LOS ANGELES – Hollywood’s A-list stars flaunted gold and silver gowns on the Oscar red carpet on Sunday, doused with a generous helping of diamonds, feathers, sequins and symbolic blue ribbons on the world’s most cinematic runway.
Emma Stone, nominated for best actress in “La La Land”sparkled in a 1920s inspired gold fringed Givenchy gown, as”Hidden Figures” supporting actress contender Octavia Spencer opted for a silvery Marchesa adorned with a flounce of feathers.
Resembling a real-life – though much more chic – Oscar award, actress Jessica Biel sported a shimmering gold-copper Kaufman Franco beaded gown accessorized with a bold African-inspired necklace from Tiffany’s.
Photo: AFP
“I call it perfection!” piped in husband Justin Timberlake, wearing Tom Ford.
“Lion” supporting actor nominee Dev Patel and television host Ryan Seacrest shared fashion warnings about the dangers of wearing white tuxedos jackets on a red carpet filled with women in red lipstick as Dakota Johnson floated by in a flowing gold Gucci.
Diamonds adorned the throat of “Hidden Figures” star Taraji P. Henson, poured into a cleavage-bearing midnight blue Alberta Ferretti gown with a daring split at the leg.
Isabelle Huppert, nominated for best actress for “Elle”showed her typically refined style in a long-sleeved silver Armani Prive gown, while Ruth Negga, also nominated in the same category for “Loving,” chose a lacy Valentino in the fashion house’s signature vibrant red.
White, cream and champagne also emerged as a red carpet favourite.
Best actress nominee Isabelle Huppert, already a Golden Globe winner for edgy rape-revenge thriller “Elle,” oozed glamour in her glittering long-sleeved, champagne floor-length Armani gown with a demure neckline.
Best supporting actress nominee Nicole Kidman also went for Armani – a halter-neck nude gown with intricate kaleidoscope beading, her hair swept up and her lips bright red.
“Rogue One” star Felicity Jones, a nominee two years ago for the Stephen Hawking biopic “The Theory of Everything,” earned mixed reviews for her gauzy pale Dior ballerina gown that recalled a Degas painting of dancers at the barre.
Also very much on trend: Models Karlie Kloss, in a caped white Stella McCartney gown, and Chrissy Teigen in a revealing Zuhair Murad frock, along with actress Hailee Steinfeld in a sheer floral Ralph + Russo gown.
Janelle Monae, who featured in both “Moonlight” and “Hidden Figures,” went for a major fashion moment.
Her daring black Elie Saab gown featured a bodice with strategically placed embroidery – reminiscent of Halle Berry’s sheer burgundy Oscars dress, also from Elie Saab – and a massive Marie Antoinette skirt. A golden headband completed the look.
Negga and other attendees like Kloss added a blue ribbon to their gowns and tuxedos to show support for the American Civil Liberties Union, an organisation that worked to get President Donald Trump’s travel ban blocked in courts.
Also sporting a blue ribbon was Lin Manuel Miranda, best known for Broadway’s “Hamilton.” He had his mother on his arm as his date and noted proudly that he bought his tuxedo in Yonkers, New York, at the same shop where he bought his high school prom tux years ago.
Besides the blue ribbon, mom was another key Oscars accessory, it seems.
Best supporting actor nominees Dev Patel (“Lion”) and Lucas Hedges (“Manchester by the Sea”) also arrived with their mothers on their arm.
“The joy for me is to bring my mom as my date,” Miranda told AFP.
“Chanel Pharrell!” proclaimed singer-songwriter Pharrell Williams, decked out in a fitted Chanel tux accessorized with a dramatic black bead necklace that fell down over the lapel.
Two stuffed pandas, meanwhile were the arm candy of Jackie Chan, stand-ins for the real pandas the action star adopted at a breeding facility in Chengdu, China.
“I am the panda ambassador! They go wherever I go, they take photos with famous people, Stallone, Clinton…,” Chan said
