Red Carpet Review: The Vanity Fair Oscars Party

The pressure on celebrities to choose a red carpet ensemble must be ridiculous. Multiply that by the half-dozen or more annual red carpet events which each require a different look, then add on all the accompanying lunches and dinners and pre-parties and after-parties included with each event, and the required number of outfits is mind-boggling. You might think that the non-red-carpet events would involve more casual outfits, but you would be wrong. Vanity Fair hosts a party immediately after the awards ceremony that has become as much of a fashion event as the ceremony itself. Nearly everyone changes into a different outfit (which begs the question: Where does everyone get changed??), many of which are just as fancy as their red carpet look. Here are some of the looks the celebrities wore for this year's Vanity Fair party. 

Mikey Madison changed from her pink and black Dior column into an all-black strapless Dior gown with a v-shaped bodice and an A-line skirt with a fringed, tied sash and a matching fringed wrap, accessorized with a diamond and ruby pendant necklace from Tiffany & Co. and literally letting her hair down. I loved her red carpet look, but I think I liked this look even better. 

Zoe Saldaña (thankfully) ditched her red carpet Saint Laurent bubble dress in favor of a two-piece outfit, also by Saint Laurent, comprising a black long-sleeved scoop neck jersey with a pale copper ruffle-edged high-low skirt that fell into a train, and she added long diamond DeBeers earrings. The skirt was a little short and casual for the red carpet, but it was perfect for the after-party. I would have loved a slightly less plain top - perhaps a cropped shirt, or a narrow ruffle on the neckline - but I thought this was a great look for her. 

Demi Moore changed from her silver Armani Privé gown into a gold Gucci halter with a long keyhole front opening twisted over a heavy gold collar necklace. with Boucheron diamond earrings and a wide gold cuff bracelet. I loved both of these looks, and I loved how much more relaxed her party look was. 

Cynthia Erivo pared down her heavy, oversized Louis Vuitton gown in favor of a frothy white tulle Vivenne Westwood gown. A strapless bodice was wrapped with a swath of fabric forming a single shoulder strap, a short skirt, and a side train, with a second strap made of a tied black ribbon and trailing strands of pearls. She accessorized with a black and diamond collar and matching ring and a white satin bag with a pearl handle. A great after-party look. 

Monica Barbaro also went from voluminous to sleek, changing from her pink satin Dior ballgown into a body-hugging strapless white Dolce & Gabbana gown covered with delicate silver fringe, accessorized with long diamond earrings and a tiny silver bracelet. Like Mikey Madison, she literally let her hair down, giving a much more relaxed and informal feel to her look. Also like Madison, she looked great in both looks, but I think I prefer her after-party look. 

Da'Vine Joy Randolph wore a strapless black Tamara Ralph gown on the red carpet, then changed into a less flattering metallic gold Valdrin Sahiti and Lagos column. I loved the diagonal swath of fabric across the hip and the way the swath across the shoulder echoed its line, but the top of the bodice fell just under her chin, and it made her neck look awkwardly short. The fabric also looked quite stiff, making me think that when she sat down her head would completely disappear inside the neck of the dress (honestly, I couldn't help but think of this). 

Coralie Fargeat absolutely transitioned from red carpet mode, in her sparkly black column with the amazing long diamond necklace, into party mode, in this Maison Margiela two-piece ensemble of black flared pants and a hip-length sleeveless black leather top with a round neck, zip front, and additional zippers running vertically up the top, with the same black pointy heels. I would have loved a hint of celebratory sparkle in a bracelet or larger earrings, but I loved this look just as it was. 

Felicity Jones kept to the same designer, wearing a silver custom Armani Privé halter dress on the red carpet, and for the party, changing into a black Armani Privé halter gown with patterned spangles and some circular cutouts, with small side cutouts and a thigh-high slit. It was both elegant and slightly more comfortable-looking than the sleek silver gown, especially with her loose hairstyle. Two good looks for her. 

Raye wore a red strapless Vivenne Westwood gown on the red carpet, and a draped black and white column during her performance, but she changed into a white sleeveless Jacquemus trumpet gown for the after-party. The gown had narrow straps, a wide, squared-off scoop neckline, a bodice that was tightly fitted to the lower hip, and a flared ankle-length skirt with tulle crinoline. The concept was terrific, but the dress was overly tight at the hip (Mrs. Wiggins, anyone?), causing unsightly creases across the front. But not a bad look, and I liked the slightly shorter length, which gave it more of a party feel, as did the peep of tulle at the hem.  

