With dopamine dressing continuing its reign on the runways and the return of jaw-dropping red-carpet looks, extravagant dressing is well and truly back.
Whilst behind the scenes, the politics of who wears what depends on the relationship between celebrity and designer (and if they’re nominated for an award), the pre-ceremony parade offers a diverse reflection of not only the trends but the wearer’s personality too. It’s the spell of allure and beauty turned up to full notch with most stars dripping in diamonds or rich velvets and towering in Christian Louboutin heels.
When the red carpet was brought to prominence in the 1920s by late Hollywood showman Sid Grauman, award shows were still broadcast in black and white, so only attendees got to see the dramatic dresses in full colour. However, with the invention of colour TV in the 1960s and the advent of magazine culture exploding in the 70s, we were finally provided with a gateway into the wardrobes of our favourite celebrities, making it easier to see the best-dressed from each award season and igniting our indulgence into Hollywood glamour tenfold.
Fast forward to the 21st century, and our interest in the red carpet moment has reached fever pitch. And, away from the viral moments, 2023 was one of the most glamorous years to date. This season we witnessed strong trends – from reigning black dresses to embellishments, velvets and multitudinous bold colours. From the BAFTAs to the Grammys and the finale – the Oscars – here is a round-up of this year’s trends…
Classic Black
