It’s the biggest night in Hollywood, and for fashion fans, the most important red carpet of the entire award season. The Oscars were back in full swing (no pun intended) last night as stars flocked from near and far to celebrate a year in film. The Academy Awards have always been a chock full with history-making wins, meme-worthy antics and just a touch of chaos to break the internet. Last night’s 94th annual ceremony was no different. With emotions running high, for a whole host of reasons, we’ve rounded up the best fashions, the biggest wins and the viral moments (yes, the slap’s included) from the night. Lights, camera, action
The red carpet
Say it with your chest. Or at least Timothée Chalamet did last night, when the young actor rocked up to the red carpet shirtless. For the night, he chose a glittery blazer from Louis Vuitton’s SS22 women’s collection, designed by Nicolas Ghesquière. Chalamet wasn’t the only one flashing a bit of skin. His Dune co-star Zendaya looked divine in a mid-riff baring silk shirt and shimmering silver skirt moment from Pierpaolo Piccioli’s Valentino haute couture atelier. And who could count out Kristen Stewart? The Spencer star skipped on the ball gown and went straight to a pair of Chanel short-shorts and blazer combo, even sharing a smooch with fiancee Dylan Meyer on the red carpet – awww. Elsewhere, Glenn Marten’s spectacular Jean Paul Gaultier couture collection finally had its big red carpet moment thanks to Jada Pinkett Smith, Maggie Gyllenhaal looked regal in Schiaparelli and Lupita Nyong’o rivalled the Oscars gong in a custom, golden Prada number. Other standout looks from the night include Zoë Kravitz in Saint Laurent, Demi Singleton in Miu Miu, Jessica Chastain in Gucci and Nicole Kidman in Giorgio Armani Privé, in which Mr Armani actually invented a new shade of greige hue for. Check out all our favourite looks from the night in the gallery above.
The ceremony
As the worst kept secret of the night, Beyoncé opened the night with a performance of “Be Alive” from the King Richard soundtrack. With the track up for Best Original Song, Queen Bey fittingly performed on a tennis court stage in a custom David Koma look, joined by her daughter Blue Ivy for the global star’s first award show performance in over five years.
Taking home Best Picture, the most anticipated award of the season, Sian Heder’s Coda triumphe. Bagging an award for his supporting role in the coming-of-age film, Troy Kotsur became the first deaf man in history to win an Oscar.
Elsewhere, Billie Eilish became the second ever musician to win both an Academy Award and a sweeping single-night quadruple-category big win at the Grammys, following in the influential footsteps of Christopher Cross. Seizing Best Original Song for her No Time To Die title track, alongside her brother and collaborator Finneas, Eilish wore a gothic Gucci ruffled ball gown.
Ariana DeBose also made history as the first Afro Latina and openly queer woman of colour to win Best Supporting Actress. In accepting the award for her role in West Side Story, the actress gave a powerful speech dedicated to those whose identities have been questioned and cast out. “There is indeed a place for us,” she said. Riz Ahmed also made history as the first Muslim actor to take the award for Best Short Film with The Long Goodbye.
But the Oscars are nothing without a viral moment to outshine all else, and this year we’re giving that prize to Will Smith for his shocking outburst. Storming on stage to slap Chris Rock following a crude joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s alopecia, his questionable actions are the talk of the web. Later, however, Smith offered a tearful acceptance speech for his first ever Oscar win for Best Actor in King Richard. He apologised for his actions and bashfully admitted that he hopes the academy invites him back, stating: “Love will make you do crazy things”.
Another notable win went to Jane Campion who became the third woman to win best director for her work on The Power of the Dog and on top of that, Jessica Chastain secured Best Actress for her role in The Eyes of Tammy Faye.
Dune was the night’s most awarded flick, taking home a whopping six associated awards, including Best Visual Effects, Best Sound, Best Production Achievement. Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing and Best Original Score, received by Hans Zimmer.
What’s more, Belfast won Best Original Screenplay while Coda collected Best Adapted Screenplay. Elsewhere, Encanto reigned as Best Animated Feature, Summer of Soul bagged Best Documentary Feature and Japan’s Drive My Car scored Best International Feature.
What would a film be without a bit of campy fashion and gaudy cosmetics? No doubt run-of-the-mill and certainly not in Hollywood spirit. So, unsurprisingly Jenny Beavan won Best Costume Design for her extravagant designs in Cruella, while The Eyes of Tammy Faye MUA team, Linda Dowds, Stephanie Ingram and Justin Raleigh pocketed the award for Best Make-up and Hairstyling.