Selena Gomez also changed designers from the red carpet to the party, starting in a nude beaded Ralph Lauren gown and changing into a strapless Giorgio Armani Privé black sequin column with a sweetheart neckline and a fitted silhouette, accessorized with a different, but equally stunning, diamond collar necklace. She was stunning in both looks, but I loved the old-style glamour for the red carpet and the sleeker, more contemporary look for the party. 

Isabella Rossellini wore a blue velvet Dolce & Gabbana gown on the red carpet, but instead of changing her gown for the after-party, she simply changed her accessories: she removed the dramatic long cape and changed out her heavy diamond and amethyst necklace for a triple strand of pearls, keeping on the pearl earrings which had belonged to her mother, Ingrid Bergman. I love a multi-purpose dress, and the way accessories can dress up or dress down a look. Elegant and efficient! 

Elle Fanning wore Givenchy and Cartier jewelry for both the red carpet and the after-party. She changed out of her demure white lace gown into a strapless black spangled lace tea-length gown featuring a cape-like extension from the bodice and a bright red belt, with matching red square-toe pumps. She also changed her heavy diamond collar for a daintier Y-shaped necklace and wore her hair loose. Both looks worked for her, and both were appropriate for their venue, but I preferred the white for her. 

In a fun twist, Margaret Qualley, who had worn a backless black velvet Chanel gown on the red carpet, changed back into the red satin Chanel dress she had worn as a dancer in the James Bond tribute. The dress featured a halter neckline, a twisted hip detail with a large gold and emerald brooch on one side, and an open front skirt. it looked phenomenal on her, and it was a delight to see it make another appearance. 

Miley Cyrus changed from a spangled black halter column by McQueen into a simpler black strapless column by Maison Margiela. The bigger change, however, was her hairstyle, somehow changing from long waves swept up at the hairline into a high ponytail with shockingly poorly trimmed baby bangs. Was she wearing a wig on the red carpet? Were the bangs gelled into her hair for the ceremony? Did her stylist cut the bangs on the spot specifically for the party? (That would actually explain a lot.) The world may never know. 

Amelia Dimoldenberg wore a blue-grey Versace gown on the red carpet, then changed into a black textured velvet halter gown with a neckline that plunged to the waist, where the fabric gathered into a round metal brooch. I loved the textured pattern of the fabric and how it alternated with plain fabric, and the overall silhouette was really lovely on her. I was not a big fan of her red carpet gown, and I think this look would have worked better on the red carpet. 

Halle Berry swapped out her silver mirrored Christian Siriano red carpet gown for a silver and ivory Georges Chakra gown, which featured a metallic silver base gown with a long fringed hem topped with a cap-sleeve, round-necked bodice ending in an angled drape running from the right hip to the left shoulder and trailing into a short narrow train. It was a striking look, and just right for a party. 

Mindy Kaling wore a metallic silver Oscar de la Renta halter gown at the ceremony, then changed into a strapless nude and ivory beaded Elie Saab gown with a slightly flared skirt and a short train. I loved the way the pattern of the beading widened toward the hem, and the upward curve of the top of the bodice. It was a very formal look, but with the loosened hair and minimal accessories, was still effective as a party look. 

People We Didn't See on the Red Carpet

Gabrielle Union wore a gorgeous Caroline Herrera strapless black column wrapped with 3-D gold and silver metallic leaves, accessorized with a stunning Tiffany & Co. diamond necklace and rings and an asymmetrical half up-half down hairstyle. I loved this look. 

Melanie Lynskey wore a red sequin Christian Siriano column with a silhouette which was quite similar to Raye's Vivenne Westwood gown. Both had a single off-the-shoulder sleeve, a cowl neckline, and draping at the hip, with Lynskey's having a column skirt and Raye's having a fuller skirt and a train. I liked the sequin sparkle for the party, as well as the sleeker silhouette. 

Kendall Jenner wore a semi-sheer black lace vintage Mugler gown featuring a high neck, bell sleeves, a short train, and some 3-D flowers on the side of the skirt. It was lovely if a bit bland, and felt more suitable for the red carpet than for a party. 

