with this sweet-as-pie princess gown by Dolce & Gabbana. Aren’t the full skirt and teeny weeny straps just to die for?
The best two-piece: Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron always majors in sharp, strong and sassy gowns - and this Givenchy two-piece is no different. The armour-like bralet, the skinny belt, the thigh-high split skirt - it’s ticking all the right boxes. Also - decorating your parting with diamonds? Officially a thing.
The best colour combo: Beanie Feldstein
Several stars dialled up the sugar for last week’s Critics’ Choice Awards, but the loveliest of all? Beanie Feldstein in pink-red Lela Rose. The Booksmart actor’s stylist, Erin Walsh, recently sung her praises in a Fashionista interview, saying, ‘She's just so kind and easy and sweet and open and totally confident. In terms of dream clients, she's just such a wonderful collaborator, has the best ideas, is willing to try anything, totally trusts me, likes to experiment and likes to have fun.’
The best strapless: Billy Porter
A lot of red carpet heavyweights have been opting for strapless - Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston - but Billy Porter in Hogan McLaughlin at the Critics’ Choice Awards was nothing short of perfection. Porter's hand-painted Butterly tattoos didn't just look amazing, either –taking to Instagram, he explained the symbolism behind them: 'The hand-painted butterfly tattoos by @heyannabee continue my theme for 2020, which is being released from the bondage of masculinity and flying free. Just like the beautiful ladies from @poseonfx, we are often born into one stage of life and then cocoon into an incubation of self-discovery, transformation, and acceptance, ultimately being released into freedom as beautiful creatures.'
The best train: Jennifer Lopez
No one does strong and sexy like J.Lo, but the singer-actor proved she can also do butter-wouldn’t-melt in rosy Richard Quinn for the Palm Spring Film Festival. Big Dress Energy at its finest.
The best monochrome: Cynthia Erivo
Cynthia Erivo’s bead-encrusted Thom Browne gown at the Golden Globes was a masterclass in making monochrome the opposite of simple. Her stylist, Jason Bolden, told Grazia that their partnership, which started at the beginning of her Harriet promo tour, is reflected in how comfortable she feels on the red carpet. ‘When the stars align and the partnership is right, you can kind of see what is happening, you can see how she moves in her clothes, how happy she is and how it speaks to her personality.’
The Cinderella moment: Florence Pugh
Florence Pugh’s having a stellar awards season, scooping a best supporting actress nod at the Oscars, and her red carpet style is similarly on-point. Whether or not she wins big, this shimmering custom-made Prada column dress, covered in paillettes of sequins, made for her very own modern Cinderella moment.
The best minimalist: Laura Dern
Laura Dern knows how to deliver high-impact without the bells and whistles that so often come attached. This tangerine-coloured Emilia Wickstead gown is a palette-cleansing case in point.
The best print: Zoe Kravitz
Zoe Kravitz has always worshipped at the altar of Saint Laurent, but this polka dot gown is surely their most flawless collaboration to date. The idea of wearing contrasting spots on the red carpet would terrify anyone but Kravitz, who, let's face it, could wear anything and look incredible.
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