by Vanessa Ko (’24) | March 31, 2023
For this year’s 95th Annual Academy Awards, the red carpet was champagne. The Oscars’ creative consultants, Lisa Love and Raul Avila, explained that they chose the champagne-colored carpet to allow the smooth progression from daytime to nighttime appearances. In addition, the carpet was covered by a tent in an effort to shield its guests from the outside weather. In theme with the unusual not-so-red red carpet, many famous celebrities gathered to show off their own unique looks.
Unlike others who dressed in classic suits and ties, Harry Shum Jr. (known for his roles in Crazy Rich Asians and Everything Everywhere All At Once) wore navy trousers and a long white blazer hemmed with navy blue fabric by Adeam. Balancing out the longer-than-usual blazer was a waist wrap, which was reminiscent of an Uwa-obi, or a sash worn by samurai to secure weapons onto their body.
Michelle Yeoh, who became the first Asian woman to win the award for Best Actress with her role in Everything Everywhere All At Once, wore a feathered, silk organza, Dior Haute Couture dress designed by Maria Grazia Chiuri. She accessorized her look with Moussaieff diamond jewelry, which included a pair of dangling earrings, a ring, and a necklace that was used as a headpiece for the night. Relative to other actresses at the Oscars, Michelle Yeoh’s all-white outfit had a more classic look but still complemented her features well.
Shohreh Aghdashloo, an Iranian American actress, used her black-and-white off-the-shoulder dress, accessorized with a pair of elbow-high black gloves, to spotlight an issue close to her heart. The wings of her skirt lifted to reveal names in white cursive font of the three Iranian women who were murdered in September 2022 for speaking out against the Iranian government. Aghdashloo’s gown also featured the protesters’ slogan (“Women, Life, Freedom”), raising awareness of their efforts.
Malala Yousafzai, a well-known female education activist who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 for her advocacy, wore a silver, sparkly gown with a hood by Ralph Lauren, which matched the trademark look that she is often seen in. Her ability to show off a new yet familiar style shined both on and off the carpet.
Danai Gurira, star of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, was spotted in an eye-catching black gown by Jason Wu. The dress featured a raw, semi-transparent square bust-line, with a satin-like sheen throughout. While not as colorful as other outfits, Gurira’s simple yet elegant dress highlighted her beauty.
Last but not least, Questlove’s Zegna outfit paired with jeweled Crocs stood out in the crowd. Unlike Shum’s dichromatic suit, Questlove wore a long, black blazer paired with black trousers, a black collared shirt, a black tie, and a black overcoat. Despite being monochromatic, Questlove’s outfit showed his interesting style and fun personality.
Although this year’s red carpet featured a change from its traditional color, the outfits were just as stunning as those of previous years. Overall, the fashion at this year’s Oscars, like the champagne red carpet, was a unique and captivating blend of old and new.