Jenna Ortega wore a pale gold chiffon Donna Karan design with delicate straps and a broad v-neckline edged in metallic gold, with the fabric gathering in at the front of the hips with a front ruffle in a paler shade, a front slit and a round train. 

Kim Kardashian wore a white Balenciaga ballgown. The fabric of the gown had a pretty crinkled texture which emphasized the graceful shape of the bodice, which was straight across in the front and angled down slightly at each side. What I didn't love about this dress was the extreme fullness at the top front of the skirt, which actually went up from the hem rather than extending out, making it look like she was lifting up her hands inside the pockets. The back of the skirt was fitted and not full like the front, which also created a very unbalanced look.  

Tracee Ellis Ross wore a beige gown by Alexandre Vauthier, with a wide, square-bottomed yoke edged with gold trim, and the body of the dress formed by long rhinestone chains and ostrich tips, accessorized with a heavy black and silver collar, black sandals, and black hose. The dress itself was a little odd but kind of cool. But those accessories? Oh, no, honey. Just, NO. 

Julia Garner managed feathers much better in a white Gucci halter column with a sheer yoke, a short train, and delicate marabou feathers all over. Her short curly hair revealed huge diamond chandelier earrings, which were stunning. A wonderful look, perfectly styled. 

Keke Palmer wore an ivory gown with a sleeveless, sheer mesh bodice edged with silver ribbon over a chiffon bandeau, with a wrapped chiffon skirt with a dipped front waistline and a wide slit. I loved her silver sandals and long dangling earrings, but the low rise of the skirt, combined with the scooped line of the waist, made it look like she was sticking out her belly, or at least oddly arching her back all the time. It wasn't awful, it just felt a little off. 

Kathryn Hahn wore a silvery-white sequined, stick-straight strapless column with a triangle detail at the top of the bodice. I loved the straight silhouette and the way the triangle added a hint of definition, and I found this to be a fantastic look on her. Her long wavy hair and warm rosy lip color were great additions. 

A Few Looks Which Defy Any Commentary Other than "WHY?!??"

Sarah Paulson 

Anna Kendrick

Zoey Deutch

Kelly Rowland

Lisa

Olivia Wilde

Megan Thee Stallion

Poorna Jagannathan

Abbi Jacobson

Erica Pelosini

Hari Nef

Amanda Peet

Cole Escola

Julia Fox

Couture Gowns I'd Like to See on the Red Carpet (Or, If I Were a Stylist to the Stars)

As I was working on my Oscar red carpet blogs, I fell down the rabbit hole of looking at the recent collections of various designers, both their ready-to-wear and their couture lines. Some of the looks are truly bizarre, but there were quite a few that I could imagine seeing on the red carpet, including a number that I'd love to see on the red carpet. So I thought I would share a few looks from the designers we frequently see our favorite celebrities wearing, along with my thoughts on which celebrities we just saw at the Oscars that I would have wear them. 

This dusty rose Elie Saab gown is from the same collection as the gown Sofia Carson wore to the SAG Awards. I love the juxtaposition of vertical and horizontal pleating along the bodice and at the hip, as well as the angled front opening. It's a great color for a brunette, particularly one with darker skin, and it's especially flattering on a figure that is slender but not overly voluptuous. I'd love to see it on Halle Berry, who wore an Elie Saab gown when she won an Oscar in 2002. She also rewore the dress on the catwalk at an Elie Saab 45th anniversary show in November 2024. I think Raffey Cassidy would also look lovely in this gown. 

This Elie Saab gown features a similar waist detail and skirt and train designs to the above look, but the bodice includes an upswept fan of fabric, and it is in a striking shade of chartreuse. Chartreuse frequently appears on the red carpet, but not everyone who wears it can pull it off. I think Lupita Nyong'o, who we've seen look gorgeous in chartreuse, would look fantastic in this style, as would Mindy Kaling, who also looks great in chartreuse. They both have just the right amount of curves and the perfect coloring to be flattered by this gown. 

This dramatic Elie Saab design features a mermaid silhouette with an elaborate ruffled bodice. This gown could easily overwhelm the wearer, but a celebrity with great presence could pull it off. I'd love to see it on Cynthia Erivo, who has never been afraid of an extreme dress, or on Doja Cat, whose curvy figure and tiny waist would really emphasize the shape of the gown. 

