Another Oscar nominee, another white dress. Michelle Williams is wearing a sheer caped gown by Louis Vuitton. Also: the champagne carpet is beginning to get dirty.
Much like the Baftas, white is dominating this champagne carpet. Best actress favourite Michelle Yeoh is wearing a 1930s-style tiered couture gown by Dior.
This carpet is giving me severe anxiety, by the way. I keep worrying what would happen if Bafta ever tried it. Imagine all the celebrities treading wintery London crud all over it. It would be a nightmare to get those stains out.
Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, better known as Tems, has made Oscars history by becoming the first Nigerian artist to be nominated for an Oscar. I’d hazard she’s also the first nominee to wear a Ukrainian designer to the Oscars. This S-shaped tulle cloud dress is by Ukrainian-born designer, Lessja Verlingieri.
Nicole Kidman tried but failed to dodge being “harassed” on the red carpet. She has described her dress as “understated” – asymmetric, with one sleeve, a slashed leg and huge silver flowers, I’m not sure that’s entirely accurate, but the long sleeved thing is happening. Possibly because California is having some tricky weather.
Emily Blunt and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson strike a pose together. Emily has gone a for a classic column silhouette. Shunning the trend for elbow-length gloves, she’s gone for built in sleeves instead. The Rock is errr rocking a salmon pink satin jacket. There are diamante buttons on his white shirt and he’s accessorised with a bowtie, a floral corsage brooch plus a linen hankie. More is more!
Jessica Chastain is refusing to do the red carpet chitchat – but we can tell you that she’s wearing a strapless Gucci gown with a black 1940s train. That diamond collar has some heft.
If you’re watching the ABC red carpet feed (and you should), then you’ll be aware that it stars the world’s most gloomily fatalistic presenter. I missed his name, but his job seems to involve a) trying to get celebrities to talk to him, b) watching as they ignore him, and then c) passive-aggressively complaining about it under his breath. Jessica Chastain just strolled right past him – and an entire psychodrama passed across his face. He’s my favourite thing about this entire night.
Best actor nominee Paul Mescal is wearing a modern twist on a classic black and white suit from Gucci. Note the longer length jacket with oversized lapels, wide legged trousers and slightly sheer shirt. No vest tonight. The sparkly red rose brooch matches the scattered petals on the carpet. Attention to detail or happy accident?
Elvis star – and favourite to win the the Oscars – Austin Butler has gone for a classic black tux by Saint Laurent, modernised with peaked lapels and heeled boots. He must be 6ft4in now.
Someone’s wearing couture! Sandra Oh is wearing a Grecian-style gown by Giambattista Valli. Orange is an unusual red carpet colour but in these champagne-hued times, a welcome one.
Lenny Kravitz has arrived wearing what appears to be a cowl neck black silk shirt draped open with a train fashioned into what appears to be cumberbund wrapped around his waist, topped off with a tangle of heavy silver chains. This man is ageless, but so too is his aesthetic. No notes
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever nominee Angela Bassett is wearing a purple gown from Moschino. It’s a hue historically associated with royalty. The swathed fabric and sparkling snake necklace are bringing A-lister glamour. We bow down.
Best actress winners have worn white more than any other colour. The issue tonight is that under the bright lights, pearly white dresses – like this Louis Vuitton tiered column dress worn by Ana de Armas – match the carpet. She’d look fantastic in a bin bag, but standing on the champagne carpet it’s harder for these paler colours to pop.