This Valentino ballgown features a lacy, ruffled skirt and puffy floating sleeves in cream and dusty blue, and a strapless burgundy velvet hip-length bodice with a large ribbon bow. Mimi Keene wore a similarly cream and blue lace gown by Christian Dior to the 2025 BAFTAs, and I didn't love it because it felt too casual and country. But the deep color and rich texture of the velvet bodice of this design add the elegance and drama that the Dior lacked, and I'd love to see this gown on someone like Elle Fanning, whose gracefulness and youth would work with the frothy lace, even though it's not her usual style. I'd remove the floating sleeves, though. I'd also love to see it on Storm Reid, who hasn't quite found her red carpet style yet.  I think she could make this look work, with or without the sleeves. 

This purple and black polka-dot high-low Valentino dress isn't for everyone, but for a celebrity who likes a bit of whimsy, it could absolutely work. Miley Cyrus could pull it off exactly as accessorized here, or perhaps with some offbeat touch like bedazzled combat boots or studded fingerless biker gloves. I could also see Ariana Grande wearing a pink version of this dress with delicate strappy sandals and a rhinestone headband. 

This sleek, simple Prada gown is perfect for the current trend of simple dresses accessorized with amazing statement necklaces. I'd love for Monica Barbaro to wear it, both because she'd look stunning, but also because the color would be a subtle nod to the butter yellow suit worn by her A Complete Unknown co-star, Timothee Chalamet, at the Oscars. I also think the simplicity of the design would work well for Rachel Zegler, who occasionally is overwhelmed by her gowns due to her tiny frame.  

This white Chanel suit projects cool, businesslike elegance. It features a cropped, tailored jacket with a wide crocheted collar with feather embellishments on one side, and wide-legged, flared pants with a deep side slit at the hem and  crocheted trim on the pockets. Suits on female celebrities used to be limited to older stars like Glenn Close and Kathy Bates, but these days many younger celebs like Emma Watson, Ayo Edebiri, Rihanna, and Anna Kendrick have worn chic suits on the red carpet. I'd love to see Emma Stone in this one, especially with her current short pixie haircut. Ava Duvernay, who has been known to wear a pantsuit on the red carpet, and who looks terrific in white, would also look great in this suit. 

This white Chanel coatdress features multiple tiers of soft marabou topped with shorter fringe and silver-studded white ribbon, and matching fringe and ribbon on the round neckline. I love how the feathers and fringe float and swing, respectively, as the model walks. Tiers have been all over the red carpet of late, with varying degrees of success, and I'd love to see Zoe Saldaña redeem herself from her terrible Oscars bubble dress in this delight, which would highlight her gorgeous legs and her gorgeous coloring to perfection. I'd also love to see it on Lily-Rose Depp, who has both the long legs and the catwalk strut to show the dress off to great effect. 

I am in love with this Zuhair Murad column. The colored beading reminds me of stained glass, and I love the sweetheart neckline with a keyhole opening. I think it would look gorgeous on Amy Poehler, especially with her hair in an updo, a black velvet choker, and no gloves. Ana de Armas would also look beyond stunning in this gown, although I would leave her hair down and put her in black velvet gloves with a diamond bracelet and ring worn over the gloves. 

I'm also in love with this Zuhair Murad ballgown. The silhouette is great, I love the red floral strapless bodice with a leafy black sash and floral "petals" extending down the town of the skirt, and I especially love the to-the-waist slit. Not every celebrity looks right in a full ballgown, but I'd love to see this one on Mikey Madison or Selena Gomez. They both know how to work a glamorous dress on the red carpet. 

Another Zuhair Murad gown with a completely different silhouette, this pink gown features a wrapped bodice with a sheer scarf over one shoulder, a full sheer skirt, and silver and pink 3-D flowers wrapping across the front. I love the movement of the fabric, and the coverage is enough to support a curvy figure while still being slightly revealing. Penelope Cruz immediately comes to mind as a celebrity who would look stunning in this design, although I might put her in a peach or coral shade. Connie Nielson wore a slightly similar wrapped bodice with sheer skirt look at the Oscars that fell a bit short for me, and I'd love to see her in this dress instead, which seems to lack the flaws of her Oscar look. 

This beautiful taupe suit by Alexander McQueen features a jacket with super squared-off shoulders, upturned lapels, and an elaborately twisted front and straight, wide-legged pants. I love the mix of soft lines in the twist and harsh angles in the shoulders and straight-cut pants. I think this suit would look terrific on a petite figure, such as Fernanda Torres or Julianne Hough. Torres looks like she would be very comfortable in a suit, and although it doesn't match Hough's usually red carpet aesthetic, I would love to see her try a great suit. 

This grey, one-sleeved, off-the-shoulder Alexander McQueen design features a bodice that is half gold-and-silver lace, with a sheer grey lace panel in front and a side cutout, over a a frothy chiffon-and-feather skirt that draws up to mid-thigh, curtain style, on one side. It's not a look for just anyone; it requires a celebrity who is not afraid to be a little offbeat, perhaps even a little goth. Demi Moore comes to mind as one who's not afraid to be goth (or to show a little skin), and I think she'd look great in this dress. Scarlett Johansson is my second pick for this look. She may not go goth often, but she's not afraid to be a little edgy, and her athletic build would look great in this shoulder-baring look. 

This red wrapped Christian Siriano gown features long sleeves, a mock turtleneck, diagonal ruching across the bodice, which is fitted to the hip, and a loose flowing skirt with a crushed texture. I love the angled lines and textured fabric, and how the fitted silhouette is sexy despite being very covered-up. I can see this dress working well on Gal Gadot, who frequently wears red gowns. I'd also love to see it on Margaret Qualley, who has been experimenting with red carpet styles from demure and prim to traditional conservative glamour to showing a little skin. Both actresses have fair skin and dark hair that would look terrific against this shade of red, and they both have slender figures that would be flattered by the lines of the design. 

This angular Christian Siriano grid-textured gown features simple, stark lines, with an angled, off-one-shoulder bodice edge echoed by an angled peplum and an ankle-length drape falling past the knee-length hem. Its dramatic cut would suit a celebrity like Michelle Yeoh, who can effortlessly pull off nearly any style, as well as Felicity Jones, who has pared down her style of late, opting for simple, sleek silhouettes, which suit her better than the frothier gowns she's worn in the past. 

This structured Louis Vuitton two-piece look comprises a dramatically flared ivory jacket with cap sleeves, a round neck, and a buttoned flap closure, over a black chiffon skirt with a wide side opening. Paz Vega wore a two-piece ensemble to the Oscars that I didn't love on her, but I think she would look amazing in this LV look. The top is more well-proportioned for her, and the slim skirt would make her look about 7 feet tall. Charlotte Lawrence usually wears more classic glamour on the red carpet than the prairie chic she wore at the Oscars, but I think she could carry off a slightly edgier look, and I'd love to see her in this. 

The three remaining major celebrities that I covered at the Oscars are Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Isabella Rossellini, and Marissa Bode, all of whom require or prefer styles that are not usually found in designer collections. Randolph is plus-sized, Rossellini prefers a very loose and covered-up look, and Bode's designs need to accommodate a wheelchair. So I looked beyond the "standard" couture collections for recommendations for each of them. I began by researching designers they had worn in the past. 

I loved the Robert Wun gown that Da'Vine Joy Randolph wore to the BAFTAs, so I looked up his recent designs to find a good look for her. I don't love the weird mannequin (at least, I hope it's a mannequin), but I think this red gown would be great on her. She looks great in red, and the angled lines of the bodice, as well as the flare of the skirt, would work well on a shorter, curvier figure. Plus, a long trailing scarf always helps to add a sense of length and height. 

Isabella Rossellini frequently wears Dolce & Gabbana maxi dresses, so I browsed stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom to see what is commercially available. I find the floral prints she often wears to be a little busy, so I looked for a solid color dress, which I feel suits her better. I love this vivid green D&G gown which features a round-necked, long-sleeved lace bodice and a full, pleated chiffon skirt. It has a defined waist, unlike many of her recent red carpet looks, which I think would be more flattering and less matronly on her, and the color would bring out the contrast of her beautiful fair skin and dark hair. 

Marissa Bode is relatively new to the red carpet, but she wore designs by Tony Ward to both the SAG Awards and the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, so I looked through his collection for a style for her. I love this light blue gown with tiny pink and white 3-D beaded flowers. I think Bode would look better in a slightly more saturated color, so I would darken the fabric but line the skirt with this shade of blue - or even a pale pink to match the flowers! - then either shorten or draw up the front of the skirt, creating a hemline similar to her Oscar gown, revealing her legs and the contrasting lining. 

Did I forget any of your favorites? Disagree with any of my recommendations? Drop me a comment and let me know!